Does having an Indigenous Political Party in Government make a Difference to Social Policy? The Maori Party in New Zealand

Indigenous maori in New Zealand have had significant opportunities to influence mainstream politics and policy since 2008 when the maori Party began negotiating supply and confidence agreements with the conservative National Party in return for progress on maori Party initiatives. This article assesses whether the maori Party has made a difference in social policy. It argues that the holistic, whole-family-focused Whnau Ora strategy and initiatives aiming to revitalise the maori language are significant policy innovations that uniquely embed maori cultural values and governance into mainstream policy frameworks. A Ministerial Committee on Poverty, established as a result of National-maori Party negotiations, put maori politicians at the decision-making table and led to some important housing and health initiatives but fewer gains are evident regarding income/employment policies that address the disproportionate material disadvantage of maori. Ultimately, the maori Party has provoked policy innovation and there is some evidence of improving maori outcomes. But political constraints inhibit opportunities for significant and lasting recognition of indigenous rights and radically improved socio-economic outcomes in the social policy arena.