The ongoing coalition talks is leading to uncertainty with Pacific people both regionally and domestically.
Incoming Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has pulled the plug on going to the Pacific Islands Forum and meeting with Pacific leaders in the Cook Islands next week.
Instead he’s sending former National foreign minister Gerry Brownlee, and the former Deputy Prime Minister under Labour, Carmel Sepuloni.
Commentators say while the decision for him not to go to the forum will be understood by Pacific leaders, it’s problematic given Luxon will not have met most of the leaders.
Massey University geopolitical lecturer Anna Powles said it's imperative New Zealand is sitting at the table at the highest level.
"The Pacific will be wanting to hear consistency in New Zealand’s approach – there have been criticism over the last few years that New Zealand has not been present and as on the ground as it could have been," she said.
Pacific leader Sir Collin Tukuitonga agreed, saying it's not a good start as traditionally New Zealand has been a trusted partner but the dynamics are changing with China's influence stepping up.
There’s also concern from Pasifika domestically as they have no representation in a National/ACT combination, he said.
"I think we are going to be in for a rough time. The proposal to disestablish ministries is ill thought out and so the Pacific communities need to step up," Sir Collin said.
"We have to be very vocal, very active to counter some of this nonsense from the ACT Party."
While National confirmed it wouldn't be getting rid of the Ministry of Pacific Peoples (MPP), ACT has doubled down on its intention.
"We don’t see the outcomes that it delivers and we don’t see why it should be continued to be funded with hard-earned taxpayers' money," ACT Party leader David Seymour said.
Recently MPP hit the headlines for spending $40,000 on a lavish farewell for its outgoing, head Leauanae Laulu Mac Leauanae.
MPP has refused an interview with 1News to explain its role.
Sir Collin, who once headed the ministry himself, said it was a fair assessment that their work is not widely known and they need to communicate that to the Pacific people they represent, and New Zealand more broadly.
"It's unfortunate as the ministry did some good things on support for languages, support for jobs, support for home ownership, support for education," he said.
He said his time as head of MPP under the last National government was "not a particularly happy time for me".
It was his existing relationships with the Ministries of Health and Education which enabled MPP to get funding for projects, and is now worried the incoming government "has a rather distorted view with targeted programmes".
Sir Collin said the one size fits all theory is ridiculous.
“If you want to be effective for Māori or Pacific or rural communities, they need to be targeted," he said.
"The idea of universalism has never worked for minority groups – not anywhere in the world – and that’s why you need universal programmes, but you also need targeted programmes."
Exactly how Pasifika will be impacted won't be known until the final makeup of the new coalition is clear.
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