Nanaia Mahuta | |
|---|---|
 Mahuta in 2023 | |
| 28thMinister of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 6 November 2020 – 11 November 2023 | |
| Prime Minister | Jacinda Ardern Chris Hipkins |
| Preceded by | Winston Peters |
| Succeeded by | Grant Robertson |
| 11th Minister of Disarmament and Arms Control | |
| In office 1 February 2023 – 11 November 2023 | |
| Prime Minister | Chris Hipkins |
| Preceded by | Phil Twyford |
| Succeeded by | Grant Robertson |
| 12thMinister of Local Government | |
| In office 26 October 2017 – 1 February 2023 | |
| Prime Minister | Jacinda Ardern Chris Hipkins |
| Preceded by | Anne Tolley |
| Succeeded by | Kieran McAnulty |
| In office 5 November 2007 – 19 November 2008 | |
| Prime Minister | Helen Clark |
| Preceded by | Mark Burton |
| Succeeded by | Rodney Hide |
| 44thMinister for Māori Development | |
| In office 26 October 2017 – 6 November 2020 | |
| Prime Minister | Jacinda Ardern |
| Preceded by | Te Ururoa Flavell |
| Succeeded by | Willie Jackson |
| Member of theNew Zealand Parliament forHauraki-Waikato | |
| In office 8 November 2008 – 14 October 2023 | |
| Preceded by | New constituency |
| Succeeded by | Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke |
| Member of theNew Zealand Parliament forTainui | |
| In office 27 July 2002 – 8 November 2008 | |
| Preceded by | New constituency |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
| Majority | 3,430[1] |
| Member of theNew Zealand Parliament forTe Tai Hauāuru | |
| In office 27 November 1999 – 27 July 2002 | |
| Preceded by | Tuku Morgan |
| Succeeded by | Tariana Turia |
| Majority | 6,233[1] |
| Member of theNew Zealand Parliament forLabourparty list | |
| In office 12 October 1996 – 27 November 1999 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1970-08-21)21 August 1970 (age 54) Auckland, New Zealand |
| Political party | Labour |
| Spouse | William Gannin Ormsby |
| Relations | Tipa Mahuta (sister) Korokī Mahuta (grandfather) Te Atairangikaahu (aunt) |
| Children | 3 |
| Parent |
|
| Occupation |
|
Nanaia Cybele Mahuta[2] (born 21 August 1970) is a New Zealand former politician who served as theMinister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand from 2020 to 2023. A member of theNew Zealand Labour Party, Mahuta served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for 27 years, at first for theparty list and then for three different Māori electorates, latterly forHauraki-Waikato. Mahuta served asMinister of Foreign Affairs from 6 November 2020 to 11 November 2023. She received international recognition as the first woman (and first Māori woman) to hold the Foreign Affairs portfolio. In October 2022, Mahuta became theMother of the House, having served continuously in the House of Representatives since the1996 general election.[3][4] She lost her seat in parliament in the2023 general election toTe Pāti Māori candidateHana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, who was subsequentlyBaby of the House.
Mahuta was born into thekāhui ariki inAuckland, the daughter of SirRobert Mahuta, who was the adopted son ofMāori kingKorokī. Affiliated toNgāti Mahuta, her father was the elder brother of the Māori queenTe Atairangikaahu, and she is a first cousin of current Māori monarchKiingi Tūheitia.[5] Elected to Parliament at the age of 26, Mahuta has had a long and influential career in the Labour Party. She was alsoMinister of Local Government,Minister of Youth Development andMinister of Customs in theFifth Labour Government and Minister of Local Government andMinister for Māori Development in theSixth Labour Government.
Mahuta took a generallyprogressive platform as Minister of Foreign Affairs. She called on theIsraeli government to stop evictions ofPalestinian families from their homes inillegally-occupied East Jerusalem. Mahuta introduced theRussia Sanctions Act 2022, which after unanimous approval imposed various sanctions targeting Russian elites and assets deemed to be complicit in theRussian invasion of Ukraine. As part of New Zealand's membership of theFive Eyes alliance, she condemned thedisqualification of pro-democracy Hong Kong legislators as a breach ofHong Kong's autonomy and rights under theSino-British Joint Declaration. She was the first female MP to wear amoko kauae (a traditional Māori facial tattoo), which was widely praised as a powerful symbol ofIndigenous women.[6][7] In 2018, she was listed as one of theBBC's100 Women.[8] Domestically, she was a proponent of theThree Waters reform programme andco-governance.[9][10]
Mahuta was born inAuckland in 1970 to Eliza Raiha Edmonds, and (later Sir)Robert Mahuta. Some of her early life was spent in Oxford, where her father was undertaking PhD study.[11]
She was educated atKura Kaupapa Rakaumanga school inHuntly and later atWaikato Diocesan School for Girls as a boarder. Firstly she studied law at theUniversity of Waikato, but failed three of her seven papers and had to drop out. She then studiedsocial anthropology and Māori business development at theUniversity of Auckland, graduating with anMA (Hons).[12][11] The title of her 1995 master's thesis wasTe poukai o Waahi : an historical background to the Waahi poukai.[13] She also worked at the university as a researcher/archivist.[14]
She has strong links to theMāori King Movement. Her father, SirRobert Mahuta, was the adopted son ofKing Korokī and the elder brother of Māori QueenTe Atairangikaahu.[5] She is related to the Māori monarch,Ngā Wai Hono i te Pō.[15] Mahuta's sister,Tipa Mahuta, is a long-serving Waikato regional councillor and the co-chair of theMāori Health Authority.[16]
Mahuta is married to William Gannin Ormsby, her first cousin.[17][18] The couple have had three children together (the first died shortly after birth), plus four children from Ormsby's previous relationship.[11][19][18][20]
In 2016, she acquired aMāori facial tattoo (moko kauae) and became the first female MP to wear one in the New Zealand parliament. Other Māori women in parliament—Metiria Turei of theGreen Party andMarama Fox of theMāori Party—spoke of their support.[21]
| Years | Term | Electorate | List | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996–1999 | 45th | List | 8 | Labour | |
| 1999–2002 | 46th | Te Tai Hauāuru | 10 | Labour | |
| 2002–2005 | 47th | Tainui | 19 | Labour | |
| 2005–2008 | 48th | Tainui | none | Labour | |
| 2008–2011 | 49th | Hauraki-Waikato | 10 | Labour | |
| 2011–2014 | 50th | Hauraki-Waikato | 12 | Labour | |
| 2014–2017 | 51st | Hauraki-Waikato | 6 | Labour | |
| 2017–2020 | 52nd | Hauraki-Waikato | none | Labour | |
| 2020–2023 | 53rd | Hauraki-Waikato | 10 | Labour | |
Mahuta joined the Labour Party at the request of retiringWestern Maori MPKoro Wētere and after hearingHelen Clark speak in Auckland.[11] She was also encouraged to participate in politics by members of theMāori Women's Welfare League.[7]
She contestedTe Tai Hauāuru (the replacement seat forWestern Maori) in the1996 elections but lost toNew Zealand First'sTuku Morgan. However, with a list ranking of 8, Mahuta was elected as one of the first New Zealandlist MPs.[22] Mahuta was aged 26 years and 52 days when she was elected (twelve days younger thanDeborah Morris) and was theyoungest member of the New Zealand House of Representatives until the election ofDarren Hughes in 2002.[4]
After completing her first term as a list MP, Mahuta contested Te Tai Hauauru in the1999 election, and won.[23] She transferred to and won the newTainui electorate for the2002 election and held it in 2005.[24][25] That seat was renamedHauraki-Waikato ahead of the2008 general election.[26] She retained that seat until 2023.[27] In October 2022, Mahuta became theMother of the House, being the longest continuously serving female MP (alongside Father of the HouseGerry Brownlee).[3][4]
Mahuta has been placed in high positions on the Labour list in each election she has contested where she has had a list position. However, she opted not to seek a list position in 2005 following theforeshore and seabed controversy and again in 2017 as part of Labour's Māori electorate strategy.[28]
On 8 December 2022, Mahuta confirmed that she would be contesting the2023 general election in order "to ensure that the changes that we've [the Labour Government] been putting through can continue to progress".[29]
In 2004, she joinedTariana Turia, another Labour MP, in voting against thefirst reading of her party's legislation on the controversialforeshore and seabed issue. She did not, however, join Turia when she quit Labour to found theMāori Party. In the bill'ssecond reading, she again voted against her party, but in thethird reading, she changed her position and supported it, saying that it was the politically pragmatic thing to do.[30] In her third reading speech, Mahuta stated that she would withdraw from the Labour Party list at the next election to seek a renewed mandate from her electorate.
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As a first-term opposition MP, Mahuta was appointed as a member of the regulations review committee and the electoral law committee. She was also the Labour party spokesperson for Māori education. From 1999 to 2005, the first two terms of the Fifth Labour Government, Mahuta was variously a member of the justice and electoral, Māori affairs, education and science, local government and environment committees, and was chair of the Māori affairs committee from August 2004 to August 2005.[31]
Following the defeat of the Labour government in the 2008 election, and Labour's successive losses in2011 and2014, Mahuta held various appointments as Labour Party spokesperson for Māori affairs, education, energy and conservation. She was also deputy chairperson of the Māori Affairs select committee in the51st Parliament.[31]
Mahuta has had threemember's bills selected for introduction. Her Resource Management (Enhancement of Iwi Management Plans) Amendment Bill , which proposed giving more weight to Māori inresource-management decisions, was drawn from the members' ballot in 2009.[32] The bill was defeated at its first reading in August.[32] Her Charter Schools (Application of Official Information and Ombudsmen Acts) Bill was drawn and defeated in 2016.[33]
In July 2017, Mahuta's Sentencing (Domestic Violence) Amendment Bill was drawn.[34] The Bill was previously in the name ofSue Moroney and would have allowed judges to consider history of domestic violence when making decisions about sentencing in court. It was withdrawn when the Labour Party formed a new government in October 2017 in favour of broader family violence reforms that were completed in 2018.[35][36]
Labour lost the 2014 general election with its worst result since1922;[37] as a result,David Cunliffe resigned as leader, triggeringa leadership election. Mahuta had been a supporter of Cunliffe and sought election as his deputy in his unsuccessful2011 leadership bid.[38] Mahuta was one of four MPs who sought election as Cunliffe's successor. She announced her candidacy half an hour before nominations closed on 14 October 2014 and was nominated byLouisa Wall andWilliam Sio.[39][40] Mahuta placed fourth in the election.[41] She considered retiring from politics at the 2017 general election afterMaori KingTūheitia Paki changed his allegiance to theMāori Party. However, Mahuta eventually decided to stay on.[42] She was not placed on the Labour Party list at that election in line with Labour's decision for its incumbent Māori electorate MPs to contest the electorate vote only.[43]
Mahuta was appointed a minister in the final term of the Fifth Labour Government. In her contribution to a collection of essays by Māori political leaders, she recalled requesting portfolios other than Māori affairs. She was appointedMinister of Customs,Minister of Youth Affairs,Associate Minister of Local Government and Associate Minister for the Environment in October 2005. She gained the full local government portfolio and also became Associate Minister of Tourism in November 2007.[44]
Mahuta lost her portfolios when Labour was defeated in the2008 general election.[45]
Mahuta served as a cabinet minister in theSixth Labour Government. In the government's first term, from 2017 to 2020, she held the portfolios forLocal Government andMaori Development and also served as associate minister for the trade and export growth, the environment and housing portfolios.[46]
In the government's second term, beginning in 2020, she was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Local Government and Associate Minister for Māori Development. In a 2023 reshuffle she dropped the local government portfolio and additionally becameMinister of Disarmament and Arms Control.[47] Prime MinisterChris Hipkins stated that the change was intended to allow Mahuta to focus on her foreign affairs portfolio and to travel overseas. He also denied that it was motivated by the response to the controversialThree Waters reform programme and confirmed that the Government would continue with the programme.[48]
As Minister for Māori Development, in September 2019, Mahuta delivered a tearful and emotional speech as Parliament officially apologised for a police raid in 1916 on Māori leaderRua Kenana's Iharaira faith's compound inMaungapohatu in theNorth Island'sBay of Plenty Region.[49]
On 4 December 2020, Mahuta, in her role as Minister of Local Government, informed theTauranga City Council of her intention to appoint commissioners following infighting within the city council that had led to the resignation of theMayor of Tauranga Tenby Powell on 19 November.Local Government New Zealand supported the move to appoint commissioners in order to get the city's governance "back on track."[50] On 18 December, Mahuta confirmed that the Government would be appointing commissioners to administer Tauranga since the City Council did not provide "sufficient evidence" about how it was addressing the city's governance issues. However, a review by law firmRussell McVeagh found Mahuta's decision may have been "unlawful" because she failed to adequately consider lesser alternatives, such as the appointment of a crown manager.[51] Then local Tauranga MP, Simon Bridges called the appointment of commissioners "dramatic and draconian."[52]
The commissioners' terms began in early 2021 and were scheduled to run until the2022 New Zealand local elections in October 2022.[53]
In mid–March 2022, Mahuta confirmed that Tauranga would continue to be run by four commissioners until July 2024, citing the substantial infrastructure challenges in the city and the surroundingBay of Plenty Region.[54] However, a legal review by Linda Clark fromDentons Kensington Swan argued that relying on infrastructure challenges as a reason to postpone elections "sets the bar very low and would apply to a wide range of local authorities on an indefinite basis."[55] Clark argued that Mahuta's decision was both unlawful and unreasonable; not meeting the statutory test for crown intervention under theLocal Government Act 2002.[56]
Local Government New Zealand president Stuart Crosby labelled the extension of the commission's appointment "disgusting"[57] while then Tauranga MP, Simon Bridges, cited “power, convenience and control” as the reasons behind Mahuta's decision, and questioned a lack of achievement since the four-person commission was put in place by Labour in February 2021.[58]Victoria University of Wellington public law expert, Dean Knight, said democracy had taken a hit and "should have been restored forthwith."[59]
On 22 April 2022, Mahuta reappointed the Tauranga Commission's chairwomanAnne Tolley and fellow commissioners Bill Wasley, Stephen Selwood, and Shadrach Rolleston; with elected councillors expected to return in July 2024.[60][61]
On 1 February 2021, Mahuta announced that the Government would pass legislation upholding local councils' decisions to establishMāori wards and constituencies. This new law would also abolish an existing law allowing local referendums to veto decisions by councils to establish Māori wards. This law is intended to come into effect before the scheduled 2022 local body elections.[62][63]
On 25 February, Mahuta'sLocal Electoral (Māori Wards and Māori Constituencies) Amendment Act 2021 passed its third reading in Parliament. This Bill eliminates mechanisms for holding public referendums on the establishment of Māori wards and constituencies on local bodies. Mahuta's Bill was supported by the Labour, Green and Māori parties but opposed by the opposition National and ACT parties. National unsuccessfully attempted to delay the bill by mounting a twelve hour filibuster challenging all of the Bill's ten clauses.[64][65]
As Minister of Local Government, Mahuta has played an important role in promoting and implementing the Government's contentiousThree Waters reform programme, which proposes taking control ofwater utility services away from local councils and centralising them in four new entities. Mahuta has argued that the Three Water reforms will give Māori a greater say in the administration of water resources, stating the status of water asTaonga in Māori culture.[66] In early October 2021, fiveChristchurch City councillors demanded that she resign her local government portfolio over the Three Waters reforms. Mahuta rejected their demand, accusing the councillors of "political campaigning."[67]
On 27 October, Mahuta formally launched the Three Waters reforms, which attracted criticism from several local leaders includingMayor of AucklandPhil Goff,Mayor of ChristchurchLianne Dalziel,Mayor of WellingtonAndy Foster, and the opposition National and ACT parties.[68][69][70][71] In response to criticism, Mahuta acknowledged that the Three Waters reforms policy was not popular but accused opponents of spreading misinformation.[72] In March 2022, Mahuta acknowledged underestimating the level of public opposition to the Three Waters reforms and problems with the associated promotional advertising campaign.[73][74][75]
Mahuta introduced theWater Services Entities Bill in early June 2022. As part of the Three Waters reform programme, this proposed bill would establish the four regional water services entities that would take over management of water infrastructure from local councils. Under the proposed law, councils would retain ownership of their water assets through a "community share" arrangement but the new water service entities would retain effective control over these assets. Mahuta also confirmed that further legislation would also be introduced to facilitate the transfer of assets and liabilities from local authorities to the new water services entities, integrate entities into other regulatory systems, and to ensure economic regulation and consumer protection over the new entities.[76][77][78] The National Party, ACT Party, and Communities 4 Local Democracy leader and Manawatū District Mayor Helen Worboy opposed the Water Services Entities Bill, claiming that it would transfer control of water assets from local communities into a new centralised bureaucracy.[77][78]
In early December 2022, Mahuta supported a controversial Green Party entrenchment clause in the Water Services Entities Bill proposing that any future law change on the ownership of public water assets would require 60% parliamentary support or a referendum. Within New Zealand law, entrenchment clauses have traditionally been reserved for constitutional matters in theElectoral Act 1993 such as the voting age. Mahuta's position went against the Labour Cabinet's position opposing the entrenchment clause. In response, the opposition National Party leaderChristopher Luxon called for Mahuta to be sacked from Cabinet for allegedly defying Cabinet's decision not to adopt the entrenchment clause.[79][80][29]
Shadow Leader of the HouseChris Bishop accused Mahuta of failing to consultJustice MinisterKiri Allan on proposals relating to constitutional arrangements. Prime Minister Ardern defended Mahuta and accused Luxon of misrepresenting Mahuta's actions while reaffirming Labour's opposition to privatising water assets.[79][80][29] The Water Services Entities Bill passed its third reading on 7 December with the sole support of the Labour Party. During the final reading, Mahuta argued that the legislation would help address water contamination and quality issues, citing the 2016Havelock Northcampylobacter contamination incident and a recent "boil water" notice in theMatamata-Piako District.[81][82]
On 23 April 2021, Mahuta announced a review into the future oflocal government in the country.[83] Following the release of the independent draft report on 28 October 2022, she said that the New Zealand government was "focused on ways to keep a lid on rate rises...[and would]...continue to support the sector in its efforts to engage with local communities in order to get the buy-in needed for any change."[84] The draft document acknowledged that the "pace of change" risked growing distrust of, and engagement with, democratic institutions and signalled five shift that needed to be made to address this: "strengthened local democracy; authentic relationships withhapū/iwi andMāori; a focus on wellbeing; genuine partnership between central and local government; and more equitable funding."[85] The final report was released in July 2023.[86] In response to a recommendation that the "67 city and district councils and 11 regional councils be reorganised into 15 regional groupings,"Mayor of CartertonRon Mark said that "every council in the country is vulnerable" to amalgamation and expressed concern that theWairarapa area could lose some of its asset base and autonomy if things move "to a more centralisedsocialist viewpoint, disempowering our people."[87][88]
In late May 2022,The New Zealand Herald reported that theMinistry for the Environment had awarded Mahuta's husband William Gannin Ormsby and several family members contracts worth above NZ$90,000, commencing late October 2020. Ormbsy owned a waste management consultancy service called Ka Awatea Services. In addition, the social housing providerKāinga Ora paid Ormbsy's company NZ$73,000 for organising hui (social gatherings) and workshops. At the time, Mahuta held the portfolio of Associate Minister of Housing. The opposition National Party accused Mahuta of unfairly awarding contracts to relatives. On 21 June 2022,Prime MinisterJacinda Ardern defended Mahuta, claiming that she had abided by Cabinet policies and protocol.[89]
In response to a parliamentary question submitted by National MPSimeon Brown, Environment MinisterDavid Parker confirmed that the Ministry of Environment was investigating the process through which William Ormsby, his nephew Tamoko Ormsby and wife Waimirirangi Ormsby were appointed to a five-member advisory working group researching the application of indigenous Māori knowledge to waste management practices. The Ministry claimed that the Ormsbys had been selected for their role because of their expertise and that cabinet ministers were not involved in the selection process. The Ministry also emphasised that the Mahuta family connection had been disclosed from the beginning and that it had sought external advice on the appointments.[90][91]
On 21 September 2022, thePublic Service Commissioner Peter Hughes launched an investigation into four contracts that Ormsby's Ka Awatea Services had made with four government departments: Kāinga Ora, the Ministry for the Environment, theDepartment of Conservation andTe Puni Kōkiri (the Ministry for Māori Development). Hughes had commenced the investigation at the request of both National MP Simeon Brown and Mahuta herself. Mahuta emphasised that she had declared any potential conflicts of interest, abided by the Cabinet manual and supported the Public Service Commissioner's investigation.[92][93]
On 13 November 2022, the Public Service Commission released its report into Ka Wa Atea's government contracts. The report found that Te Puni Kōkiri, the Environment Ministry, and Kāinga Ora failed to manage conflicts of interests by following their own policies and processes while the Department of Conservation had poor contract management practices. However, the Commission's report concluded that it found "no evidence of favouritism, bias, or undue influence over agency decisions" in relation to Ka Awatea Services. In response, Mahuta welcomed the report as a vindication of her assertion that she had no role in approving these contracts. In addition, National MP Brown stated that the Commission's report exposed a "culture of carelessness" in how the public service procured services and managed conflicts of interest.[94][95]
Mahuta was announced as the nextMinister of Foreign Affairs on 2 November 2020.[96] She received international recognition[97] as the first woman (and first Māori woman) to hold the Foreign Affairs portfolio.[98] In addition, she retained her portfolio of Minister for Local Government while becoming Associate Minister of Māori Development.[99]
On 3 November, former Prime MinisterHelen Clark and theMāori Council criticised the international media's description of Mahuta as a "tattooed Māori woman" for focusing on her physical appearance and race.[100][101] On 4 November, right-wing blogger and author Olivia Pierson drew criticism and media coverage for posting a tweet stating that "Facial tattoos, especially on a female diplomat, is the height of ugly, uncivilisedwokedom." In response,Race Relations CommissionerMeng Foon criticised Pierson's actions and said that "Mahuta's kauae moko was special to Māori and should be celebrated." Mahuta declined to comment on the issue. Following criticism of Pierson's post on social media, online retailerMighty Ape delisted Pierson's bookWestern Values Defended: A Primer. Pierson described the delisting of her book as "cancel culture" and claimed she had received death threats.[102][103]
On 18 November, Mahuta joined her Australian, Canadian, British and American counterparts in condemning thedisqualification of pro-democracy Hong Kong legislators as a breach of Hong Kong's autonomy and rights under theSino-British Joint Declaration.[104][105] In response, theChinese Foreign Ministry's spokespersonZhao Lijian warned theFive Eyes countries, stating that "No matter if they have five eyes or 10 eyes, if they dare to harm China's sovereignty, security and development interests, they should beware of their eyes being poked and blinded."[106][107] In response, Mahuta defended New Zealand's commitment to free speech, free media, and democracy.[105]
In mid-December, Mahuta stated during an interview withReuters that New Zealand would be interested in helping to negotiate a truce between Australia andChina, whosebilateral relationship had deteriorated due to Australia legislation on foreign investment and interference, Australian support for an international investigation into the origins of theCOVID-19 pandemic, Chinese blocks on Australian imports and a controversial Chinese post about allegedAustralian war crimes in Afghanistan.[108] In response,Global Times columnist Qian Feng claimed that New Zealand was not suited for the role of mediator since it was part of the same Western camp as Australia.[109]
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On 9 February 2021, Mahuta announced that New Zealand had suspended high-level bilateral relations withMyanmar in response to the2021 Myanmar coup d'état. The New Zealand Government joined other Western governments in refusing to recognise the new military-led government and called for the restoration of civilian-led rule. In addition, aid projects were diverted away from theMyanmar military and a travel ban was imposed on Myanmar's military leaders.[110][111]
On 19 April, Mahuta stated that New Zealand would not let the United States-ledFive Eyes dictate New Zealand'sbilateral relationship with China and that New Zealand was uncomfortable with expanding the remit of the intelligence grouping. Mahuta's statements came amid rising disagreements between the New Zealand and Australian governments on how to manage relations with Beijing. In March 2021, the Australian and New Zealand governments issued a joint statement condemning thetreatment of Uyghur minorities inXinjiang. The Australian Government has since expressed concern about what it perceives as New Zealand Government efforts to undermine Five Eyes attempts to push back on what the Australian Government regards as "increasingly aggressive behaviour from Beijing."[112][113]
In response to Mahuta's remarks, Prime Minister Ardern stated that New Zealand was still committed to the Five Eyes alliance but would not use the group as its first point for messaging on non-security matters. While British media criticised New Zealand for allegedly leaving the Five Eyes club, the ChineseGlobal Times praised New Zealand for putting its own national interests over the Five Eyes.[114]
During a visit byAustralian Foreign MinisterMarise Payne on 22 April 2021, Mahuta discussed the issue of New Zealand deportees from Australia, theISIL brideSuhayra Aden and the two government's differing approaches towards China.[115][116]
On 11 May 2021, Mahuta called onIsrael to stopevictions of Palestinian families from their homes in Israeli-occupiedEast Jerusalem and for "both sides to halt steps which undermine prospects for a two state solution".[117]
Following the2021 Hong Kong legislative election held on 19 December 2021, Foreign Minister Mahuta joined other Five Eyes foreign ministers issuing a joint statement criticising the exclusion of opposition candidates and urging China to respect human rights and freedoms in Hong Kong in accordance with the Sino-British Joint Declaration.[118] In response, the Chinese Embassy in Wellington issued a statement claiming the election was "politically inclusive and fair" and urged the Five Eyes alliance to respect Chinese sovereignty over Hong Kong.[119]
In late January 2022, Mahuta reaffirmed the New Zealand Government's support for Ukraine in response to theRussian military build-up on the Russo-Ukrainian border and urged Russian to reduce tensions in accordance with international law.[120] Following the2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine in mid February 2022, Mahuta and Ardern joined New Zealand's Western allies in condemning Russian actions against Ukraine.[121] As Foreign Minister, Mahuta introduced theRussia Sanctions Act 2022, which imposed various sanctions targeting Russian elites and assets deemed to be complicit in the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[122] The bill passed into law on 9 March 2022 with unanimous support from all members of the New Zealand Parliament.[123]
In mid-June 2022, Mahuta hostedAustralian Foreign MinisterPenny Wong during her first state visit to New Zealand. The two Foreign Ministers reaffirmed bilateral cooperation in the areas of climate change, indigenous, andIndo-Pacific issues.[124][125] The oppositionACT Party's foreign affairs spokespersonBrooke Van Velden criticised Mahuta's few international trips during her tenure as Foreign Minister, suggesting that Mahuta was preoccupied with theThree Waters reform programme. By comparison, her Australian counterpart Wong had undertaken a "grand tour" of the Pacific Islands following the election of theAlbanese government in late May 2022 to counter recent Chinese diplomatic engagement in the region including a bilateral security agreement with the Solomon Islands.[126]
In early August 2022, Mahuta met withChinese Foreign MinisterWang Yi at the East Asia andASEAN summits in Cambodia. In addition to acknowledging 50 years of diplomatic relations between New Zealand and the People's Republic of China, she reiterated New Zealand's concerns about human rights inXinjiang andHong Kong, the2021 Myanmar coup d'état, North Korean missile tests, Sino-Taiwanese tensions followingUnited States Speaker of the HouseNancy Pelosi's visit, and urged Beijing not to support Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Mahuta also accepted an invitation from Wang Yi to visit China.[127]
In response to the2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake, Mahuta announced that New Zealand would be contributing NZ$1.5 million to assisting theInternational Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement's (IFRC) responses in Turkey and Syria.[128]On 5 February 2023, Mahuta visited India and conducted bilateral talks with IndianForeign MinisterS. Jaishankar. The talks centred around taking the bilateral relationship to the next level, including exploring future economic relationship, cooperation in theInternational Solar Alliance, improved air connectivity and private sector collaboration. She also promoted New Zealand's education, trade and tourism sector.[129]
In late March, Mahuta met withChinese Foreign MinisterQin Gang in Beijing. The two foreign ministers discussed issues of concern toChina-New Zealand relations including Chinese military aid to Russia during the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine,AUKUS, Chinese influence in the Pacific, and New Zealand concerns about theSouth China Sea dispute, human rights inHong Kong andXinjiang, and increasing tensions withTaiwan.[130] In late June,The New Zealand Herald reported thatThe Australian newspaper claimed that Qin had harangued Mahuta during an hour-long meeting, citing two anonymous sources. One of the sources also claimed that Mahuta had pushed back against Qin'swolf warrior diplomacy.[131] In response to the report, Prime Minister Hipkins confirmed that Mahuta had a "constructive" conversation with Qin but said that Mahuta had not described the meeting as a "dressing down," adding "it was important to be able to have frank conversations."[132]
In early April, Mahuta along with foreign ministers of three other "Indo-Pacific partner countries" Australia, Japan, and South Korea attended the 2023NATO summit to discuss several global issues including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Chinese assertiveness in the Asia-Pacific, cybercrime and climate change.[133][134]
On 8 October 2023, Mahuta expressed deep concern at the outbreak of violence during the2023 Israel–Hamas war. She called for the immediate halt to violence, the protection of all civilians, and the upholding of international humanitarian law. ACT leaderDavid Seymour criticised Mahuta for not condemningHamas for its terror attacks against Israeli civilians.[135][136] In response, Prime Minister Hipkins unequivocally condemned Hamas' terror attacks, stating that the target of civilians and hostage taking violated fundamental international humanitarian principles. He also stated Israel had the right to defend itself. Hipkins also denied that Mahuta was out of step with New Zealand foreign policy and stated it was a matter of timing.[137] In mid November 2023,TVNZ reported that she had rejected advice by theMinistry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to use stronger language condemning Hamas' actions on 7 October. During an interview with TVNZ journalistJack Tame, Mahuta attributed her Tweet to information she had received from an unidentified party and the developing situation.[138]
During the2023 New Zealand general election, Mahuta contested theHauraki-Waikato electorate for the Labour Party, which she had retained since 2008. On 4 October,1News reported that a Whakaata Māori poll showed that Mahuta was being challenged byTe Pāti Māori's candidateHana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke. While the poll found that Mahuta had a narrow lead of 36% over Maipi-Clark's 32%, 43% of those under 40 years preferred Maipi-Clark while 30% preferred Mahuta. However, 43% of those aged 60 years and above preferred Mahuta compared with 12% of the same demographic for Maipi-Clarke.[139] Mahuta wasunseated by Maipi-Clarke by 2,911 votes, with Maipi-Clarke set to be the youngest member of Parliament in New Zealand in 170 years.[140][27] As Mahuta had chosen not to be on the party list, she lost her place in parliament.[141]
On 11 November, Mahuta formally resigned from her ministerial portfolios. Due to the extension of the Labour caretaker government until the conclusion of coalition talks for the incomingNational-led government,Grant Robertson assumed Mahuta's foreign affairs portfolio whileWillie Jackson assumed the associate Māori development portfolio.[142]
In 2020, Nanaia Mahuta exercised her conscience vote in opposing theAbortion Legislation Act 2020, which decriminalisedabortion in New Zealand. In June 2022, Mahuta published aTwitter post condemning theUnited States Supreme Court'sdecision to overturnRoe v. Wade, which had accorded a constitutional right to abortion in the United States. Mahuta was criticised by Twitter users for hypocrisy on the grounds that she had opposed the Abortion Legislation Act.[143] She supported theContraception, Sterilisation, and Abortion (Safe Areas) Amendment Act 2022 that established a regulation-making power to set up safe areas around specific abortion facilities on a case-by-case basis.
| New Zealand Parliament | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament for Te Tai Hauāuru 1999–2002 | Succeeded by |
| New constituency | Member of Parliament for Tainui 2002–2008 | Constituency abolished |
| Member of Parliament for Hauraki-Waikato 2008–2023 | Succeeded by | |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Minister of Customs 2005–2008 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of Local Government 2007–2008 2017–2023 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Succeeded by | |
| Preceded by | Minister for Māori Development 2017–2020 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of Foreign Affairs 2020–2023 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of Disarmament and Arms Control 2023 | |
| Honorary titles | ||
| Preceded by | Parent of the House[a] 2022–2023 | Succeeded by |
