An unprecedented attack: 24 ways this Government has targeted Māori

Tuesday, 30 June 2026

Joel Maxwell (Te Rarawa) is a senior journalist.

OPINION: I suddenly realised the other day that I take this Coalition Government extremely personally. If you’re Māori like me, then you should too. Because it is personal.

Under Christopher Luxon, Winston Peters and David Seymour, this Government has been an affront to our commonly held civic virtues, a rejection of our better nature as a nation - and a betrayal of Māori, full stop.

When I think of the cynicism, hopelessness and plain exhaustion this fuelled in Māori, who were starting to feel the tiniest bit of empowerment, I take it personally.

I take it personally that the last three years have been about putting us back in our place - none of which made the slightest improvement for anyone except big corporations and racists who get a thrill at the thought of fellow New Zealanders becoming poorer, unhappier and sicker.

Read this story in te reo Māori and English here. / Pānuitia tēnei i te reo Māori me te reo Pākehā ki konei.

Frankly we have so much to worry about just getting meals on the table and a roof over our heads, because when the economy is weak then it’s always - always - worse for Māori.

In an exclusive interview, former Attorney-General Chris Finlayson urges the Government to ditch its plan to rewrite marine title law, warning it sends the message to Māori that “their rights are always under attack.”

And let’s be honest, the economy kinda stinks. I take it personally then that this Government made backsliding on race relations its central project.

Don’t believe me? Consider the following, arranged in no particular order, then tell me there hasn't been an unprecedented attack on Māori. I think a national crisis happened but just got hidden behind its own shamelessness.

There was the axing of school board Treaty obligations.

There was ACT’s failed Treaty principles bill that caused nationwide outrage.

The Government removed Treaty obligations from the Oranga Tamariki Act.

Health Minister Simeon Brown defends his decision to replace Medical Council leadership, denying union claims of ideological interference over cultural competence guidelines. Dr Kenneth Clarke takes over as the new chairperson.

The Government will specifically dump requirements for “respectful interaction with Māori” in cultural competencies in its new health regulation bill.

Te Pati Maori leads protests through Wellington protesting the incoming National led coalition government's policy towards Maori and the Treaty.

The Government has already started to remove members from health regulatory boards who are “too ideological” on things like cultural safety for Maori.

Māori names for ministries and departments were deprioritised behind the English ones.

The Government was keen to use less Māori language in general across the public sector.

“I suddenly realised the other day that I take this Coalition Government extremely personally,” says Joel Maxwell.

Pae Ora (Disestablishment of Māori Health Authority) Amendment Bill - First Reading

The reo Māori road sign programme was quietly mothballed despite the more-than $1 million already spent.

Three Waters was dumped largely because it offered some small amount of co-governance with iwi.

There is the push to force a referendum on the future of the Māori electoral seats.

There is also the bill underway to enshrine English as an official language of New Zealand simply to troll Māori and reo supporters.

The Government scrapped the lowered bowel-screening age for Māori and Pasifika.

Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour says if you work 1000 days straight he will register to vote for you. Otherwise, you should not be enrolling to vote on election day.

Māori health agency Te Aka Whai Ora was axed.

The Government reversed law changes easing the creation of Māori wards in councils: 24 councils had their wards cut.

The anti-smoking law was unrolled - disproportionately affecting Māori.

A request to change the suburb of Petone (a nonsense word) to Pito One, was refused - and so was the proposed change to Kororāreka from Russell (both small but still petty decisions).

More than 150 people march to show their love of te reo in central Christchurch.

The Government has initiated a bill to depower Te Tiriti in a raft of important legislation.

The Government changed the law on electoral enrolment that would likely depress Māori voter turnout.

A review of the “activist” Waitangi Tribunal and the law that created it was launched.

The regulatory standards law was passed, setting up what one Treaty expert described as an “anti-Waitangi Tribunal” to evaluate regulation.

The education minister removed reo Māori words from beginner phonics books in schools - including one called At the Marae (Now presumably called At the [redacted]).

The Government passed a law that made claiming customary marine titles harder for Māori.

And the Government yank ed $30m for upskilling teachers in te reo, saying it would be better spent on maths.

When I think of hearing my kid speak te reo for the first time in kōhanga with friends, I remember the wonder and pride I felt. Learning the language myself as a Māori man has taught me about my culture and myself and let me join in a kōrero stretching back centuries. Humbling and just plain marvellous.

These types of personal things make me take the last three years the most personally.

If you feel the same, then might I suggest the revolution starts here.