Budget 2026 was National’s chance to stand up for Māori. Instead, they’ve signed off on deeper cuts and more hardship. 

“The most revealing line in the entire Budget is Tama Potaka cutting millions from his own department,” Labour’s Māori development spokesperson Willie Jackson said. 

"Te Puni Kōkiri’s budget has been cut by $23.6 million, with another $73.6 million of cuts already locked in for the years to come. That's nearly $100 million stripped away by the Minister of Māori Development. You couldn't make this up. 

“Te Matatini is also under a cloud with National cutting $27 million from Arts, Culture and Heritage. They need to come clean about whether Te Matatini funding is safe. 

“Tama Potaka’s legacy is that he has dismantled more Māori targeted funding than any other Minister of Māori Development in a generation. 

“There is no new funding for the things that matter when Māori are the most in need. Nothing to turn around Māori unemployment. Nothing for Māori housing. Nothing for Hauora providers. 

“National is making life harder for Māori with more cuts, more pain and higher costs,” Willie Jackson said.