뉴질랜드 퍼스트당의 론 마크는 부활절 영업 시간을 수정하는 관련법에 대한 논쟁을 하는 중 국회에서 한국계 뉴질랜드 국회의원 멜리사 리에게 뉴질랜드를 좋아하지 않으면 "……go back to Korea."라는 발언을 했다.

 

이에 오클랜드한인회에서는 Ron Mark(First Party)에게 항의 서한을 보냈고,

다른 당에게도 같은 서한의 내용을 전달하였다.

Rt.Hon John Key(National Party)
Hon David Carter(National Party)
Rt.Hon Winston Peters(NZ First)
Ms. Melissa Lee(National Party)
Hon Peseta Sam Lotu-liga(National Party)
Hon Phil Goff(Labour Party)

이에 Phil Goff는 론 마크가 발언을 철회하고 사과해야한다는 답변을 보내왔다.

다음은 노동당 필고프의원 답신전문이다.

Dear Sung Hyuk Kim
 
Thank you for your email regarding comments made by Ron Mark MP during a parliamentary debate.
 
I agree the comments were utterly unacceptable and I reject the implication contained in them that someone not born in New Zealand but a citizen here has any less right than any other New Zealander to express their views on any issue.
 
The comment was all the less acceptable because it was made in Parliament which both depends upon and upholds freedom of speech.
 
Mr Mark should have withdrawn the remarks and apologised for making them.
 
Yours sincerely
Phil Goff

Phil Goff
MP for Mt Roskill
Labour Spokesperson on Ethnic Communities
Authorised by Phil Goff MP, Parliament Buildings, Wellington

 

 

* 코리아포스트 관련기사 : http://www.nzkoreapost.com/bbs/board.php?bo_table=news_nz&wr_id=15281&page=2

   NZ Herald(2015.11.5) :  http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11540611

  NZ Herald(2015.11.6) : http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11540751

  NZ Herald(2015.11.7) : http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11541406

  Newstalk ZB : http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/politics/ron-mark-go-back-to-korea/