October 05, 2022
Davis apologises but ACT policy still racist
Children’s Minister Kelvin Davis says while his apology to ACT MP Karen Chhour was genuine, he’s not backing down from labelling ACT’s policies as racist.
Ms Chhour, who has Ngapuhi connections, was upset at being told she was looking at issues through a “vanilla lens” and “coming from a pakeha world” – is genuine. Chhour is of Ngapuhi descent.
Mr Davis says the real issue is her party wants to remove cultural obligations and a commitment to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi from the Oranga Tamariki Act.
“What ACT is suggesting I believe is a throwback to 19th century colonial government policies of assimilation and integration. In their minds the only good Maori is one who has assimilated and has accepted the pakeha world as their world,” he says.
Kelvin Davis says ACT talks about making policy “colour blind” – but all its doing is make the cultural needs of Maori tamariki invisible.