Davis apologises for ‘hurtful’ comments aimed at Chhour

ACTMP Karen Chhour has accepted Kelvin Davis’ apology, after he criticised her for viewing the world through a ‘‘vanilla lens’’.

But Chhour, who is from Ngāpuhi, said his criticism was hurtful and a ‘‘personal attack’’ against her identity as a Māori woman.

The apology followed an exchange on Wednesday when Davis, the minister for children, said Chhour viewed the world through a ‘‘vanilla lens’’ and did not understand te ao Māori.

He was criticising her proposal to repeal a requirement in the Oranga Tamariki Act for the state agency to operate in accordance with Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

‘‘What the member needs to do is cross the bridge that is Te Tiriti o Waitangi from her Pākehā world into the Māori world and understand exactly how the Māori world operates. It’s no good looking at the world from a vanilla lens,’’ Davis said, in a response to Chhour on Wednesday.

Chhour is ACT’s spokesperson for children. As a child she was moved around families under the direction of social services, from the age of nine. By 16, she was living by herself.

After speaking to Davis yesterday morning, and accepting his apology, Chhour discussed how his comments impacted her.

‘‘It wasn’t just the hurt that it made me feel, it was the hurt that it mademy children feel and hurt it made my foster mother feel,’’ she said, tears welling as she discussed the issue with reporters.

‘‘I got a very supportive message from my foster mother last night, that mademe realise that I don’t have to justify my Māori. I can own it. She said there’s more to being a Māori than just the blood, it’s about having aroha and love.’’

Chhour said Davis’ criticism brought back childhood trauma.

‘‘I always felt lacking inmy identity. And I finally found that confidence to stand as a proud Māori woman, and it was taken away from me yesterday,’’ she said.

Davis had doubled down with his comment on Wednesday afternoon, telling reporters: ‘‘She does whakapapa to Māori, but she was raised in a Pākehā world. She needs to cross the bridge that is Te Tiriti o Waitangi so she can understand her Māori world view better.’’

Overnight, he said he had reconsidered his comments and wanted to apologise to Chhour.

He said he had tried to criticise her policy positions, and did not intend to question her identity.

‘‘I made a mistake. I rang her up to apologise. What I said was inappropriate, it caused offence,’’ he said.

Davis said he called Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern early yesterday to let her know he would apologise, and that she agreed he should.

A few minutes before Davis

called Chhour, ACT deputy leader Brooke van Velden wrote to the prime minister’s office, asking for an apology to Chhour. Davis was not aware of the letter when he called.

Another ACTMP, Nicole McKee, questioned Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson in the House about Davis. Robertson did not defend Davis, other than to say he was right to apologise.

‘‘Many things get said in this House and this Chamber, and members reflect on that and make a later decision to apologise. That is exactly what the minister for children has done,’’ he said.