'Tautua, not lip service': Aupito William Sio warns against Pacific ministry overhaul

Former Pacific Peoples Minister Aupito William Sio has accused the Government of "unwinding decades of service" as it considers major changes to the Ministry for Pacific Peoples (MPP).

Speaking with William Terite on Pacific Mornings, Aupito said plans to cut costs, review programmes and shift the ministry towards a stronger policy role should not be seen as a routine public sector restructure.

"From my perspective, this is really a test of whether the government understands its duty of service to Pacific communities or whether cost-cutting now takes priority over that obligation," he said.

His comments come after Pacific Peoples Minister Paul Goldsmith confirmed during Parliament's Scrutiny Week that officials are preparing a performance plan aimed at reducing costs across the ministry.

The proposal is expected to go to Treasury next month before being considered by Cabinet.

Goldsmith also signalled that some programmes currently run by MPP could eventually be moved into broader government agencies.

Pacific Peoples Minister Paul Goldsmith says work is underway on a performance plan for the Ministry for Pacific Peoples, with proposals expected to go to Cabinet after being considered by Treasury. Photo/National Party

But for Aupito, who oversaw a major expansion of the ministry during the previous Labour Government, the direction of travel is already clear.

"We've had a series of signals now about the Ministry for Pacific Peoples.

"First, when they came in, the big budget cuts, talk of integrating programmes into larger agencies as part of the wider public sector. So this isn't coming out of nowhere."

The future role of the Ministry for Pacific Peoples has sparked debate about how Pacific communities are represented across government and whether services should remain tailored to Pacific needs. Photo/PMN News/Aui'a Vaimaila Leatinu'u

He said the ministry's role has always been bigger than its offices, branding or structure.

"The ministry has a strong legacy of tautua, decades of Pacific public servants and leaders serving our communities inside an environment that's often indifferent or hostile.

"So it's just never been about a logo or a building."

He defended the growth in MPP's workforce during his time as minister, saying it was necessary to meet the needs of New Zealand's growing Pacific population and deliver services where mainstream agencies were falling short.

"What they're talking about is they're cutting the budget. They're moving programmes away. They're shrinking the workforce.

"That's not a neutral reform. That's a political choice to reduce the capacity of Pacific people to serve their own communities from within the government."

The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is facing a review of its programmes and structure as the Government considers cost-saving measures and a stronger focus on policy advice. Photo/Supplied

One of Aupito's strongest warnings was that further cuts could leave Pacific communities with a weaker voice at the decision-making table.

"For years, Pacific officials have said that their work is often invisible. But now to strip back the ministry risks turning that invisibility to silence."

He rejected suggestions that MPP had become a target because it grew too large under Labour. "No. This isn't about the ministry being too big."

Instead, he questioned whether the coalition government fully understood the role specialist agencies play in serving diverse communities.

As questions continue about MPP's future, Aupito said the real issue is accountability.

"Who is now responsible for serving Pacific peoples across government? And how will they be held to that standard?

Listen to Aupito William Sio's full interview below.

"Tautua means service, not lip service. And if these changes leave Pacific with less voice, less capability, and less presence inside government, then whatever you call it on paper, that is not tautua to our people."

Aupito says the real test of any reform will be whether Pacific communities emerge with the same voice, capability and presence inside government that the ministry was created to protect.