PM Christopher Luxon says designated Auckland University areas for Māori/Pasifika students ‘highly disappointing’

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says he is “highly disappointed” to see universities offering designated areas for Māori and Pasifika students.

Luxon has taken questions from the media during a visit to Hamilton this afternoon.

On the controversy that blew up yesterday over University of Auckland offering designated areas for Māori and Pasifika students, he said he was “highly disappointed” to see universities offering these on campuses.

He was also questioned on Māori wards and maintained his position that they were not something he wanted as a part of his government.

Deputy Prime Minister and New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters yesterday compared the spaces to far-right racist groups such as the Ku Klux Klan.

Photos show a sign outside a study area in the central Auckland campus saying: “This is a designated area for Māori and Pasifika students”.

The university today stood by its decision to have the designated areas for Māori and Pasifika following an intense backlash.

A University of Auckland spokeswoman said they were proud of the support they provide their students and the spaces would not be taken away.

Luxon called the vandalism on the Karangahape Rd rainbow crossing this morning “unacceptable”.

”We want to be embracing our rainbow community,” Luxon said.

Luxon at the Made complex in Hamilton today. Photo / Mike Scott

He “did not have time” for the vandals carrying out these acts.

Luxon denied his coalition was fostering a culture war, claiming they are “very supportive” of the LGBTQIA+ community.

He has not spoken to his deputy Winston Peters on greyhound racing matters.

”Ultimately Peters has much more knowledge about racing than I do,” Luxon said.

On the Government’s decision to scrap work on the Kermadec sanctuary, he said it was “very important to call time on it”.

He said it was a respectful decision towards iwi and their land rights.

Protestors interrupted Prime Minister Luxon's walk around in Hamilton. Photo / Mike Scott

On proposed job cuts at the Ministry of Pacific Peoples, he denied it was an attack on Pasifika people.

”We have to make sure that public service is delivering for people,” Luxon said.

The previous government’s spending was “wasteful” in the sector and the move was a response to this, he said.

The National leader is visiting Hamilton’s new urban shopping precinct, Made Hamilton, where he’ll likely interact with shopowners and members of the public.

Luxon is expected to laud his Government’s assistance to people struggling with the high cost of living as scheduled increases in benefits and superannuation come into force from Monday.

Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston noted the increases in a statement released earlier today.

“From Monday, parents, students, pensioners, and people on main benefits will all get a little extra to help when their payments increase in line with the cost of living.

“The April 1 changes will see a couple with children receiving Jobseeker Support get an extra $56.48 a fortnight, while single parents will see their Sole Parent benefits increase by $44.02 per fortnight.”

Social Development Minister Louise Upston. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Earlier this year, the Government pushed through legislation to index benefit rates to CPI inflation rather than wages, drawing criticism from the Opposition and child poverty advocates who said it would leave beneficiaries worse off and lead to more child poverty.

Benefits have historically been increased upwards each year by CPI inflation. Benefits will still go up each year, but by thousands of dollars a year less than had the change not been made.

In 2019, the former Government switched the method of indexation to wages, which is similar to how superannuation rates are calculated. Wages tend to rise faster than inflation, meaning benefit rates would rise higher, faster under Labour’s system. The new Government reverted to the old system, which officials believe will save the Crown $669.52 million over the next four years.

Adam Pearse is a political reporter in the NZ Herald Press Gallery team, based at Parliament. He has worked for NZME since 2018, covering sport and health for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei before moving to the NZ Herald in Auckland, covering Covid-19 and crime.