‘Dangerous’ and ‘retrograde’: Māori leaders sound alarm over policy shifts in New Zealand

Leading Māori figures from across New Zealand have sounded the alarm over the government’s changes to policies that affect Māori, after analysis by the Guardian highlighted the far-reaching scope of the proposals.

The policy shifts proposed by the rightwing coalition have been described by experts as “chilling” and “dangerous” and have created a “deeply fractured” relationship between Māori and the crown, or ruling authorities.

The Guardian examined planned changes and policies already initiated in six key sectors. In these areas, the centre-right National party and its minor coalition partners – the libertarian Act and populist NZ First parties – plan changes to more than a dozen policies that directly affect Māori, or will affect them more than any other ethnicity. Policy changes and proposed shifts include scrapping the Māori Health Authority, changes to language use and reviewing the way the Treaty of Waitangi – New Zealand’s founding document – is interpreted and used.

Margaret Mutu, professor of Māori studies at Auckland University, has called the attempt to redefine the treaty principles the “worst assault on Māori I’ve seen in my 40-year career”. Natalie Coates, co-president of the Māori Law Society, said the government was undertaking a “systematic legislative attack” on Māori that would leave a “deep wound”.