THE "MOST RACIST GOVERNMENT EVER"? GIVE ME A BREAK.

THE "MOST RACIST GOVERNMENT EVER"? GIVE ME A BREAK.

From Duncan Garner - Editor In Chief by rova

June 5, 2026 · 11 min

About this episode

Duncan Garner challenges claims of the current government being the most racist in New Zealand's history by comparing it to past discriminatory policies.

Tainui leader Tukoroirangi Morgan has claimed at the Waitangi Tribunal that Christopher Luxon's National-led government is the most racist New Zealand has ever seen. Duncan Garner says it is time to call this out and hold Tuku's feet to the fire because the claim simply doesn't survive contact with reality. To call this political landscape the most discriminatory in our history means completely forgetting the past. We look back at the Foreshore and Seabed legislation under Helen Clark's Labour government, which actually stripped Māori of their legal rights to have customary claims tested in court. That was real discrimination that fractured relationships and birthed the Māori Party. This current government continues to fund Māori language education, kura kaupapa schools, Te Māngai Pāho, housing projects, and fully protects the budget for Te Matatini while other departments face massive cuts. Disagree with co-governance debates all you want, but calling this racial persecution is ridiculous. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People in this episode

Host: Duncan Garner

Guest: Tukoroirangi Morgan

Topics covered

  • racism
  • politics
  • Māori rights
  • government policies
  • Waitangi Tribunal

Keywords

  • racist government
  • Tukoroirangi Morgan
  • Duncan Garner
  • Māori rights
  • political discrimination

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: National-led government, Labour government, Māori Party, Te Māngai Pāho, Te Matatini

Places: New Zealand

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