TheMinistry for Pacific Peoples (Māori:Te Manatū mō Ngā Iwi o Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa; abbreviatedMPP), formerly the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs, is the public service department ofNew Zealand charged with advising theNew Zealand Government on policies and issues affectingPasifika communities in New Zealand. MPP seeks to promote the status of Pasifika peoples in New Zealand by keeping them informed of the issues, then acting as an advocate in dealing withother state sector organisations.[4]
The Ministry for Pacific Peoples' stated objective is to promote the development ofPasifika living in New Zealand so that they can contribute fully to New Zealand's social and economic life. The Ministry advocates for the Pacific community within the public sector by working with other government agencies and departments to meet Pasifika people's needs, and monitoring policies that affect Pacific people. It also encourages Pasifika leadership in public sector organisations whose decisions affect Pacific communities.[1][4]
The current Minister for Pacific Peoples isShane Reti.[5] The current Chief Executive of the Ministry for Pacific Peoples is Gerardine Clifford-Lidstone.
TheMinistry of Pacific Island Affairs was first established in 1990 to look after New Zealand's growingPasifika population. Prior to that,Pacific communities living in New Zealand fell under the responsibility of several government departments including theTe Puni Kōkiri (Ministry of Māori Development) and theDepartment of Internal Affairs's Pacific Affairs Unit. In 1975, Pacific communities established the Pacific Island Advisory Council to address their socio-economic needs. The council established education resource and multicultural centres while the Pasifika communities lobbied for a stand-alone ministry.[1]
On 22 December 2015, the Ministry announced it would be changing its name to theMinistry for Pacific Peoples, to reflect the growing number of Pasifika children born in New Zealand. A new visual identity, designed by two design students of Pacific descent and based around three manu (birds), was also introduced to represent a message of travel, freedom and success.[6][7]
On 31 August 2017, the Ministry relocated its Auckland office fromEast Tāmaki to a new office inManukau, which is home to most of the country's Pacific population. This office is part of a joint hub shared with Te Puni Kōkiri, which deals with Māori affairs.[8]
On 9 August 2023, the Public Service Commissioner Peter Hughes rebuked the Ministry for spending almost NZ$40,000 of public funds to farewell its outgoing chief executive, Secretary for Pacific Peoples Leauanae Laulu Mac Leauanae in October 2022. These expenses included gifts, photography, flowers, ceremonial drummers, and travel and accommodation for Leuanae's family.[9] On 17 August, two men were removed from the Ministry's headquarters after attempting to film staff and seeking comment in relation to sensitive expenditure.[10] Later that day,ACT Party leaderDavid Seymour joked about sending "someone likeGuy Fawkes" to bomb the Ministry during an interview withNewstalk ZB.[11] This was a reference to theGunpowder Plot, planned in 1605 by EnglishCatholic terrorists but foiled at the last minute.[12] ACT has advocated the abolition of the Ministry alongside theHuman Rights Commission andMinistry for Women. Seymour's remarks were condemned byPrime MinisterChris Hipkins, Deputy Prime MinisterCarmel Sepuloni, formerNational Party ministerAlfred Ngaro, andTe Pāti Māori co-leaderDebbie Ngarewa-Packer.[13][10][14][15]
In mid–September 2023, the National Party's public service spokespersonSimeon Brown disclosed that the Ministry had spent NZ$52,587.76 on four post-budget breakfasts this year inChristchurch,Auckland,Wellington andHawke's Bay. In response, the Minister for Pacific PeoplesBarbara Edmonds and Prime Minister Hipkins defended these post-budget breakfasts as part of the Government's wider engagement withPasifika New Zealanders on annual budgets and government policies. Hipkins also accused the National, ACT, andNew Zealand First parties of using Pasifika peoples as a "punching bag."[16][17]
In late March 2024, thePublic Service Association (PSA) confirmed that the Ministry was considering a proposal to cut 63 of its 156 jobs, roughly 40% of its workforce. The Ministry's proposed job cuts were criticised by PSA national secretary, theGreen Party's Pacific peoples spokespersonTeanau Tuiono, and Labour's Pacific peoples spokespersonCarmel Sepuloni, who said that it would hurt the Ministry's ability to support impoverished Pasifika communities. Prime MinisterChristopher Luxon disagreed with the PSA's claim that the Government regarded the Pasifika community as unimportant, describing the job cuts as part of the Government's efforts to ensure a "culture of financial discipline" in response to what he regarded as the previous Labour Government's excessive spending.[18]
The table below lists ministers who have held responsibility for Pacific Island Affairs. Initially, the title used to be Minister of Pacific Island Affairs but was renamed Minister for Pacific Peoples on 22 December 2015.[7]
Whimp, Graeme (2012). "Representing the People: Pacific Politicians in New Zealand". In Mallon, Sean; Māhina-Tuai, Kolokesa; Salesa, Damon (eds.).Tangta O Le Moana: New Zealand and the People of the Pacific.Te Papa Press. pp. 265–284.ISBN978-1-877385-72-8.
$19,863,000[3]