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An altercation has broken out in Parliament over Green Party MP Marama Davidson, who accuses Nicola Willis of National of sharing a “racist and classist” concern about her safety in Wellington.
Willis, who is the National Party’s housing spokesperson, had told reporters earlier in the week that she no longer felt safe in the city of Wellington, as an “explosion” of emergency housing had sparked a growing gang presence. In the city center.
Davidson, the associate housing minister responsible for the homeless, disagreed with Willis’s comments, saying on Twitter: “We must be aware of the racist and class undertones. [sic] in which you are executing your ‘security’ narrative ”.
Willis confronted Davidson about the impeachment in the House Thursday afternoon and asked why the minister had not brought a document to cabinet or issued a press release for nearly five months in office.
ROBERT KITCHEN / Things
National MP Nicola Willis in the midst of a riot with Green MP Marama Davidson over an accusation of being “racist and classist” saying she felt unsafe in Wellington.
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“Are you accusing New Zealanders who express concern for their safety, in relation to the increase in the number of people in emergency accommodation, of racists?” Willis asked.
Davidson issued a reprimand that left Willis and Labor Party MPs cheering in support.
“I am accusing a member, a national member of this House of trying to stigmatize a group of people with little access to power and resources, of trying to create stigmatizing and dehumanizing narratives around groups of people who need our support,” he said Davidson. .
ROBERT KITCHEN / Things
Green MP Marama Davidson on her phone in the House after answering Willis’ questions through a tweet claiming that the national MP had been “racist and classist.”
“Yes, I am accusing a member of National of putting forward that dehumanizing narrative.”
After the applause faded, the National Party asked President Trevor Mallard to speak on “non-parliamentary” language. Mallard sided with Davidson, who said he “circumvented” House rules by accusing Willis of promoting a narrative, not accusing her of being racist.
Outside the House, Davidson told reporters that he was adamant in his comment, but when asked about what he had accomplished as a minister, he abruptly left the press in the middle of the question.
“[Willis] He absolutely has a continuous habit of framing people who are brown and / or poor, as the problem when I am focusing on providing more transitional and long-term safe and secure housing, “he said.
Davidson said the government was providing “absolutely” more transitional housing, citing two announcements that would add 3,000 additional transitional housing.
But when asked how many additional transitional homes were available to live in since she entered the job, not just advertised, Davidson said he did not have the information on hand.
She said she had been engaged in the community since she was at work, she had continued to see the rollout of a homeless housing plan. “I have continued to advance actions to prevent homelessness,” he said.
But instead of answering one more question, his press secretary said “thanks guys, that’s enough.”
Willis “completely” rejected the accusation that he was being racist or classist, saying he would “continue to ask questions about the safety of families raising children amid gangs and criminal activity.”
“The minister must stop hurling unsubstantiated insults and focus on doing her job of addressing the growing concern about the conditions of emergency accommodation,” he said.
