Maurice Williamson. Photo / Dean Purcell
National MP Maurice Williamson has angered New Zealand's Jewish community by saying there were no fat people in concentration camps.
Mr Williamson made the comment in an email to TV One's Close Up after it broadcast an item on Wednesday night debating the merits of surgery as a
tool for weight reduction for the morbidly obese.
On Thursday, host Mark Sainsbury read out Mr Williamson's email, which had been sent in as feedback.
"If some people can't lose weight no matter what ... how come there were no fat people in the Nazi concentration camps?" it said.
Last night a spokesman for John Key, whose ancestry is Jewish, said the National Party leader was unhappy with the comment.
"He believes it quite inappropriate to use that kind of language whatever the reason. He has expressed his displeasure to him."
The Jewish Council has also said the comment was inappropriate.
Chairman Geoff Levy said it was a "very odious" comparison and not valid. "What happened in the concentration camps was so terrible ... you can't compare that situation. They were being starved to death in an environment with no will to live."
President Stephen Goodman said it was an unfortunate comparison but he did not think Mr Williamson bore any malice against Jews.
"On the surface it is offensive but his explanation somewhat modifies it ... Some people would take offence but if you listen to his explanation it is a lot less offensive."
When Sainsbury asked Mr Williamson on air if it was wise to use such an analogy, the MP replied: "Maybe it wasn't".
But he said it was a good example of people getting a very low level of nutrients and working hard.
"No one's saying put them in a concentration camp but it is important to know that if you are working hard burning calories and not taking them into your mouth you won't put on weight."
Mr Williamson yesterday apologised for his comments, which he said he now regretted.
The comments follow remarks by a British doctor who said the obese were being treated as if they had a medical problem when often they simply ate too much and exercised too little.
