Concerns rise as Govt plans to merge Pacific ministry amid cuts

The former minister for Pacific Peoples has criticised the Government’s decision to review whether smaller agencies, including the Ministry for Pacific Peoples (MPP), should be absorbed into larger departments.

Aupito William Sio describes the move as “extremely depressing”.

He says the Pacific communities of Aotearoa are now experiencing challenges similar to those faced by Māori over the past two years.

“If the government goes ahead with disestablishing the Ministry for Pacific Peoples, it is further evidence that the present government doesn't care about them, Maori or women’s groups at all.

“I also believe it will send a strong message to the Pacific Island Leadership that if New Zealand doesn't care about the Pacific diaspora population of Aotearoa, it has no reason to believe New Zealand cares about the Pacific nations themselves.”

Sir Brian Roche, the Public Service Commissioner, says all options are on the table and argues that the proposed changes could strengthen efficiency and performance across the sector.

Sir Brian Joseph Roche KNZM is a New Zealand business executive and senior public servant. He has served as Public Service Commissioner since 4 November 2024. Photo/Supplied

ACT Party leader and Deputy Prime Minister, David Seymour, advocated for the abolition of demographic ministries during his 2023 campaign.

In an interview on Pacific Mornings, Seymour questioned the value of the MPP and similar cultural portfolios, saying they should be removed as they’re largely symbolic and do not provide essential services.

He also believes that what truly matters is whether the health minister ensures you can see your doctor, or if your children get a good education.

Watch David Seymour's full interview below

"We have a minister for Pacific peoples... but none of these portfolios deliver services. They're created to show voters a government cares, not to actually fix things."

Seymour criticises the current Government structure, which involves 82 ministerial portfolios and 41 departments, describing it as bloated and symbolic.

He supports significantly reducing these numbers to improve accountability and efficiency.

“We have, for example, a minister for child poverty reduction. We all want to reduce child poverty, but having a minister with that title hasn't achieved it. There is no child poverty reduction department. There is no child poverty reduction budget. It's just a title that Labour created.”

Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association, says the term “efficiency” is “code for cost-cutting” which she argues has contributed to the high unemployment levels in New Zealand.

In an interview on Pacific Mornings, Fitzsimons she voiced concerns that disbanding the ministries would “water down” influence and expertise.

Listen to Fleur Fitzsimons' full interview below

“If you look at the Ministry for Pacific Peoples, you've got experts in analysing the impact of government policy on Pacific people,” Fitzsimons says.

“You've got experts who have great relationships in Pacific communities. You've got people who can really respond to government proposals and put a Pacific view on them. So it's a really dedicated expertise that drives the creation of these ministries and the work that they do.”

Concerns about the future of the MPP are not new. Labour Deputy Leader Carmel Sepuloni has questioned if the ministry is being deliberately defunded to weaken its effectiveness.

During a parliamentary session examining the MPP, she asked the Pacific Minister, Dr Shane Reti, whether drastic budget cuts could provide the government justification for its disestablishment.

“I raised that point because this is quite often how this government has a history of doing things,” Sepuloni tells PMN News.

“I also say that because we know that the ACT party is not a big supporter of the population group agencies. In fact, we had David Seymour threatening to blow up the Pacific ministry before the last election.

“So I'm really fearful of what the future of this ministry could be.”

The MPP has already faced significant cuts in Budget 2025. It will see reductions of nearly $26 million over the next four years, which includes the termination of the Dawn Raids reconciliation programme, and the end of the Tauola Business Fund.

Funding for the Tupu Aotearoa initiative, designed to help Pacific people find employment, has been halved over the next four years. Last year, the programme successfully placed 1300 Pacific people into jobs.

In response to concerns around the MPP’s futures, Reti dismissed these worries.

“My role is to champion the ministry to make sure that they are the experts that all of government come to when they want to know about the health, the ambitions, the concerns of the Pacific people diaspora here in New Zealand,” he tells PMN News.