Religion kills in New Zealand

In Wellington, New Zealand, a woman, 22, has died during an "attempt to exorcise a Maori curse." It is suspected that she drowned.

Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples said he had witnessed the successful removal of a likely makutu after a child started barking like a dog. "It's not for me to say that it's all supernatural and there's nothing in it.

"With the right karakia [prayer], the right chanting ... [the curse] can be lifted by their own family."

No it can't. There are no such thing as curses; prayer achieves nothing. And the Maori Party, which has four MPs in New Zealand Federal Parliament, should not be encouraging such illogical and dangerous thinking.

(Via)