Young Nats cry foul at no-show
The Young Nats say they have laid a complaint with the Human Rights Commission over a Nelson student association’s move to can their planned political stand at orientation week.
It’s an action that has surprised association student president Abbey Paterson who said the plan for political stands simply came ‘‘too last minute’’ and was cancelled because it could not be organised in time with all political parties.
Labour’s 2017 Nelson candidate Rachel Boyack has called the Young Nats’ move ‘‘dirty politics’’ and ‘‘silliness’’.
The dispute comes after the Student Association of NelsonMarlborough Institute of Technology Incorporated (SANITI) pulled the pin on plans for political stands at its orientation this week.
Nelson Young Nats chairman John Gibson alleged the decision to withdraw the permission came ‘‘after contact with Rachel Boyack, of the Labour Party’’, who is also a former president of SANITI.
It was wrong of the association ‘‘after contact from Boyack’’ to withdraw its offer to the Young Nats, Gibson said.
‘‘Rachel is badly conflicted as the standard bearer of the Labour Party in Nelson.
‘‘The offer to all political parties to have a stand at O-week has occurred in previous years at NMIT and should have been encouraged again.’’
Freedom of political expression was a basic human right, he said.
Together with Young Nats president Stefan Sunde, Gibson had lodged the complaint with the commission on grounds of unlawful discrimination and a breach of the rights of freedom and political expression.
‘‘NMIT and the students’ association should be encouraging increased political participation by young people in all parties rather than blocking it.’’
Boyack hit back at any implication she was involved and released emails between herself and Paterson about the proposed stands.
The first of those emails was dated February 27 and was also sent to ACT, the Green Party and NZ First. In it, Paterson says she was approached by Gibson with a request to set up a stand on campus during a lunchtime orientation event.
Paterson asks for a response from all parties indicating interest. Boyack responds saying Labour would be available and then writes again the next day asking for any update.
Paterson responds: ‘‘Still waiting to hear back from everyone else. If I don’t have any other replies by Friday, I will assume it’s a no go.’’
On Friday morning, March 2, Paterson writes another email saying she has decided to ‘‘pull the pin on having any political groups on campus for O-week’’.
‘‘It is now causing considerable stress for myself and the SANITI team at an already stressful time,’’ she says. ‘‘I have said to John from Young Nats that we would be happy to organise something for later in the year, given more notice and more time to organise it, at a more appropriate time.’’
Boyack questioned why the Young Nats did not discuss the issue with SANITI before lodging the complaint.
She also called for an end to ‘‘dirty politics’’ in Nelson.
‘‘People are sick of seeing politicians bicker amongst themselves,’’ she said.
‘‘The people of Nelson are more interested in discussing important issues like decent healthcare and housing, improving our environment and decent jobs and education for all.
‘‘Busy voters don’t have time for this kind of silliness.’’