To: Maurice Winn who wrote (22547 ) 8/13/2002 12:35:00 AM From: TobagoJack Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 74559 Ooh, Maurice, is immigrant rivers of blood a variation on my financial crimson tsunami? Whatever it is or turns out to be, not friendly sounding:asia.scmp.com Tuesday, August 13, 2002 'Rivers of blood' reference sparks row DAVID BARBER in Wellington The nationalist New Zealand First party, which more than doubled its vote in last month's general election after a strong anti-immigration campaign, stirred up a row yesterday by citing late British MP Enoch Powell's infamous "Rivers of Blood" speech predicting that mass immigration would lead to race riots. New Zealand First deputy leader Peter Brown said history had shown Powell to be "very largely correct" and warned New Zealand was heading the same way if it maintained the current rate of immigration. Official figures showed 53,000 immigrants were given residence permits in the financial year to June 30, with record numbers of people from China and India replacing Britain as the main source for the first time. During the election campaign New Zealand First leader Winston Peters dubbed this "immigration running out of control" and accused the government of allowing "Asianisation by stealth". He struck a chord with right-wing voters and the party lifted its number of MPs from five to 13, which would have given it the balance of power had Prime Minister Helen Clark not refused to deal with Mr Peters, choosing instead to run a minority government. Mr Brown's comments indicated New Zealand First is determined to maintain its campaign. Immigration Minister Lianne Dalziel said yesterday: "I thought they were just raising immigration to get votes, but to find that there is something a bit unpleasant underneath it is of considerable concern to me." Mr Brown came to New Zealand from Britain in 1964. He said "the average Englishman has paid a price for mass immigration to that country" in the shape of race riots and New Zealand was "too good to stuff up". Race Relations Commissioner Gregory Fortuin responded: "Anybody who wishes to identify themselves with Enoch Powell I will very definitely call racist."