Major critic of Māori and Pasifika study rooms Act’s Parmjeet Parmar fronts up to Cameron Bennett on Te Ao with Moana

Act education spokesperson Parmjeet Parmar.

When it comes to gender and race, Dr Parmjeet Parmar believes it’s different.

“So, men and women are genetically, you know, inherently different. But races are not and we have fought hard to be inclusive.”

Parmar emigrated from India in 1995, attained her PhD in Biological Sciences at Auckland University. A National Party MP for two terms, she is now the Act Party education spokesperson. Parmar sat down with veteran reporter Cameron Bennett on Te Ao with Moana for a frank discussion about Māori and Pasifika dedicated spaces which she has been a critic of.

Shared spaces at Auckland University for Māori and Pasifika students. A student says they're vital for wellbeing and to counter discrimination they face on a daily basis.

It all began when the Act Party had shared a photo on X of a sign at university which read ‘This is a designated area for Māori and Pasifika students’.

When put to her by Bennett that universities provide a wide range of spaces including Queer Space, breastfeeding rooms and women’s space, Parmar replied: “So, this space is on the basis of students’ race. And what disturbs me, what I’ve heard is the suggestion that for Māori and Pasifika students to succeed, somehow, they need to be isolated from non-Māori and non-Pasifika. And that, in my view, sends negative messages at so many different levels.”

Cameron Bennett.

Bennett asked Parmar who were the victims in this whole situation. The MP replied it was ‘all students’ and suggested that by staying in the common rooms, Māori and Pasifika students missed out being exposed to other cultures. When asked about evidence to back up her claims, the Act Party spokesperson was unable to.

“So, the thing is if you don’t get exposure to some cultures, some ethnicities, obviously you’re going to form some views about them. This is going to create mistrust and create friction. But when people work together, they understand each other, where they’re coming from, it’ll create that environment of harmony. And that is what I would like to see.”

Watch the full interview on Monday 8pm on Te Ao with Moana (Whakaata Māori)