Prime Minister Defends Removal of Māori Phrases in Invitation to Australia

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has addressed the recent controversy surrounding the omission of basic Māori phrases from an invitation extended to Australia’s arts minister. Luxon dismissed claims that this action represented a snub to the Indigenous language, humorously suggesting that the simplification was necessary for effective communication with Australians. This light-hearted exchange echoes historical banter between New Zealand and Australian leaders, reminiscent of former Prime Minister Rob Muldoon’s quip about New Zealanders enhancing the IQ of both nations. In response, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joined in the jest, noting the challenges of understanding the New Zealand accent and acknowledging that interpreters are sometimes needed. He emphasized the strong friendship between the two countries, while also recognizing the occasional linguistic differences that arise, even when both parties believe they are speaking English. The discussion took a more serious turn during Question Time, where Luxon faced inquiries from opposition leader Chris Hipkins regarding recent inflammatory remarks made by lawmakers. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Australian arts minister highlighted that he has been familiar with the term Aotearoa since 1982, indicating a long-standing awareness of Māori culture. Since taking office, Luxon’s coalition government has sparked contentious debates about race relations in New Zealand, including proposals to revert government agency names to English and to end initiatives prioritizing Māori communities, who continue to face disparities in health, economic, and justice outcomes. Protests have erupted in Wellington against plans to repeal legal recognition of children’s Māori heritage in the child protection system.