Outrage over ex-cop's welcome

Ross Dallow. Photo / Brett Phibbs

A citizenship speech by Waitakere City councillor Ross Dallow - father of TV One newsreader Simon Dallow - has outraged a new New Zealander.

The Filipino man says he was incensed by remarks he claims Mr Dallow made during his citizenship ceremony in Henderson on Friday.

The man, who did not wish to be named, told the Herald Mr Dallow described kidnapping as an Asian crime, and blamed immigrants for increasing rates of drug manufacture.

He also described changing immigration demographics as the "browning" of the country, the man said.

"It was like giving a speech on divorce at a wedding. Those are the sorts of things you'd hear at a roast."

But Mr Dallow yesterday said his speech was above board - and based on fact.

He said he did not have any speech notes, but he did draw on his experience as a police officer in his address.

"In another life, I told them, I was a police officer for 36 years and crime is an issue that interests me very deeply in the community," the former district commander said.

But Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey was unimpressed when told of Mr Dallow's speech, and said council staff had previously expressed concerns at the tone of his citizenship speeches.

"You bet your bloody life they have, at his tone and the manner.

"Citizenship ceremonies, which are a celebration, have no place for lectures about race and crime.

"It is a happy occasion ... Unfortunately, Mr Dallow sometimes speaks his mind, and it does often cause offence."

Asked if he thought Mr Dallow was well intentioned, Mayor Harvey said, "No, I don't."

Mr Dallow said his views were far from racist, and he had delivered the bulk of his speech more than 50 times over the past 15 years with no complaints.

"I'm very much a realist when I talk to people. I believe that if you want to send a message out, it could be about how you could assist the police, as I did on this occasion."

Mr Dallow said if a point was important, he would make it.

"I've said there have been instances of kidnappings in the Asian community and that is now behind us, but I do point out that in recent times there have been a number of Asian people involved in the manufacture and distribution of drugs. That's all factual.

"I encouraged them [that] if they know anything about crime, to trust our New Zealand policemen - in some overseas countries [the police] are corrupt - and I would trust them to do the appropriate thing.

"Go to the police, don't be frightened, as they are very safe police here."