September 30, 2014
Beating comment un-kuia-like
The new MP for Te Tai Tokerau says Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia is trivialising domestic violence in her latest attack on the Labour Party.
In a speech to the Federation of Maori Authorities conference in Whanganui, the outgoing Te Tai Hauauru MP quoted a relative's Facebook posting that Maori returning to Labour was like a beaten wife who goes back for more.
Kelvin Davis says while the Maori Party may be upset at losing two seats, he would expect more from Mrs Turia.
"It's just really poor form to make a political point off something as serious as domestic violence. Quoting a cousin's Facebook posting as if it has got some relevance and meaning, as if it was fact, I'm very disappointed in Tariana for those comments and I would have expected more. It's a very un-kuia-like comment to make," he says.
Mr Davis rejects Mrs Turia's contention that Labour's Maori MPs will be impotent because they sit on the opposition benches, and he intends to work on strategies to tackle domestic violence.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH KELVIN DAVIS CLICK ON THE LINK
https://secure.zeald.com/uma/play_podcast?podlink=MjI2NTY=
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