Maori Party confirms Fox's violent history

Woman speaks out

JOHN SELKIRK/Dominion Post

PAST REVEALED: The Maori Party is standing by election candidate Derek Fox after revelations about his history of domestic violence.

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Maori Party president Whatarangi Winiata says election candidate Derek Fox's history of domestic violence should not stop him becoming an MP.

Prof Winiata confirmed today the party spoke to Mr Fox after New Zealand Truth this week quoted unnamed Maori Party sources as saying the veteran journalist, broadcaster and politician was unfit to become an MP.

"He has been guilty of physical abuse 30 or 40 years ago with his wife, and families dealt with that at the time," Prof Winiata said.

"Subsequently, 15 or 16 years ago, he and his partner at the time had an encounter and Derek reported that to the police."

The woman involved in that "encounter" has broken her silence and said she had to defend herself in a fist fight with Mr Fox, the New Zealand Herald reported.

Mr Fox's former partner, who did not want to be identified, said the fight ended their relationship 15 years ago.

"I was defending myself. I've grown up with sisters, brothers, cousins, uncles who are a pretty tough lot," she said.

"If you want to defend yourself, you fight dirty. That's how I was raised.

"Any bastard that comes at me, he's going to get it.

"We had a full-on fist fight. He's bigger and he won."

Prof Winiata said Mr Fox received counselling on anger management after that incident and did not expect there would be a recurrence.

He said that as far as he knew there had not been a prosecution, and although the party ran police checks on its candidates it had not turned up anything relating to Mr Fox.

Asked on Radio New Zealand whether he thought Mr Fox's history should exclude him from becoming an MP, he replied: "Not when it has been dealt with and the person involved has made what appeared to be a very sincere effort to manage what they see as a personal problem."

The party is standing by Mr Fox, who has refused to comment to the media and has not returned NZPA's calls.

He has issued a statement saying he had done things in his past that he regretted, had taken responsibility for them and believed he was now a different person.

Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia said yesterday Mr Fox would remain as candidate for Ikaroa-Rawhiti, the seat held by Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia.

Mr Fox stood against Mr Horomia as an independent in 1999 and lost by just 695 votes.

- NZPA