June 16, 2016
Marae leak crude defection from homeless crisis
Maori Party co-leader Marama Fox says the media need to keep the focus on the Government's response to the housing crisis and homelessness rather than be caught up in efforts to divert attention.
She describes as dodgy a leak from Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett's office that the chair of a south Auckland marae that has thrown its doors open to the homeless is under investigation by police.
"If they wanted to deflect the story, they succeeded. If we want to continue to advocate for the people who are simply looking for somewhere to sleep, if we want to continue to support these marae who have opened their doors to address the issues the government has failed to, I prefer that we got back on topic," Ms Fox says.
She says it's possible Minister Bennett may not have known her staff member was leaking the information.
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