Cablegate: Death of Maori Infants Brings Debate & Discord

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RR RUEHNZ
DE RUEHWL #0513 1880326
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 070326Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2985
INFO RUEHNZ/AMCONSUL AUCKLAND 0824
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RHHJJAA/JICPAC HONOLULU HI
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHDC

UNCLAS WELLINGTON 000513

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR D (FRITZ), EAP/FO, AND EAP/ANP
NSC FOR VICTOR CHA
SECDEF FOR OSD/ISD LIZ PHU
PACOM FOR J01E/J2/J233/J5/SJFHQ

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV NZ
SUBJECT: DEATH OF MAORI INFANTS BRINGS DEBATE & DISCORD

Summary
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1. (SBU) The brutal deaths of twin Maori babies who lived in a house
with several benefit recipients has sparked nationwide debate over
the actions of the family. It has also highlighted the growing
problem of welfare dependency, drug and alcohol addiction and child
neglect within the Maori community. Even Maori leaders and
commentators are divided over how best to address the problems
raised by the case. The Maori Party co-leader has seen his status
with the public rise as a result of his performance in the wake of
the tragic deaths. End Summary

The case
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2. (SBU) Three-month-old Auckland twins Chris and Cru Kahui died
after being brought to a hospital suffering brain damage. One of the
11-week-old infants also had a broken thigh bone. Immediately after
the deaths, the family was roundly accused of stonewalling police
investigations by arguing that they needed time to grieve before
talking to police. Some New Zealanders, both Maori and non-Maori,
are outraged at what they see as the family hiding behind a
traditional Maori grieving custom. Almost three weeks after the
killings, the family still has not revealed to investigators who is
responsible for the deaths and to date no arrests have been made.
Police are defending their handling of the investigation, stating
that they cannot be rushed into a result which will not stand up in
court. Despite this, some politicians believe that the case needs to
move forward expeditiously and the next step should be arrests for
murder and obstruction of justice.

Issues thrown up from case divides Maori body politic
--------------------------------------------- --------

3. (SBU) Although Maori political leadership all agree that the
family must take responsibility for the deaths, schisms have
surfaced among them over how best to address the underlying problems
the case revealed. Urban Maori leader (and former MP) John Tamihere
argues that Maori social service providers have to contend daily
with social problems similar to those of the Kahuis. He proposes
that benefits should be paid to Maori agencies which would then pay
beneficiaries' essential household bills. Benefits would be cut to
those refusing services such as family support or addiction
treatment. Tamihere also accuses Maori Party co-leader, Dr. Pita
Sharples, of being blind to the "world of urban Maori degradation."

4. (SBU) Sharples' fellow party co-leader, Tariana Turia maintains
that Maori must be involved in welfare decision-making rather than
others making decisions for them. Alan Duff, a prominent writer on
urban Maori and an outspoken critic of the "culture of violence"
within Maoridom, welcomed tighter control of welfare payments but
believes that Tamihere's proposal is not the answer. Green Party
Maori issues spokeswoman Metiria Turei labeled the Proposal as a
ridiculous knee-jerk reaction to an extreme case of beneficiary
abuse. Prime Minister Helen Clark also dismissed the proposal.

Sharples profile grows in wake of deaths
----------------------------------------

5. (SBU) In contrast to the other commentators, Sharples' open
indignation at the actions of the Kahui family and his efforts to
address social problems within Maori have broadened his political
appeal. He has visited with the family and urged their cooperation
with police. Sharples has also laid bare his own experiences as an
abused child. While some have accused him of political profiteering,
most observers have been very positive about his approach. One
journalist said that when he talked about the Kahui case Sharples
was 'the brown man saying what white people were thinking'. He has
even been called the 'Kaumatua' (male tribal elder) of the nation.
Whether Sharples newly elevated appeal translates into a political
evolution for Maori (or himself) remains to be seen. But at the
very least his response has ignited a national debate about the best
way to deal with Maori social problems.
McCormick

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