May 13, 2014
Party hangs candidate out to dry
Former Labour MP John Tamihere says Shane Taurima has been treated unjustly.
The party’s ruling council last night refused to grant the former Television New Zealand broadcaster the waiver he needed to seek nomination for the Tamaki Makaurau seat.
It will now discuss whether to reopen nominations or select the remaining nominee, west Auckland school teacher Will Flavell.
Mr Tamihere lobbied councillors after yesterday’s release of a report which found Mr Taurima used work resources for Labour Party business while he was manager of TVNZ’s Maori and Pacific unit.
He says there was nothing in the TVNZ report that the party didn’t know months ago, and the broadcaster has already paid the price for his actions.
"For an error of judgment in advancing the Labour Party, he lost his job. There is no civil or criminal malpractise there so there are no legal issues. He didn’t advance the interests of his husband’s company by using taxpayer money to go to China. He didn’t use a Thai tiler to advance his interests as part of the Labour Party. This kid’s been hung out to dry," Mr Tamihere says.
He says there was strong support for Shane Taurima among Labour members in Tamaki Makaurau, and the local electorate committee was not consulted about yesterday’s decision.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH JOHN TAMIHERE CLICK ON THE LINK
https://secure.zeald.com/uma/play_podcast?podlink=MTgwNDI=
Copyright © 2014, UMA Broadcasting Ltd