[ACT] ACT Criticises Rata Critic -- Stephen Franks

[a...@parliament.govt.nz]

ACT Criticises Rata Critic

Tuesday 27 Jul 2004
Stephen Franks
Press Releases -- Treaty of Waitangi & Maori Affairs
(view HTML version at: http://www.act.org.nz/item.jsp?id=25906 )

ACT New Zealand Maori Affairs Spokesman Stephen Franks today welcomed
the report of respected Auckland academic Dr Elizabeth Rata - but
expressed concern that Maori Language Commission chief executive Haami
Piripi has only just heard of her.

"Dr Rata is well-known for her research and writing. Someone in Mr
Piripi's position should not only have heard of her, he should have
made it his business to evaluate the vital arguments she raises," Mr
Franks said.

"For Mr Piripi to admit that he had not heard of Dr Rata until three
weeks ago raises serious questions about his fitness for the
position. To go further, and judge her work on the basis of walkouts
by the race bigots who don't believe in debate makes me wonder what he
thinks language is for.

"Mr Piripi is in no position to question Dr Rata's report - Ethnic
Ideologies in New Zealand Education: What's Wrong with Kaupapa Maori.
Should a man who favours boycotts over korero head a language
commission?

"This is debate that New Zealand sorely needs. For too long, the
Labour Government has relied on labelling anyone who questions
anything Maori as `rednecks' or `racists'. Labour's behaviour over
the seabed and foreshore has aggravated that, and done damage to race
relations in New Zealand that can only be mended with honest debate.

"In publishing this report, Dr Rata has shown considerable courage.
She has asked whether the emperor has any clothes. Whether the
anointed like it or not, any government should be asking that question
before spending money extracted under compulsion from Maori and pakeha
- many of whom have interest in language separatism.

"What does language immersion produce? It is proper for us all to
worry if language promotion is a cover for a racist political agenda,"
Mr Franks said.

ENDS

Stephen Franks MP
stephen...@parliament.govt.nz
Phone: 04 470 6636 / 027 492 1983

Fax: 04 473 3532

Chas Te Runa, Press Secretary
chas.t...@parliament.govt.nz
Phone: 04 470 6648 / 027 289 4080

For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or
contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at a...@parliament.govt.nz.