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September 04, 2017
Maori under threat if human rights skimped
Waatea Team
Posted On September 4, 2017
Labour deputy leader Kelvin Davis says National's assault on human rights is a threat to all Maori.
Launching a policy to tackle methamphetamine yesterday, National's police spokesperson Paula Bennett justified giving police new powers to search the cars and houses of gang members by saying some people have fewer rights than others.
Mr Davis, who has just been in Sydney encouraging New Zealanders there to vote, says it sounds like she's taking lessons from Australia, where having brown skin and tattoos now carries the risk of being stopped in the street and questioned about their immigration status.
He says it's the thin edge of the wedge.
"Will this creep in to gang associates. Will they have fewer human rights than others and then by definition almost every Maori in New Zealand is a gang associate because we all have got cousins and uncles who have been in gangs," Mr Davis says.
He says the definition of human rights can't be left to the whim of a minister.
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