Debate ignites over proposed law to ban race-based uni funding

A proposed law by ACT Party MP Dr Parmjeet Parmar seeks to ban race-based funding in universities, sparking a heated debate over the balance between equal opportunity and addressing systemic inequities.

Critics, including University of Auckland’s Professor Jemaima Tiatia-Siau, argue that eliminating race as a consideration overlooks historical injustices and could hinder access to education for Māori and Pacific communities.

Parmar says her bill seeks to shift the focus from race to individual needs.

She argues, “Race is not always the need. The need is additional academic support, the need is geographic location, the need is economic status, or disability.”

Speaking to William Terite on Pacific Mornings, Parmar says allocating resources based on race can lead to frustration and reinforce bias.

“When a student gets opportunities or resources allocated on the basis of their race, they can also face the stigma of being perceived as a token. Even those receiving the support are not always comfortable.”

But the bill is facing strong opposition from within the university sector.

Tiatia-Siau says the bill demonstrates a misunderstanding and misuse of race and ethnicity.

Watch Dr Parmjeet Parmar's full interview below.

“One failing of this bill is that it uses race and ethnicity interchangeably,” she says.

“Race is socially constructed, based on traits like skin colour, and often imposed externally. Ethnicity is self-defined and includes language, tradition and ancestry, how we identify ourselves.”

Census 2023 figures show that only eight per cent of Pacific people hold a Bachelor's degree or Level seven equivalent, compared to the national average of 27.1 per cent.

Tiatia-Siau says systemic discrimination tied to race creates ongoing barriers for Māori and Pacific communities, and removing race or ethnicity as a consideration in policy ignores these inequities.

“We know that not everyone starts off on equal footing due to historical trauma, injustice and discrimination,” she says.

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“And the status quo has not afforded the same privileges to those who haven’t had a head start in life.”

She says those advocating for a merit-based system based on perceived fairness are missing the point.

“That statement in itself is somewhat racist because it assumes that everyone has been treated the same, when we know throughout our history in Aotearoa that that’s not the case.

“This isn’t about taking away from others, it’s about recognising historical inequities and doing something about them.”

Watch Jemaima Tiatia-Siau's full interview below.

Tiatia-Siau warns that the bill could reverse progress on equity and discourage Māori and Pacific students from enrolling in tertiary education.

“If this bill goes through, it could have a huge impact. It risks limiting access to quality education - not just now, but for future generations.”

Parmar clarifies that the bill applies only to public funding and does not affect private donations.

“If somebody wants to offer private money for scholarships based on race, this bill won’t stop that.”