Summarised by Centrist
In an interview with Sean Plunket on The Platform, Don Brash, head of Hobson’s Pledge, defended the controversial wraparound ad in the New Zealand Herald that has ignited criticism from Te Pāti Māori and the Māori Journalists’Association.
The campaign, which cost around $25,000, was accused of being racist, a claim Brash strongly denies, stating, “I absolutely deny being racist. I believe every New Zealander should have equal rights.”
Brash expressed disappointment with the response from Māori groups, calling it “predictable but pathetic,” and criticised the Māori Journalists’ Association for suggesting that Herald staff might need counselling due to the ad. “What are these people, children?” he asked, emphasising that the ad was fact-checked and legally vetted before publication.
When asked about the possibility of debating the Māori Party on the ad’s content, Brash was hesitant, noting that past experiences have shown little progress in such debates. “You don’t make much progress… you’re starting from different points of view,” he said.
The interview also touched on former Prime Minister John Key’s recent comments advising the National Party to avoid race-related debates. Brash found Key’s stance disappointing but not surprising, recalling how Key “ducked some of these tough issues” during his time as Prime Minister.
Brash remains firm in his position that all New Zealanders, regardless of race, should have equal rights, a principle he links to the values of Martin Luther King Jr.
