'Budget for the greedy, not the needy': Pacific leaders clash over who wins in Budget 2026

The political fight over Budget 2026 has escalated with Pacific leaders using PMN’s Pacific Mornings show to launch fresh attacks and defences of the Government’s economic plan announced on Thursday.

In a lively post-Budget panel hosted by William Terite, Green MP Teanau Tuiono, Labour deputy leader Carmel Sepuloni, and National’s Angee Nicholas clashed over whether the Budget offers stability or leaves struggling Pacific families behind.

Nicholas defended the Coalition’s approach, calling it “a responsible Budget” delivered during difficult economic times.

“There wasn't a splurge,” she said. “But it is responsible, it is timely, and it is exactly what New Zealand needs at this time.”

But Sepuloni said Pacific communities would bear the brunt of cuts across government services especially with Pacific unemployment sitting well above the national average.

“Our people are really struggling right now,” Sepuloni said. “Whether it be with retaining jobs, whether it be with getting paid enough, putting food on the table, securing housing, getting access to health care.

Watch Teanu Tuiono, Angee Nicholas, and Carmel Sepuloni on the post-Budget panel below.

“The government have provided no relief, no reprieve for any of our Pacific families.”

Tuiono accused the Government of pouring money into defence while failing to properly invest in Pacific communities.

“Defence, once again, is the biggest winner here,” he said, criticising cuts to the Ministry for Pacific Peoples (MPP), saying Pacific-specific support was disappearing across government.

Political debate over Budget 2026 is intensifying as Pacific communities weigh promises of economic stability against ongoing cost of living pressures. Photo/PMN Composite

“We need specific, culturally appropriate programmes to support our people,” Tuiono said.

“New Zealand is a part of a family of Pacific nations. And this government is good about talking about all of that. But when the push comes to shove, where is it? Not in this Budget.”

Nicholas pushed back strongly, rejecting claims that Pacific communities had been ignored.

“To say that there is nothing in there for Pacific is actually really unfair.” She argued issues affecting Pacific families were the same pressures facing many New Zealanders, including affordability, housing, and safety.

The sharpest moment came when panellists were asked to describe the Budget in one line.

Tuiono responded: “I'd call this a budget for the greedy, not for the needy.”

Te Pāti Māori co-leaders Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer say Budget 2026 delivers the “lowest investment in Māori in 15 years”, warning more whānau are being left behind. Photo/RNZ/Dom Thomas

The panel discussion came as Te Pāti Māori and ACT parties released sharply opposing reactions to the Budget.

Te Pāti Māori finance spokesperson Rawiri Waititi said Budget 2026 delivered “the lowest investment in Māori in 15 years”.

“Māori are not mentioned once in any of the Budget press releases,” Waititi said.

He accused the Government of “sacrificing the livelihoods of ordinary people to pay for war and prisons” and claimed growing inequality was leaving more whānau behind.

“This is not a story of the haves and have-nots anymore,” Waititi said. “This is a story of the have-nots and the have-yachts.”

Meanwhile, ACT leader David Seymour praised the Budget as proof the Government was restoring financial discipline.

ACT leader David Seymour says Budget 2026 proves the Government is making the “hard calls” needed to restore discipline to Wellington. Photo/Facebook/David Seymour

“New Zealand is finally making the hard calls needed to restore discipline to Wellington,” Seymour said in a statement.

ACT highlighted spending on frontline health services, housing reforms, literacy programmes and cuts to government spending, saying the country could not solve cost of living pressures through “borrowing more” or “taxing more”.

The fresh reactions show how Budget 2026 is quickly becoming a key political battleground ahead of the election, with Pacific communities likely to remain at the centre of the debate over jobs, living costs and government priorities.