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Archived Press Releases 2007 2nd August 2007

SPARKS SURE TO FLY AS MAORI LEADERS FRONT-UP TO CHILD ABUSE

(2nd August 2007)

Sparks are sure to fly as two out-spoken Maori women front up on television in what is promised to be a lively debate.

"Stop mucking around. Get tough with severe sentencing with no parole and let these mongrels know the consequences will be severe. Stand up now or forever bow your heads in shame!”

That’s the message two very out-spoken Maori women will give their MP’s in a televised debate on the Willy Jackson show this Saturday.

Kelly Te Heuheu, Maori Issues spokeswoman for the Sensible Sentencing Trust and Merpeka Raukawa-Tait will go head-to-head with MP’s Dr Peter Sharples and Ron Mark on TV One Eye-to-Eye at 9:30 AM Saturday morning.

Kelly caused controversy earlier this week when she issued a challenge to Maori leaders.

“Where are our so-called leaders? Take your place now and voice your anger and support our children or forever bow your head in shame.”

She also said the situation was a disgrace and that any leader who did not speak out risked losing their mana and did not deserve to speak on behalf of Maoridom nor stand on a marae.

The Te Heuheu family has been the family of chiefs of the Ngati Tuwharetoa iwi for approximately 200 years and has produced many leaders including Sir Hepi Te Heuheu and his son Tumu, the current paramount chief of Ngati Tuwharetoa.

Kelly Te Heuheu is a direct descendant of Sir Hepi, and is defiant in her call for Maoridom to front-up to child abuse.

"Some may call me racist and I don't care – IT IS a race issue, I don’t want to hear any more excuses!”

“Our race has turned into a very violent people – beating and killing their own.” What the hell's going on? It's getting worse.”

Kelly says the recent incident in Rotorua in which a three year old child was brutally beaten and left injured for 36 hours must surely be the catalyst to motivate Maori.

“Sentences need to be tough and severe to ensure these offenders do not get their hands on another child again – lock them up for life, we don't want them near our whanau, hapu or iwi.”

Kelly is calling for Maori to stop the continual denial; front up – stand up and stop the child abuse.

Kelly also took a swipe at the Maori Party asking, “Where are our Parliamentary leaders – many of whom are Maori – will you sit back until more children are killed or battered? "

"Take your place now and voice your anger and support our children or forever bow your head in shame.”

We need to do what works and do what matters, our people need boundaries and they need to be responsible for their actions – no more excuses!

Regards,

Garth McVicar
National Spokesperson,
Sensible Sentencing Trust.