New Zealand: Greens say sorry

[Ferre]

Pubdate: Tue, 23 Sep 2003

Source: New Zealand Press Association (New Zealand Wire)

Copyright: 2003 New Zealand Press Association

 

GREENS SAY SORRY FOR OFFENSIVE EMAIL

 

The Green Party today distanced itself from an offensive message sent to

United Future leader Peter Dunne.

 

Greens co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons sent a letter of regret and said the

person who wrote the email was an unpaid volunteer who had been "unable to

restrain himself".

 

The row between the two parties over cannabis was reignited when party

worker Stuart Young sent an email to Mr Dunne calling him a coward for

refusing to debate law reform with Green MP Nandor Tanczos.

 

The email addressed Mr Dunne as "Peter Dunhill", described him as a "dirty

lunger" and said he was "an extremely rude hypocritical scumbag" for not

supporting cannabis law reform.

 

Mr Dunne released the email and responded with a press statement saying it

was typical of the way the Greens debated politics.

 

"It never lifts itself above the level of crude personal abuse, it lacks

good grammar and spelling; and all its assertions fail the test of being

backed by reasoned logic," he said.

 

Today Ms Fitzsimons released the letter she had written to Mr Dunne, saying

she was sorry a party member had used abusive language.

 

"This is not the way the Green Party does politics, and we have pointed

this out to him," she said.

 

"I would like to clarify that Stuey is not a Green Party official, but an

unpaid volunteer who manages the technical side of our website. His message

to you was personal and does not represent the Green Party.

 

Ms Fitzsimons said Green MPs and officials had "resolutely refrained from

replying in kind to your continual personal attacks on the party and MPs

and misrepresentation of our policies.

 

"We are disappointed that, on this occasion, one of our members has been

unable to restrain himself."

 

Mr Dunne and Mr Tanczos have been feuding for months about cannabis policy.

 

United Future is strongly opposed to any move towards decriminalising

cannabis, which Mr Tanczos advocates.

 

While this has been going on, Mr Dunne has been trying to amend smokefree

legislation and replace an outright ban in bars and clubs with a clean air

standard and ventilation.

 

At one point Mr Tanczos said it was time to end the personal attacks and

get down to business in a public debate in Mr Dunne's electorate.

 

Mr Dunne did not like the idea of sharing a platform with the Green MP,

saying it would lower house values in Ohariu-Belmont.

 

Progressive Coalition leader Jim Anderton picked up the challenge and said

he would debate with Mr Tanczos anywhere.

 

The confrontation has not yet taken place.