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Ask political party leaders to reject politically violent and extreme language

Dear Political Party Leaders,

We are New Zealanders who are proud to live in a peaceful and respectful multicultural nation. We reject political polarisation. When political disagreement is allowed to be equated as moral failure or used to justify violence (including violent rhetoric), we are on a dangerous path.

We write because of our shared concern about the division being created in our communities and exacerbated by hyperbolic and aggressive rhetoric. Specifically, the use of symbols of war and violence in political messaging, and extreme descriptions of the current Government as 'genocidal' and 'white supremacist' needs to be called out.

There is no doubt that New Zealand is confronting some challenging issues relating to our national identity. Reasonable minds can (and do) disagree about the precise meaning and role of the Treaty of Waitangi. Equating what is a reasonable range of views to 'white supremacy' sets on a course to division and polarisation.

Te Pāti Māori’s use of the language of “genocide”, “white supremacy”, and “extermination” is not only woefully inaccurate to describe race relations in New Zealand, but it is insulting to populations who have experienced this very worst type of violence. It also ignores that the current Cabinet consists of more members with Māori heritage than ever before.

With this in mind, we write to you as leaders of the other five parties in Parliament with the simple request that you rule out working with Te Pāti Māori in any future coalition while they continue to deliberately utilise extremist tactics to sow disharmony and destabilise race-relations in New Zealand.

It is a simple and largely symbolic announcement to make, but it tells New Zealanders that your party is committed to advancing its policies and beliefs in a way that is inclusive and doesn’t seek to make enemies of neighbours.

Te Pāti Māori are entitled to use inaccurate and inflammatory language if they choose, but by ruling out working with them while they continue to use extremist language, your parties can reject polarisation and demonstrate the maturity required to balance political agendas with common humanity.

Those who care about New Zealand do not use their political influence to fan the flames of hate. It is your role as leaders to ensure that this behaviour is called out. Democratic politics is a battleground of ideas, but the fight should be for each of our own versions of the best future for our country, not an arena to tear us apart.


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