Fox comments condemned by local leaders

Former politician and broadcaster Derek Fox believes the Charlie Hedbo massacre was because of a Western 'assumption of cultural superiority'. Photo / File

Former Wairoa mayor and Ikaroa-Rawhiti candidate Derek Fox has been widely condemned for saying the French journalists killed in a terrorist attack "paid the price" for their assumption of cultural superiority and arrogance.

Mr Fox, a former broadcaster and Maori Party candidate in 2008, drew immediate criticism from Hawke's Bay politicians for his social media outburst about yesterday's shootings in Paris.

"The editor of the French magazine has paid the price for his assumption of cultural superiority and arrogance, he was the bully believing he could insult other peoples culture and with impunity and he believed he would be protected in his racism and bigotry by the French State," Mr Fox, a former Maori Television chairman, said on Facebook. "Well he was wrong, unfortunately in paying the price for his arrogance he took another 11 people with him," he went on to write.

Current Labour MP for Ikaroa-Rawhiti Meka Whaitiri was stunned by Mr Fox's comments and said freedom of speech and a free press was a "foundation of democracy".

"Life is just too precious to wish or believe people should have lost their lives like this.

"I stand by the fourth estate and believe they have an important role to fulfil in scrutinising all public figures."

Mr Fox, the mayor of Wairoa from 1995 to 2001, added, that "power cultures" use the "old chestnut" of freedom of speech when they ridicule people who "aren't exactly like them, and mostly get away with it".

"The privilege of free speech brings with it responsibilities and has ramifications, too. These guys liked the privilege but didn't think they'd be caught up in the ramification - they were wrong."

He said the barbaric attack in the French capital should "serve as a lesson" to others who "believe they can use the power they wield", through the media, to abuse and ridicule others they believe inferior to them, "just like in this country".

Napier's Labour MP Stuart Nash "completely condemned" Mr Fox's statements and said any attempt to justify the "barbaric" killings was absolute nonsense.

"We are not living in the 10th century these days, there is no Spanish Inquisition going on."

He said Mr Fox needed to "pull his head in" and realise free speech is a foundation of a good and well functioning democracy in the 21st century.

"Anything that limits free speech erodes a good democracy."

Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule also condemned Mr Fox and "strongly" believes in freedom of speech as a pillar of democracy.

He said the fourth estate have the right to publish and write about issues and gather news, "that's how a democracy operates".

Napier Mayor Bill Dalton said Mr Fox's comments were "absolutely irresponsible" and "mindless, pointless stuff". He said freedom of speech was a "basic tenet" of democracy which was well preserved in New Zealand.

Maori Party co-leader Marama Fox said she did not wish to criticise Mr Fox but in "no way supported or condoned" the violence in France.

The New Zealand Press Council also released a statement in response to yesterday's attack, saying: "Our deepest sympathy goes to the journalists and people of France at this time. While this is a dark day for press freedom, journalists and others involved in protecting press freedom must be resolute in the face of such intimidation."