Winston Peters is half Maori and half Scottish descent.
Posted on 08/31/2002 2:44:57 PM PDT by Minutemen
NZ swears in first Muslim MP By Christopher Niesche in New Zealand August 31, 2002
NEW Zealand saw the swearing in of its first-ever Muslim MP this week, when Ashraf Choudhary took the Koran in his hand and swore to serve his country.
Advertisement Many welcomed the election of the new MP as a sign of New Zealand's increasing ethnic diversity.
But one man who has not welcomed the trend was sitting across the chamber from Mr Choudhary as he took the oath.
Maverick MP Winston Peters rode to electoral success last month by campaigning against immigration, and since the election has made even more virulent and hysterical attacks on the country's migrants and refugees.
Mr Peters used his first speech to the new parliament to accuse Prime Minister Helen Clark's re-elected Labour Government of treason, and to claim it was bringing in "necrophiliacs, triple-murderers, killers, rapists, fraudsters".
"How many taxi drivers do we need? How many restaurateurs do we need? Are we to eat our way to wealth in this country?" he said. "We do not need shish-kebab makers."
And stepping up the rhetoric in another observation: "Over half of the refugees are carrying HIV or third world diseases. That is a fact."
The manner of Mr Choudhary's swearing in did not escape the ire of Mr Peters, who objected to the new MP using the Koran. "We only have two ways of being sworn in in this country," he said -- meaning swearing on the Bible or taking an oath of affirmation.
The comments have been met with horror by the migrant community in a country that prides itself on its tolerance.
"These things always have the potential to incite some people to violence," said Rolf Berstschi, executive officer of the Auckland Refugee Council.
Despite the condemnation, Mr Peters's views have significant public support.
His New Zealand First party was one of the success stories of last month's election, capturing 10.6 per cent of the vote to lift its representation in the 120-seat parliament from five to 13.
The part-Maori MP and law graduate appears to be trying to appeal to the Maori population, who make up much of New Zealand's underclass.
"We cannot help a New Zealander, but we can help every Tom, Dick and Harry ... and bin Laden first," he complained.
The Peters speech to parliament was in sharp contrast to Mr Choudhary's effort.
The new Labour MP thanked his 100-year-old father, an illiterate peasant who lives in the Himalayan village where he laboured to pay for his oldest son's education.
The associate professor in agriculture said he was proud of his Indian and Pakistani heritage, but he was also a proud New Zealander who would represent "all people irrespective of ethnicity, creed or religion".
Winston Peters is half Maori and half Scottish descent.
"necrophiliacs, triple-murderers, killers, rapists, fraudsters".
"How many taxi drivers do we need? How many restaurateurs do we need? Are we to eat our way to wealth in this country?" he said. "We do not need shish-kebab makers."
And stepping up the rhetoric in another observation: "Over half of the refugees are carrying HIV or third world diseases. That is a fact."
If only someone had the guts to say that here.... of course, they'd spend the rest of their life in the slammer....
We can't speak the truth, here.
and anyway...Diversity is good for us, remember < / sarcasm >
I found the article to be dripping in airs of class superiority to the Maori "inderclass" ... and from an Australian no less.
Peters should win a few more points by telling the Weekend Australian to bu**er off.
So, the DNC is planning its next presidential convention in New Zealand!
I just knew word would get out!
Admin Moderator, I think this thread is in urgent need of retitling :)
There goes yet another neighborhood
Do ya see what you've done! :-)
An MP is a Minister of Parliament, NOT a Prime Minister!
Let's not rush to overstatement like our lost liberal friends.
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