NZ's Pacific voters put political parties on the spot in Māngere forum

Young Pacific people put election candidates under pressure over housing, jobs and the cost of living at a community forum in Māngere on Thursday night.

The forum at the Fale Sāmoa was organised by the Auckland Catholic Diocese's Justice and Peace Commission & Caritas Aotearoa. With young people preparing the questions and helping run the three-hour event. ‘Working for the Common Good of All People with the theme: Hope.

Deacon Sanele Poluleuligaga, the commission’s deputy chair, says the youth-led approach was designed to get more young Pasifika involved after poor voter participation at the last election.

“Because the, like I said, last election, there was poor, you know, voting from the young people, because they felt that it was not good.”

He says many families are still struggling despite working fulltime.

“People are struggling. Even, you know, they work full time, you know, they just can't cope.”

Listen to Deacon Sanele Poluleuligaga's full interview below.

All major political parties were represented at the forum: Greens co-leader Marama Davidson, ACT's Henrietta Devo, National's Agnes Loheni, Labour's Lemauga Lydia Sosene, The Opportunity Party's Adam Macrae-Martin, and New Zealand First's Vicky Hau.

Business, jobs and the cost of living were among the sharpest areas of debate.

When a young person challenged ACT on whether it really supports businesses, Devoe argued that cutting red tape would allow businesses to keep more of what they earn.

Lawyer Sala Josephine Stowers presents for Caritas Aotearoa. Photo/Facebook/Radio Samoa

Labour and the Greens pushed back with the Greens calling for higher taxes for the super wealthy.

National’s Loheni argued that businesses should not be blamed for economic pressures and said they help create jobs.

The candidates also faced questions about families who earn too much to qualify for assistance but are still struggling with rising costs.

NZ First pointed to its supermarket policy while National argued that the answer was to bring inflation down instead of providing another government payment.

Housing was a major concern with candidates offering different explanations for the shortage and different ways to respond.

Poluleuligaga says the housing pressure is something he sees first-hand in the community.

Access to housing continues to be an issue for Pacific people. Photo/RNZ/Cole Eastham-Farrelly

“And the other worst thing, I never knew until the last couple of weeks that the legislation on the giving notice to the landlord ban, you know, now has been dropped down to 21 days.”

He says he has also seen people sleeping outside in Manukau because they cannot afford a home.

“If you drive around, well, you know, in Manukau, you know, this is new to me. Manukau in front of the mall, under the trees at night, you will see a lot of geeks down here. People can't afford to live in their homes, you know, cold.”

Jobs and the future of young people were another concern.

Poluleuligaga says some young Pacific graduates are leaving New Zealand because they cannot find work.

“Our young people, our children, graduate from university, you know, with high honors, and there's no work, no jobs.”

Young people may graduate but are their jobs after graduation? Photo/RNZ/Mary Argue

He says that means some young people leave their families to look for opportunities overseas.

The forum also covered education, climate change, migrant worker exploitation, law and order, faith and values.

Poluleuligaga says the point of taking the forum into the community was to make sure people felt their concerns were being heard.

“That’s why this forum is very important to me, because people need to come and listen.”

The 2026 general election is on Saturday 7 November. Advance voting starts on 26 October. The final day to enrol is 25 October.