To John and Willie - stand up for Wahine

Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei is calling on Maori men leaders to stand up for their wahine and keep boxer Mike Tyson out of New Zealand.

Mrs Turei today issued a direct challenge to former Labour MP John Tamihere and Urban Maori Authority chairman Willie Jackson to pull their support for Tyson and stop promoting him as a role model for young Maori men.

"When Maori men endorse an unrepentant rapist like Mike Tyson, it hurts women.

Tyson has repeatedly denied the rape he was convicted of in 1992 and continued to reveal hateful, misogynistic views about women.

"As recently as two months ago Tyson spoke about calling his one man show, which supposedly details how he has turned his life around, Boxing, Bitches and Lawsuits. He has joked about Sarah Palin being raped.

"When Maori male leaders tell young Maori that men like Tyson are role models it puts young Maori men, and the women they care about at risk.

"One in four women suffer sexual abuse and Maori women are even more at risk.

"John and Willie should be standing up for their sisters, mothers, and daughters and fighting to keep Tyson out.

"The Green Party believes in restorative justice, the ability for offenders to acknowledge the harm they have done and turn their lives around.

"But Tyson has repeatedly denied the rape he was convicted of and reveals himself as an angry, violent man.

"He is not a role model, and Maori leaders should stop endorsing his hatred of women by calling him one," Mrs Turei said.