MATUA KAHURANGI: Māori advantages in New Zealand

A two-tier system?

The question of race-based privilege in New Zealand has become increasingly polarising. For the left, government policies recognising Māori as tangata whenua are essential to honour the Treaty of Waitangi and correct “historical wrongs.” For others, these policies represent a dangerous departure from democratic equality, creating a two-tier system where rights and opportunities are determined not by citizenship, but by ethnicity.

A viral image circulating on social media starkly lays out the perceived advantages Māori hold, compared with what it claims other New Zealanders have - simply “privilege.” Whether you agree with its framing or not, the list illustrates just how far race-based policy has been embedded across the country’s institutions.

EDUCATION AND SCHOOLS

Māori have a network of kura kaupapa (Māori-language immersion schools), Māori boarding schools, and scholarships reserved only for students with Māori whakapapa. Alongside these, the national curriculum incorporates Māori-specific content that other groups do not receive.

Supporters argue this preserves culture and improves Māori student outcomes. In my view this is exclusionary, given that many non-Māori families also face poverty and poor educational results but lack the same targeted opportunities.

In New Zealand, we pride ourselves on fairness, equality, and opportunity. We are told that success comes from hard work, merit, and commitment. However, at Otago University’s medical school, one of the country’s most “prestigiously woke” institutions, that fundamental promise is being betrayed.

HOUSING, HEALTH AND WELFARE

There are Māori-only housing projects, Māori health providers with government contracts, and welfare programmes that prioritise Māori needs. Even within the prison system, rehabilitation and reintegration schemes are often designed exclusively for Māori inmates.

This approach ignores struggling Pākehā, Pasifika, or Asian New Zealanders who face similar disadvantages but cannot access the same assistance.

CONSULTATION AND GOVERNANCE

The Resource Management Act requires Māori consultation on land and environmental issues. In practice, this often means iwi and hapū can delay or block developments unless they are consulted, or in some cases, compensated. Co-management arrangements over rivers, lakes, and coastal areas give iwi a direct say in governance where no equivalent role exists for other groups.

These arrangements are justified as fulfilling Treaty obligations. However, many New Zealanders view them as undemocratic, as they grant decision-making powers based on ancestry rather than merit or election.

OWNERSHIP RIGHTS AND TAX ADVANTAGES

The image also points to Māori-only ownership rights over parts of the foreshore and seabed, as well as a special Māori Authority tax rate of 17.5 percent. Māori charitable entities enjoy exemptions that no other ethnic group is afforded.

LANGUAGE, MEDIA AND FUNDING

Māori language funding is extensive, with billions invested in revitalising te reo Māori through education, broadcasting, and cultural initiatives. Māori Television, iwi radio stations, and government-sponsored campaigns ensure Māori voices are amplified.

This raises the issue of fairness. While celebrating Māori culture is widely accepted, taxpayers question whether state funding should be prioritised for one language and one culture above all others.

POLITICAL REPRESENTATION

One of the most controversial aspects is guaranteed Māori representation. From reserved seats in Parliament to designated Māori positions on councils, statutory boards, and advisory committees, Māori enjoy representation that no other ethnic group is guaranteed.

This arrangement dates back to the 19th century but has grown increasingly contentious as New Zealand becomes more multicultural. Democracy should mean “one person, one vote” - not weighted representation based on heritage.

At the heart of this debate lies a fundamental question - should rights, opportunities, and representation in New Zealand be determined by equal citizenship, or by ethnicity and ancestry?

Those pushing for co-governance and race-based initiatives argue that they are correcting past injustices. Their opponents warn that such policies entrench division and undermine national unity.

The image serves as a sharp reminder of just how much New Zealand has already institutionalised race-based advantages. Whether one views these as necessary redress or unfair privilege, the trend raises an uncomfortable truth: the country is drifting toward a two-tier society.

If New Zealand is to remain a stable democracy, it must resolve this tension - and decide whether equality means treating all citizens the same, or continuing to grant special rights to one group over all others.

Read more from Matua Kahurangi's substack here