Will Seymour’s Colourblind public service inadvertently lead to the very same outcome
The government’s just dropped a new rule that says the public service needs to be “colourblind” – meaning they going to focus on what people need, not what colour their skin is. This is a big change, and it’s part of the deal between National, Act, and New Zealand First.
The new rule, from the Cabinet Office, says public servants can’t just assume someone needs help because of their ethnicity. They now have to do some proper research and figure out what’s actually going on.
This all started when the Health Minister stepped in and stopped a Hawke’s Bay plan that gave free doctor visits to young Māori and Pasifika just because of their ethnicity. The government reckoned that wasn’t fair, and that agencies shouldn’t be using ethnicity as an excuse to give out special treatment.
ACT Leader David Seymour said “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. This approach is designed to target resources more effectively, addressing disparities and fostering a more inclusive society,”
They’re also ditching Labour’s plan to give 8% of government contracts to Māori businesses. They don’t believe that wasn’t fair either, and it gave some businesses an unfair advantage.
While the government’s new “colourblind” policy aims to focus on need rather than race, there’s a real risk that, with analysis and data collection, it will inadvertently lead to the very same outcome Minister Seymour is attempting to avoid: public services that continue to cater primarily to Māori and Pasifika.
The government’s new “colourblind” public service policy, while seemingly aiming for fairness, raises serious concerns about its alignment with the Treaty of Waitangi. By prioritizing a “one-size-fits-all” approach and scrapping the 8% contract target for Māori providers, the government risks undermining the Treaty’s principles of partnership, self-determination, and redress for historical injustices.
This approach overlooks the ongoing need to address the legacy of colonization and the significant social and economic disparities that Māori continue to experience. By potentially limiting Māori access to services and representation in the public sector, this policy could further marginalize Māori and erode the partnership established by the Treaty.
Focusing on skin pigmentation or race would be a narrow and inaccurate understanding of the Treaty. It’s about recognizing the distinct history, culture, and rights of Māori as a people, not simply a group defined by their appearance.
The Treaty is not an instrument of surrender it is a framework for partnership and reconciliation, and honoring it requires acknowledging the unique relationship between Māori and the Crown, and working towards a future where both parties can thrive.
