Holocaust apology puts minister in hot water

By AUDREY YOUNG

Tariana Turia apologised for her controversial "Maori holocaust" speech yesterday only to find herself embroiled in new difficulties.

"I did not ... mean to belittle survivors of the World War Two Holocaust, or those whose houses have been invaded," she told Parliament in a personal statement.

But when asked by New Zealand First leader Winston Peters whether she felt the use of the term "holocaust" in a Waitangi Tribunal report on the treatment of the people of Taranaki gave her licence to use the term, she replied:

"I believe, yes, you're quite right. I read the Waitangi Tribunal report on the devastation of the Taranaki peoples and I acknowledge they used the word 'holocaust,' which in terms of what happened to Taranaki I believe was appropriate."

The appalled look on the face of Education Minister Trevor Mallard was a sign that her colleagues were not pleased.

It is only three days since the Prime Minister ruled that the term "holocaust" must never again be used in a New Zealand context.

Late last night, Mrs Turia's office went into damage-control mode with a press statement trying to clarify her response to Mr Peters.

In it, she said she thought his question referred to her thoughts at the time she gave the original speech to the New Zealand Psychological Society conference.

"Lest there be any misunderstanding, I accept the Prime Minister's edict that ministers should not use this term [holocaust]," the statement said.

But it may be too late to put an end to the week of political damage her ill-fated speech has caused.

The Associate Minister of Maori Affairs will be spoken to today by senior Labour MPs - possibly by acting leader Michael Cullen and her spectacularly unsuccessful "minder," Social Services Minister Steve Maharey.

Fortunately for Mrs Turia, Helen Clark is in New York.

The Prime Minister's edict was: "I know the [Waitangi] tribunal used it [holocaust] with respect to Taranaki. I do not agree with that and I do not want to see ministers using the term and causing offence again."

And if that message were not clear enough, she reiterated it later on Monday: "I don't accept that the word holocaust can be validly used about the New Zealand experience.

"There are things about the New Zealand experience that none of us should feel proud about. In fact, we should feel ashamed of them. But I would not use that particular term, which has a specific and very tragic meaning."

The Prime Minister could hardly be accused of not making herself clear.

The apology Mrs Turia gave was well scripted and delivered with little fuss, except for the murmurings of discontent by National whenever she used the term "marginalised" to describe Maori.

She cut parts of the original written statement after a barrage of points of order from the Opposition benches.

The unscripted answer about the holocaust came in answer to a question from Mr Peters at the start of question time.

Senior Labour insiders are attempting to paint Mrs Turia's response as the words of an inexperienced minister trapped by a wily and seasoned operator, but until her answer to Mr Peters, Mrs Turia was in fine form.

Without even drawing breath, she delivered a blow to the National leader, Jenny Shipley, who was rather careless with the high ground she chose.

Mrs Shipley: Has the minister seen the statement made by Nelson Mandela at a Sydney conference this week, and I quote: "During the times of tension, it is not the talented people who excel, who come to the top. It is the extremists who shout slogans"? And does she accept that Mr Mandela has accurately described her position?

Mrs Turia: Perhaps I should remind the Opposition leader that it's not that long ago that that particular party [National] called Nelson Mandela a terrorist.

Mrs Turia said her original speech to the Psychological Society had been misreported and she was applauded by supporters in the public gallery when she said she had received many messages of support "from thinking New Zealanders who read the speech."

Mrs Shipley asked her how she reconciled that view with the fact that Helen Clark had roundly condemned it.

Mrs Turia answered tactfully: "I really do believe that mature, intelligent New Zealanders of all races are capable of analysis of the trauma of one group of people suffering from the behaviour of another."

Wendy Ross of the Auckland Jewish Council was one of those first to take issue with Mrs Turia's holocaust comments last week. Last night, she said the Jewish community had never asked for an apology "because we felt it was an affront to all New Zealanders whether they were Jewish or not."

"We do commend Mrs Turia for her apology. But it is a pity that she reinforced the Waitangi Tribunal's use of the word.

"The point of view of Jewish New Zealanders, and I think all New Zealanders, is that we want every individual New Zealand child to achieve their potential. That's what Closing the Gaps means."