Opposition says Pacific ministry is being 'run down' despite Prime Minister's pledge

Opposition MPs are warning the Ministry for Pacific Peoples is being steadily weakened despite Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's earlier promise that the agency would not be merged during the current parliamentary term.

The concerns follow Parliament's Scrutiny Week where Pacific Peoples Minister Paul Goldsmith confirmed the ministry would move away from delivering community programmes and focus instead on policy advice and coordination across government agencies.

The ministry's workforce has already fallen from a peak of 138 staff to 84 while several programmes have been shifted to other government departments.

Labour MP and Pacific Caucus Chair Jenny Salesa says the changes point to a deliberate effort to reduce the ministry's role.

"They are running down the Ministry for Pacific Peoples and we think that they are running it down deliberately so that they will be justified in closing it down and disestablishing it," Salesa told William Terite on Pacific Mornings.

Salesa said programmes designed specifically for Pacific communities are being absorbed into larger government agencies.

She says this raises concerns that Pacific needs could lose visibility.

"It's clear to us that even programmes that are shown to work in placing young people into jobs, they've taken it to other government agencies, and it's not clear that that particular focus is still focused on Pacific people," Salesa said.

"In terms of our young people who are Pacific, who are unemployed, it's more than double the average unemployment rate for everyone else."

Watch Jenny Salesa's full interview below.

She also questioned whether Pacific communities would continue to have a strong voice within government, saying there are no Pacific MPs in any of the coalition parties.

"There's not one Pacific MP in National, not one in New Zealand First, and not one Pacific MP in ACT," Salesa said.

She argued a standalone ministry remains important because it can advocate for Pacific communities, monitor government performance, and make independent funding bids.

"At a time when our population has grown so much, this is not the time to be getting rid of our ministry."

Green Party Pacific Peoples spokesperson Teanau Tuiono shared similar concerns, saying ministers had failed to clearly explain what services could be affected by the changes.

Watch Christopher Luxon's earlier interview below.

"He couldn't say who, what, where, or when, or just sort of mumbled on about outcomes, et cetera, et cetera," Tuiono told Terite.

"But we do know that those cuts will lead to loss of quality and loss of focus as well."

Tuiono also raised concerns about suggestions that artificial intelligence could help fill workforce gaps as the ministry shrinks.

"I worry about them relying on, saying that they're going to rely on AI, a technology which is not tested, which is not personable at this point in time, and the impact that that will have.

"In terms of Pacific policy, [I prefer] Pacific peoples with the lived experience of our communities."

Listen to Teanau Tuiono's full interview below.

Both MPs acknowledged concerns about past spending decisions at the ministry including the widely criticised $40,000 farewell event in 2023.

But they warned that reducing the ministry's role could have long-term consequences for Pacific communities particularly as Pacific youth unemployment remains significantly higher than the national average.

A final blueprint outlining the Ministry for Pacific Peoples' future role is due to be presented to Treasury on 29 July before being considered by Cabinet.