http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/285621/chris-brown-promoter-seeks-backing
Dame Tariana said she would write to the Immigration Minister in support of Brown.
But her comments have dismayed Tiaria Fletcher, from Waitakere Anti-Violence Essential Services (WAVES) in west Auckland.
“I’ve come away feeling very frustrated, very concerned at how within Māoridom, as a Māori woman, we continue to give a voice to those who have perpetrated violence against women.
“Violence against their partners – their wives – and we seem to afford them a level of mana and compassion and forgiveness.
“I think there’s a price you pay before you turn around and become the messenger that supposedly can inform and influence our young people,” she said.
Ms Fletcher said Chris Brown still had a long way to go before he “earned the right” to come into New Zealand and give messages to rangatahi.
“I think there’s another message that Tariana Turia is missing – and that message is the bigger message about us as a country saying ‘no’ to family violence.
“As a country we have amongst the worst family violence statistics in the world, and as Māori, family violence statistics are devastating for us,” she said.