Dear friends,
A few people have asked why I closed the petition and after a brief rest I want to share with you my efforts.
The petition was delivered to the New Zealand Parliament on 27 March 2018. By that stage some 68,000 people had signed it. It was received by Kiritapu Allan on behalf of MPs.
After numerous efforts from both of us, on 24 September 2018 Ms Allan advised me that the petition could not be presented to Parliament for technical reasons.
Meanwhile, in May 2018 the plaintiff commenced defamation proceedings against me in the Wellington High Court. Over the last 21 months we have been working to defend those proceedings.
As you all know, the plaintiff abandoned his case halfway through the trial. We were wholly successful in defending the claim. We will now pursue a claim for legal costs against the plaintiff.
Following our victory in Court, I decided to close the petition and bring to an end two years of hard work.
I consider that the conversation about racism in New Zealand has a new direction following our success in Court. I strongly hope all New Zealanders will continue that conversation.
I want to thank you all for your support over the last two years. It has been a mammoth effort and we achieved this result together. Tēnei te mihi mana ki a koutou e hoa mā.
I am proud of our country. I am proud that we stood together. I am proud that we made it better for us all.
Mā pango, mā whero, ka oti ai te mahi.
With your black and my red, the work will be done.
Ngā mihi,
Renae Maihi