Turia accepts 'edict' on holocaust term

By AUDREY YOUNG

Associate Maori Affairs Minister Tariana Turia pledged she would not use the term "holocaust" again after a late-night Beehive meeting with three of Labour's senior ministers.

"Lest there be any misunderstanding, I accept the Prime Minister's edict that ministers should not use this term," Mrs Turia said in a statement.

"I accept the convention of collective ministerial responsibility and will desist from using that particular term in the future."

Implied in the public declaration was an acceptance that should she use it again, she could expect to be dismissed as a minister.

The commitment emerged late on Tuesday night after deputy Labour leader Michael Cullen, Education Minister and trouble-shooter Trevor Mallard, and Social Services Minister and designated Turia-minder Steve Maharey met her.

Prime Minister Helen Clark is in New York at the United Nations millennium summit.

Meetings were held after she used the word "holocaust" in Parliament to describe what happened to Taranaki Maori last century. She was answering a question from New Zealand First leader Winston Peters.

By using it, she defied an instruction by Helen Clark for her ministers not to do so.

The instruction came after sustained outrage at Mrs Turia using it in a speech last week in describing the effects of colonisation on Maori.

She repeated it on Tuesday, the same day she apologised for causing offence by her speech.

The wording of the statement is believed to have been Mrs Turia's - including the usually pejorative term "edict" for instruction. It is also understood that Mrs Turia needed no convincing she had botched up.

Mrs Turia was absent from Parliament yesterday and Dr Cullen answered questions on her behalf.

It was suggested that with the stress of the past week, she would be advised to rest for a day.