MP upset at being asked to sit behind men

Judith Collins

National MP Judith Collins says she will do a "Josie Bullock" and refuse to sit behind the men during Maori ceremonies that are not held on marae.

The MP for Clevedon said sacked probation officer Josie Bullock, who refused to sit behind the men at a poroporoaki (farewell) at a Probation Service office, was "dead right" to make the stand and she would follow her lead.

Last week, Ms Collins attended the opening of a new administration block at Kelvin Road School in Papakura and was asked to sit in the second row for the Maori ceremony.

"It made me feel pretty stink," said Ms Collins.

"If I was a male MP I would have been in the front row. I was simply put in the second row on the basis of gender.

"Yes, I am a woman but first in my job I am a Member of Parliament and I don't expect to be told that when I go into that sort of environment I will be treated as a second-class guest."

She says if the ceremony had been held on a marae she would have accepted the protocols, but it was at a state school and she was attending because she was the local MP.

"There comes a time when your job over-rides your gender."

Ms Collins' stand comes days after fellow National MPs Georgina te Heuheu and Tau Henare urged Maori to protect their protocols by taking them from the Government and bringing them home to their own setting.

And this week the Maori Party called for an immediate inquiry into the use of tikanga Maori (Maori custom) throughout the state sector.

Party co-leader Pita Sharples said questions should be asked about whether the use of tikanga was for the benefit of Maori or of the state.

Party president Professor Whatarangi Winiata said Ms Collins' comments highlighted the need for an inquiry.

National says it would support such a review.

Kelvin Road School board of trustees chairwoman Cyndi Epiha said the school, whose roll was 72 per cent Maori, follows Tainui protocol for ceremonies.

Ms Epiha said if Ms Collins had wanted to sit up front with the men she could have, with "the mana bestowed to her as an MP".

"But in doing so she would have had to be prepared to accept any comments directed from the paepae to her, in front of the community."

Ms Epiha said the custom followed the tradition of men sitting in front to protect the women who were "bearers of life" and was not meant to belittle or humiliate women.

"We believe that the custom observed, which Ms Collins took exception to, is culturally appropriate to our school and community."

Josie Bullock said she thought Ms Collins' stand was fantastic.

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