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Ministry for Pacific Peoples

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Ministry for Pacific Peoples
Te Manatū mō Ngā Iwi o Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa
Agency overview
Formed1990; 34 years ago (1990)[1]
JurisdictionNew Zealand
HeadquartersLevel 2
101-103 The Terrace,
Wellington
WELLINGTON 6140
Employees48 FTE staff[2]
Annual budgetVote Pacific Peoples
Total budget for 2019/20
Increase$19,863,000[3]
Minister responsible
Agency executive
  • Ms Gerardine Clifford-Lidstone, Secretary for Pacific Peoples and Chief Executive, Ministry for Pacific Peoples
Websitewww.mpp.govt.nz

The Ministry for Pacific Peoples (MPP), formerly the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs, is the public service department of New Zealand charged with advising the New Zealand Government on policies and issues affecting Pasifika 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 with other state sector organisations.[4]

Functions and structure

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The Ministry for Pacific Peoples' stated objective is to promote the development of Pasifika 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 is Shane Reti.[5] The current Chief Executive of the Ministry for Pacific Peoples is Gerardine Clifford-Lidstone.

History

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Origins

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The Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs was first established in 1990 to look after New Zealand's growing Pasifika population. Prior to that, Pacific communities living in New Zealand fell under the responsibility of several government departments including the Te Puni Kōkiri (Ministry of Māori Development) and the Department 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]

Expansion

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On 22 December 2015, the Ministry announced it would be changing its name to the Ministry 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 from East Tāmaki to a new office in Manukau, 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]

2023 expenditure controversies

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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 leader David Seymour joked about sending "someone like Guy Fawkes" to bomb the Ministry during an interview with Newstalk ZB.[11] This was a reference to the Gunpowder Plot, planned in 1605 by English Catholic terrorists but foiled at the last minute.[12] ACT has advocated the abolition of the Ministry alongside the Human Rights Commission and Ministry for Women. Seymour's remarks were condemned by Prime Minister Chris Hipkins, Deputy Prime Minister Carmel Sepuloni, former National Party minister Alfred Ngaro, and Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer.[13] [10][14][15]

In mid–September 2023, the National Party's public service spokesperson Simeon Brown disclosed that the Ministry had spent NZ$52,587.76 on four post-budget breakfasts this year in Christchurch, Auckland, Wellington and Hawke's Bay. In response, the Minister for Pacific Peoples Barbara Edmonds and Prime Minister Hipkins defended these post-budget breakfasts as part of the Government's wider engagement with Pasifika New Zealanders on annual budgets and government policies. Hipkins also accused the National, ACT, and New Zealand First parties of using Pasifika peoples as a "punching bag."[16][17]

2024 job cuts proposal

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In late March 2024, the Public 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, the Green Party's Pacific peoples spokesperson Teanau Tuiono, and Labour's Pacific peoples spokesperson Carmel Sepuloni, who said that it would hurt the Ministry's ability to support impoverished Pasifika communities. Prime Minister Christopher 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]

List of ministers

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Main article: Minister for Pacific Peoples

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]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Whimp 2012, p. 273.
  2. ^ "Microsoft Word – ise08-v8-ffs-minpac.doc" (PDF). Treasury.govt.nz. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 May 2011. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  3. ^ "Total Appropriations for Each Vote". Treasury.govt.nz. Archived from the original on 20 April 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
  4. ^ a b "What We Do". Ministry for Pacific Peoples. Archived from the original on 30 June 2016. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  5. ^ a b "Cabinet lineup for new government unveiled - who gets what?". Radio New Zealand. 24 November 2023. Archived from the original on 4 December 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  6. ^ "Welcome | Ministry for Pacific Peoples". Mpp.govt.nz. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  7. ^ a b "Our branding story". Our Stories. Ministry for Pacific Peoples. Archived from the original on 21 January 2019. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  8. ^ "New premises for Ministry's Auckland Office". Ministry for Pacific Peoples. 31 August 2017. Archived from the original on 22 January 2019. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  9. ^ "Ministry's $40k farewell for departing chief executive earns rebuke from Commissioner". Radio New Zealand. 9 August 2023. Archived from the original on 17 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  10. ^ a b Smith, Anneke (18 August 2023). "Ministry for Pacific Peoples says staff were abused, lodges police report". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 18 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  11. ^ "David Seymour slammed over Ministry for Pacific Peoples comment". The New Zealand Herald. 24 August 2023. Archived from the original on 23 August 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  12. ^ Steinfels, Peter (5 November 2011). "A Day to Think About a Case of Faith-Based Terrorism". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2 November 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  13. ^ "'Should be ashamed of himself': PM says on Seymour's Guy Fawkes joke". The New Zealand Herald. 24 August 2023. Archived from the original on 23 August 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  14. ^ Iasona, Seni (18 August 2023). "ACT leader David Seymour refuses to apologise for 'clearly not to serious' Guy Fawkes joke". Newshub. Archived from the original on 20 August 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  15. ^ McConnell, Glenn (23 August 2023). "David Seymour thinks it could be funny if people joke about blowing up ACT Party". Stuff. Archived from the original on 24 August 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  16. ^ Swift, Molly (15 September 2023). "Ministry for Pacific Peoples under fire for spending over $50,000 on Budget breakfasts". Newshub. Archived from the original on 19 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  17. ^ "National targets Ministry for Pacific Peoples' $50k post-Budget breakfasts spend". Radio New Zealand. 15 September 2023. Archived from the original on 14 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  18. ^ Desmarais, Felix (28 March 2024). "'Heavy axe to drop': Pacific Peoples Ministry considering 40% jobs cut". 1News. TVNZ. Archived from the original on 2 April 2024. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  19. ^ New Zealand Parliamentary Debates (NZPDs), Vols 457-491.
  20. ^ NZPDs, Vols 505-510.
  21. ^ NZPDs, Vols 492-504.
  22. ^ NZPDs, Vols 511-518.
  23. ^ NZPDs, Vols 519-570.
  24. ^ NZPDs, Vols 571-580.
  25. ^ "Hon Vui Mark Gosche". New Zealand Parliament. Archived from the original on 19 August 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  26. ^ "Hon Phil Goff". New Zealand Parliament. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  27. ^ "Hon Luamanuvao Winnie Laban". New Zealand Parliament. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  28. ^ "Hon Georgina te Heuheu". New Zealand Parliament. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  29. ^ "Hon Hekia Parata". New Zealand Parliament. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  30. ^ "Hon Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga". New Zealand Parliament. Archived from the original on 10 November 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  31. ^ "Hon Alfred Ngaro". New Zealand Parliament. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  32. ^ "Hon Aupito Su'a William Sio". New Zealand Parliament. Archived from the original on 9 November 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  33. ^ "Prime Minister Chris Hipkins reveals Cabinet reshuffle". Radio New Zealand. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.

Further reading

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  • 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. ISBN 978-1-877385-72-8.
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