New Zealand First, a coalition partner in the government, is seeking to roll back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies in the public sector—policies the party previously helped introduce five years ago.
On Friday, party leader Winston Peters announced a member’s bill aiming to strip DEI mandates from the Public Service Act 2020. The bill, if passed, would eliminate requirements for public service employers to:
- Ensure their workforces reflect societal diversity
- Promote diversity and inclusiveness as part of being a “good employer”
- Include Māori involvement in public service leadership
- Consider workforce diversity in recruitment and workplace policies
- Report on diversity and inclusion efforts every three years
- Require chief executive hiring panels to consider diversity and inclusiveness
“The public service exists to serve New Zealanders, not to be a breeding ground for identity politics,” said Peters, who described DEI policies as “woke left-wing social engineering.”
A Radical Shift – Following Trump’s Lead?
This proposal comes amid similar moves in the US, where Donald Trump’s administration has been systematically removing DEI policies from government agencies. However, in New Zealand, NZ First’s bill is not a government bill, meaning it will only be debated in Parliament if it is randomly selected from the ballot.
Notably, NZ First originally supported the Public Service Act when in coalition with Labour in 2020. At the time, then-deputy leader Fletcher Tabuteau praised the legislation for making the public service more modern, agile, and adaptive.
Now, current deputy leader Shane Jones—who has been seen wearing a “Make New Zealand Great Again” cap inspired by Donald Trump—supports repealing the very policies the party once backed.
Where Do Other Parties Stand?
- National and ACT opposed the Public Service Act in 2020 and may be open to repealing DEI requirements.
- The Greens and Labour previously supported the legislation and are likely to resist these changes.
- Cabinet Minister Chris Bishop (National) said the party prioritises meritocracy over identity politics but will review the bill if it gets drawn from the ballot.
While NZ First’s proposed repeal of DEI policies aligns with a growing global backlash against diversity initiatives, it remains uncertain whether this bill will gain traction in Parliament.
