Culture Wars Escalate in New Zealand Amid Accusations of Anti-Māori Government
New Zealand's right-leaning government, led by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, swiftly triggers controversy by rolling back policies championed by former leader Jacinda Ardern, sparking a heated cultural battle and facing strong backlash from voters
New Zealand's recent shift to a right-leaning government led by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has quickly led to a reversal of policies implemented by former leader Jacinda Ardern. The rapid pace of change under Luxon's National party has surprised many, especially the decision to abandon policies that were seen as beneficial to the country's indigenous Māori population, leading to accusations of being "anti-Māori."
Luxon's government is planning to eliminate the MÄori Health Authority, reduce the use of the MÄori language, and lift the country's restrictions on tobacco sales - actions that MÄori leaders had hoped would decrease smoking rates within their community.
"This disrespect towards our culture has united us in solidarity," stated Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, co-leader of the Te Pati MÄori party, in a fiery address to the parliament in Wellington.
The MÄori King, TÅ«heitia Potatau Te Wherowhero VII, issued a royal proclamation on the same day, calling for a "national hui" - a gathering of the country's indigenous people to discuss "holding the new coalition government to account."
Man extinguishes the cigarette in the ash.
seksan Mongkhonkhamsao/Moment RF/Getty Images
New Zealand's recently elected government has opted to abandon its world-leading smoking ban in favor of tax cuts. This decision has prompted tens of thousands of New Zealanders to protest against the government, with demonstrations organized by the Ngarewa-Packers party taking place across the country.
"The protests on December 5 were a powerful statement," said Ngarewa-Packer to CNN. "They showed that we refuse to accept this, and demonstrated what we can achieve in a short period of time."
"Will the Prime Minister listen? He has no choice," Ngarewa-Packer stated, emphasizing that the Luxon government is under global scrutiny.
She remarked, "I believe it's quite a humbling position for a new Prime Minister to be in." At a press conference during the protests, Luxon defended his new government, calling the criticism "unjust."
"We are determined that MÄori are going to do better under our government than they have in the last six years," he said.
Voter backlash
Ardern stepped down as Prime Minister in January, passing the leadership to her deputy, Chris Hipkins. He tried to shift the focus of their Labour Party policies to address the cost-of-living crisis, but it was not sufficient to prolong their time in office.
Her compassionate response to the 2019 Christchurch terror attack earned Ardern fans around the world. Additionally, her advocacy for climate change action and support for working mothers in politics have furthered her reputation. However, her domestic legacy is hotly debated.
Jacinda Ardern and Chris Hipkins, both now former Labour prime ministers, arrive for a cabinet caucus meeting in Wellington on January 22, 2023.
Mark Coote/Bloomberg/Getty Images
The unsuccessful infrastructure projects in Auckland were criticized for being wasteful, especially as the Labour government increased funding for underprivileged families through their "wellbeing budgets." Additionally, farmers voiced their opposition to legislation aimed at reducing agricultural emissions and safeguarding waterways.
Prior to the election, the leaders of the newly formed conservative coalition government, comprised of The National Party, New Zealand First, and ACT New Zealand, had all vowed to undo certain policies implemented during Ardern's time in office.
Right-wing candidates strongly criticized Labour's perceived expansion of New Zealand's long-held principle of co-governance, which aims to ensure Māori representation in administrative bodies. In the lead-up to the vote, some Māori candidates reported experiencing racist abuse. On October 14, the election witnessed a series of negotiations as Luxon worked to strengthen his narrow lead with smaller political parties.
In late November, the new partners released a 100-day plan that includes reversing initiatives aimed at benefiting MÄori, such as the dissolution of the MÄori Health Authority established in 2022 with the goal of improving the health of indigenous people.
The plan also reverses Ardern's groundbreaking ban on cigarette sales to individuals born after 2008, which is seen as detrimental to MÄori as 20% of MÄori adults smoke, significantly higher than the national average of 8%.
Protesters attend an anti-tobacco protest at Parliament on December 13, 2023 in Wellington, New Zealand.
The MÄori Women's Welfare League and similar organizations are determined to hold Luxon accountable for his claim that reducing red tape will improve MÄori health outcomes. Their focus is on empowering MÄori women and children.
"They are not ideas formed quickly, but are based on evidence gathered over time," stated Hope Tupara, President of the Māori Womens Welfare League.
"We observed the Ardern administration increase government funding for Māori health solutions provided by Māori, for Māori."
"We have reasonable expectations for the public services available to us as part of the population. These services should be accessible to all individuals." According to Richard Shaw, a politics professor at Massey University in New Zealand, Luxon's government is the most openly anti-Māori government he has seen.
"This is the first government that I can recall which has quite explicitly said, well have less of that, not well have more of it," said Shaw.
"So, this really is an awkward, unsettled moment."
Culture wars
In October, New Zealand's voters delivered a devastating blow to Hipkins Labour Party, reducing their seats in the country's single-chamber parliament by 31, leaving them in a difficult position.
The victors may also never feel entirely at ease. Due to New Zealand's mixed member proportional voting system, parties seldom govern independently. Luxon's National Party, which secured slightly more than 38% of the vote, is obligated to form a coalition with the much smaller and more extreme New Zealand First and ACT New Zealand parties. Both of these smaller coalition parties will pull Luxon towards the right.
Proposed bilingual traffic signs by the New Zealand government
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency
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New Zealand First has consistently opposed the official use of MÄori terms in various aspects, including road signs and government departments. The widespread use of the MÄori name for New Zealand, Aotearoa, is viewed by the party as "virtue signalling and politically correct extremism." Luxon's government is expected to prioritize an "English first" approach.
ACT is pushing Luxon to consider the potential for a future referendum on the principles of New Zealand's Treaty of Waitangi, a historic document signed in 1840 between the colonial British regime and MÄori, which established principles of co-governance between indigenous and non-indigenous New Zealanders.
Luxon's statement suggests that the proposed referendum would only result in a discussion by a parliamentary select committee, but academic Shaw from Massey University cautions that openly questioning the usefulness of the treaty could undercut its significance as a historic declaration of equality. According to Tupara, from the MÄori Women's League, the current political situation in New Zealand is not just a temporary cultural conflict.
"We've been in opposition to the government since the 1800s, so this is nothing new for us," she stated. "This struggle for our own identity is a familiar one. The level of resistance to our accomplishments is unprecedented in my lifetime."
The Ngarewa-Packers MÄori political party aims to utilize the strength of past struggles to achieve success in contemporary political conflicts in New Zealand. She has a diverse coalition of forward-thinking New Zealanders, both MÄori and non-MÄori, who are ready to back her up.
In less than 72 hours, we managed to rally tens of thousands nationwide using only our social media, without any additional resources. It was a self-imposed test to determine if we had the ability and resources to assemble an alliance," she explained.
"At times, we require this unpleasant, regressive politicking to serve as a reminder of why we engage in the first place."
