Nearly half of New Zealanders say government policies increasing racial tensions, poll finds

Nearly half of New Zealanders believe the government’s policies have increased racial tensions, new polling shows, as pressure mounts on the government over policy changes that many fear will undermine Māori rights .

The 1News Verian poll released on Monday found 46% of voters believed racial tensions have worsened as a result of the coalition’s policies, while 37% said there had been no difference and 10% thought tensions had reduced. Another 7% of respondents said they didn’t know or preferred not to comment.

The poll also surveyed eligible voters on their preferred prime minister, which showed a 5% lift in popularity for prime minister Christopher Luxon.

Since it took office last year, the rightwing coalition government’s policy direction for Māori has sparked multiple protests, mass meetings of Māori leaders and condemnation from the Waitangi Tribunal, an institution that investigates breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi , New Zealand’s founding document.

Related: Revealed: the impact of New Zealand’s changes to policies affecting Māori

Analysis by the Guardian has revealed the scale and impact of the proposed legislative and policy changes, which Māori leaders and experts have described as “chilling” and “dangerous”.

Lara Greaves, associate professor of political science at Victoria University of Wellington, said the 1News Verian poll showed that many New Zealanders believe the government’s policies are creating discord between Māori and the crown, or ruling authorities.

“I think this is our version of the culture wars,” Greaves said, adding that where populist politicians in the US or Europe target migrants as a problem, populists in New Zealand target Māori.

“All that does, long term, is create dissatisfaction with the government,” Greaves said.

The government should be responding to the public sentiment and considering Māori viewpoints, Greaves said.

Luxon told Newstalk ZB the poll was “no different” to the results of the survey under the previous administration a year ago. The questions were worded differently – the 2023 poll found around 47% of New Zealanders thought racial tensions were worsening, but it did not ask the question specifically in relation to government policy.

The prime minister said he was more interested in what the government was going to do about improving outcomes for Māori and non-Māori children.

“I’m focused on outcomes, and I don’t think the last 6 years was fantastic for Māori,” Luxon said.

The poll surveyed 1,001 eligible voters between 10 August and 14 August. It was released on the same day Luxon and other senior ministers attended the Māori King’s koroneihana celebrations – the anniversary of his coronation – in Tūrangawaewae, the seat of the Māori King movement. The movement was founded in 1858 in an attempt to unite Māori tribes and preserve culture and land, in the face of colonisation. It has no legal power and while the monarch role is largely ceremonial, it is also considered to be the paramount chief of several tribes.

The government faced scathing rebukes from Māori leaders attending the event on Monday.

Waikato iwi (tribe) leader, Tukoroirangi Morgan, told Luxon the government had “turned its back on Māori”, saying: “Since January this year, we have watched the government wrecking ball demolish Māori policy, Māori achievement, and it rolled back 50 years of iwi relations with the crown.”

Morgan called on Luxon’s government to block a controversial law, set to be introduced by coalition partner Act, to review the Treaty of Waitangi. Act’s treaty principles bill seeks to redefine the principles that have flowed from the Treaty, which was signed in 1840 by Māori chiefs and the crown, and upholds Māori rights.

Luxon assured the crowd the National party would not support Act’s law. NZ First, the third coalition partner, also said it won’t support the bill.

“I want to be clear here today that National will not support the Treaty principles bill beyond the first reading,” Luxon said.

Related: ‘Our people are thriving’: New Zealand Māori population hits million mark

Addressing the Māori king, Kiingi Tūheitia, Luxon said he was “acutely aware” of the concerns Māori have raised over his government’s plans.

“Over the coming months, and indeed years, our relationship will be tested as it has been many times before, and at times it will be tense as our relationship has always been based on respect but not agreement,” Luxon said.

Greaves said seeing ministers at Māori events was a “really positive step” but there was a lot of distrust – particularly from Māori – over whether the government would keep its promises.

“A lot of people don’t believe them and don’t believe politicians – I think that speaks to the broader risks of polarisation and populism that are happening in New Zealand society.”