ACT leader David Seymour says a cabinet circular directing all public services be delivered according to need rather than race reflects the values ACT campaigned on.
He says under the new policy, all public services will be directed to those who are most in need, according to real analysis of all factors, rather than defaulting to race as a person’s primary characteristic.
He says policies like ethnicity-based surgical waitlists and university admission schemes are corrosive to an inclusive multi-ethnic society.
“This Government is committed to a social investment model and sound use of data in all it does in order to make sure the people who really have the greatest need are those who are getting the help,” Mr Seymour says.
The Public Service Association says a Government edict that public services must be delivered by need and not race puts at risk all the progress being made to improve the lives of Māori.
PSA kaihautū Janice Panoho says Māori remain one of the most disadvantaged groups in New Zealand.
She says the Government is overriding its legal obligations under te Tiriti and washing its hands of the partnership between the Crown and Māori and the Crown’s responsibilty to Māori to rectify its past actions.
Having public service agencies adopt a specific focus on improving the lives of Māori has been common sense policy and one that Labour and National-led governments have supported because it works.
While the Government talks up evidence-based policies, in practice it is ignoring evidence these policies actually work to improve lives.
