Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Justice treatment of Maori more than election issue - academic

Updated at 7:39 pm on 3 October 2011

A lecturer specialising in Maori criminal law is questioning the timing of a Maori Party co-leader's attack on the justice system.

In launching his campaign to hold the Tamaki Makaurau seat in November's election, Dr Pita Sharples said the justice system discriminates against Maori.

He's calling for a complete overhaul of the justice sector - including police, and the Independent Police Conduct Authority - saying the system's unfair, biased and prejudiced against Maori.

A senior lecturer at Waikato University, Matiu Dickson, says the criticisms are important, but it shouldn't just be an election issue.

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