Twins case stirs prejudices, says Sharples

Dr Pita Sharples at Mangere Domain yesterday with Detective Senior Sergeant John Tims. Picture / Dean Purcell

Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples says he is distressed Maori are being criticised "as if we're all responsible for everything that a Maori does, without knowing what is actually happening on the ground".

Dr Sharples was commenting yesterday on a police statement that the Kahui family were stonewalling the investigation into the deaths of twins Chris and Cru.

He said he planned to appeal directly to the family to co-operate with police.

The twins could then be buried today with peace and "the prayers can be meaningful". The family and the rest of the country could then move forward, he said.

"It is upsetting. Even the extended family themselves, the whole community, there is this feeling of unrest throughout. People are using the incident, perhaps, to bring out their concerns and prejudices about New Zealand and our way of life.

"We have a good way of life but we need to take check now. We need to care about each other more."

Dr Sharples and the Counties Manukau district commander, Superintendent Steve Shortland, will lead a dawn vigil at Mangere Mountain on Tuesday for victims of family violence.

Mr Shortland said the ceremony, organised around Matariki, the start of Maori New Year, was a chance to reflect on the human cost.

Family violence prompted 42 per cent of emergency calls the police dealt with in the past year.

Nine of the 12 homicides in the Counties Manukau district since last July were domestic-related, he said.

Half of those affected by family violence as offenders or victims were Maori or Pacific Islanders.