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Chris Hipkins was interviewed for a talk in Auckland on Saturday.
photo: RNZ/Angus Drever
Labour leader Chris Hipkins said the Coalition Government was unfairly targeting Maori and “enough is enough”.
Hipkins spoke at a rally at the City Mission home ground in Auckland on Saturday.
“After this week in Parliament, like every other week in Parliament under this government, we have seen Māori being treated unfairly,” he said in prepared remarks.
He said, The Royal Commission into Abuse in State Care will release its report this week “Exposing our shameful history of abuse”.
“Māori have been disproportionately targeted. They have been ripped off from their families, their homes, cut off from their culture and identity, and subjected to outright racism. They have been beaten, starved, raped and abused.
“We heard from all parties who acknowledged the findings, expressed their horror at what had happened, and pledged to never allow it to happen again.
“Just minutes after the debate on the Royal Commission report ended, the government is once again targeting Maori for Overturned legislation giving Maori seats on local councils,” He said.
Hipkins said the decision ignored the wishes of parliament.
“Council members are asking the Government to step in and let them deal with this, but the Government, backed by the disgraceful right-wing lobby and the racist Coalition Agreement, continues to resist and overturn the decisions of councils and Maori people.”
The Labour leader also condemned Recovery Boot Camp For juvenile offenders.
At the inaugural ceremony, nine of the 10 youth competitors were Maori.
“Despite the government’s outrage at the royal commission’s findings, they are proceeding with plans to reintroduce boot camps, despite boot camps being found to be where some of the worst abuses take place.”
Hipkins also criticised the draft ACT Party pushes for Treaty Principles Bill This information will be made public soon.
“They find new ways every week to silence Maori – and I want to be very clear – they do not represent the interests of all non-Maori people in New Zealand.
“I think most New Zealanders want to see us come together. I think most New Zealanders want us to work towards improving the situation for Maori.
“I think most New Zealanders value Maori culture and identity and appreciate that it makes us unique in the world.
“Who wouldn’t be proud when the All Blacks perform the haka at the start of a Test match?”
Hipkins called for a rejection of what he called “racist and revisionist history”.
He said future generations would not praise coalition leaders for their treatment of Maori.
“We don’t have to worry about Maori success – and we benefit from it.
“When Maori prosper, we all prosper. When we stand united, we support each other and we all benefit.”
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