Luxon’s “call it out” comment is not an isolated slip. It echoes a broader agenda from his National-led coalition, which has systematically targeted Māori rights since taking office in November 2023. Take the scrapping of the Māori Health Authority, a body designed to address stark health disparities for Māori people, who on average die seven to eight years younger than non-Māori. Luxon’s government also reversed Labour’s tobacco ban, a policy Māori leaders championed to curb smoking rates, which hit 20% among Māori adults compared to 8% nationally. These moves, cloaked in “equality” rhetoric, disproportionately harm Māori, who face systemic inequities in health and justice.
Then there’s the rollback of te reo Māori in public life. Luxon’s coalition mandated English as the primary language for government agencies, demoting Māori titles like Waka Kotahi to secondary status. In August 2024, he defended removing basic Māori phrases like “tēnā koe” and “Aotearoa” from an invitation to an Australian minister, claiming Australians need “incredibly simple” English. This patronising jab not only insulted Māori culture but also dismissed the trans-Tasman cultural exchange, and set our long-existing mutually beneficial relationship back.
Yesterday, RNZ reported:
'We have to have rules': Christopher Luxon won't say if Te Pāti Māori's punishment appropriate
"I've seen it reported in media that it's [the issue] is about haka and waiata in the Parliament, well that actually happens often. It's actually about not following the rules of Parliament - disrupting the vote, leaving you're seat... not engaging with the Privileges Committee," Luxon said.
"I think it's really important that the rules are upheld because we've got to be able to discuss difficult and emotional subjects in Parliament and debate them. But we've also need to make sure it doesn't degenerate into absolute chaos in the Parliament."
"I've seen it reported in media that it's [the issue] is about haka and waiata in the Parliament, well that actually happens often. It's actually about not following the rules of Parliament - disrupting the vote, leaving you're seat... not engaging with the Privileges Committee," Luxon said.
"I think it's really important that the rules are upheld because we've got to be able to discuss difficult and emotional subjects in Parliament and debate them. But we've also need to make sure it doesn't degenerate into absolute chaos in the Parliament."
Luxon also axed bonuses for public servants learning te reo, calling them wasteful. His government’s cuts to Māori language programs, like the $30 million slashed from Te Ahu o te Reo Māori in 2024, further undermine revitalisation efforts. These actions contradict Luxon’s claim that he values te reo, exposing a double standard that smacks of privilege.
In response to a question about the "Maorification of this country" Luxon said "where we see it we call it out". Is he not aware Maori is an official language as well as being special and precious and unique to Aotearoa?https://t.co/ta8xlfuTrQ
— Greg Presland (@GregPresland) May 19, 2025
Is Luxon a racist? His policies and rhetoric suggest a calculated appeal to a conservative base wary of Māori “special treatment,” a dog-whistle that fuels division. Critics like Te Pāti Māori’s Debbie Ngarewa-Packer have called his government’s approach akin to “white supremacy,” a charge Luxon dismissed as “ridiculous.” Yet, the pattern...dismantling Māori health initiatives, sidelining te reo, and endorsing terms like “Māorification”...points to a leader actively hostile to Māori aspirations.
Luxon insists he’s focused on “outcomes for all New Zealanders,” but his actions tell a different story. Racism isn’t just about overt slurs; it’s about policies that entrench inequity and dismiss cultural identity. The evidence suggests Luxon’s leadership tilts toward the latter, betraying the bicultural promise of Aotearoa developing into a multicultural society where everyone can succeed irrespective of the colour of their skin.
