New Zealand University Criticised for ‘Designated Area’ for Indigenous Students

The University of Auckland has come under criticism from the ACT Party over a photo of what appears to be a segregated space that only allows access to Maori and Pasifika students. In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on March 26, ACT, headed by David Seymour and part of the country’s tri-party government, posted a picture of a sign that read, “This is a designated area for Maori and Pasifika students. Thank you.” In a media release published online, ACT party Tertiary Education spokesperson Parmjeet Parmar said, “Blocking access to spaces based on ethnicity has an ugly past and has no future in New Zealand @AucklandUni and any others with segregated spaces owe an explanation to the Kiwis who pay their bills.” ...