𝔸𝕟𝕒𝕝𝕪𝕤𝕚𝕤: 𝔸𝕠𝕥𝕖𝕒𝕣𝕠𝕒 𝕘𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕟𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕤 𝕒𝕟𝕥𝕚-𝕨𝕠𝕜𝕖 𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕧𝕠𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟

𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕘𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕟𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕥 𝕤𝕖𝕖𝕞𝕤 𝕥𝕠 𝕓𝕖 𝕝𝕠𝕠𝕜𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒𝕥 𝕋𝕣𝕦𝕞𝕡𝕤 𝕡𝕣𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕕𝕖𝕟𝕔𝕪 𝕚𝕟 𝕗𝕠𝕝𝕝𝕠𝕨𝕚𝕟𝕘 ℕℤ 𝔽𝕚𝕣𝕤𝕥𝕤 𝕡𝕣𝕠𝕡𝕠𝕤𝕒𝕝 𝕒𝕘𝕒𝕚𝕟𝕤𝕥 𝕒 𝕡𝕖𝕣𝕔𝕖𝕡𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕠𝕗: '𝕎𝕠𝕜𝕖' 𝕒𝕞𝕠𝕟𝕘 ℙ𝕦𝕓𝕝𝕚𝕔 𝕊𝕖𝕣𝕧𝕚𝕔𝕖𝕤

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ew Zealand's stance on "anti-woke" policies in 2025 reflects a complex political landscape shaped by the current coalition government, led by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon of the National Party, alongside coalition partners ACT New Zealand and New Zealand First (NZ First). 

The term "anti-woke" generally refers to opposition to progressive ideologies perceived as emphasizing identity politics, diversity mandates, and social justice initiatives over meritocracy, individual responsibility, or traditional values. 

Analyzing this stance involves examining the coalition's rhetoric, policies, and actions as of March 12, 2025, while considering the broader socio-political context.

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Additional Reading:

𝔸𝕟𝕠𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣 ℙ𝕠𝕝𝕝 𝕡𝕝𝕒𝕔𝕖𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕠𝕡𝕡𝕠𝕤𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕒𝕙𝕖𝕒𝕕 𝕠𝕗 𝕥𝕙𝕖 ℂ𝕠𝕒𝕝𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕘𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕟𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕥

𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℙ𝕣𝕚𝕞𝕖 𝕄𝕚𝕟𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝕝𝕠𝕟𝕘, 𝕤𝕝𝕠𝕨 𝕨𝕒𝕝𝕜 𝕥𝕠 𝕠𝕓𝕝𝕚𝕧𝕚𝕠𝕟

ℙ𝕠𝕝𝕝: 𝕃𝕖𝕗𝕥 𝕓𝕝𝕠𝕔 𝕔𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕 𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕞 𝕘𝕠𝕧𝕥 𝕒𝕤 ℕ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕒𝕝 𝕤𝕝𝕚𝕕𝕖𝕤

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Coalition Government’s Position 

The coalition, formed after the 2023 election, comprises three parties with a shared skepticism toward what they describe as "woke" policies introduced by the previous Labour government under Jacinda Ardern and Chris Hipkins. This shift followed Labour’s decisive loss in 2023, dropping from 50% of the vote in 2020 to 26.91%, signaling public discontent with its progressive agenda. 

• National Party: Under Luxon, the National Party has focused on economic pragmatism—tax cuts, deregulation, and reducing public spending—while distancing itself from Labour’s identity-driven initiatives. Luxon has expressed openness to "anti-woke" ideas, such as NZ First’s proposal to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) regulations in the public sector. On March 11, 2025, he told reporters he would review NZ First’s bill to ensure the public service operates as a "meritocracy," criticizing the "pretty woke" state he inherited. This suggests a pragmatic rather than ideological commitment to anti-woke principles, aligning with National’s centre-right voter base. 
• ACT New Zealand: ACT, led by David Seymour, brings a libertarian streak to the coalition, advocating for free markets, individual freedom, and a rollback of policies favoring multiculturalism or indigenous rights. ACT’s opposition to Labour’s Māori co-governance initiatives (e.g., the Three Waters scheme) and its emphasis on "equality under the law" reflect an anti-woke stance rooted in rejecting race-based policies. ACT’s influence is evident in the coalition’s moves to review affirmative action and reduce bicultural frameworks. 
• New Zealand First: NZ First, led by Winston Peters, is the most vocal anti-woke force in the coalition. Peters has long positioned himself against what he calls "woke elitism," targeting policies like Māori language promotion, tribal co-governance, and DEI mandates. In March 2025, NZ First introduced a member’s bill to amend the Public Service Act 2020—legislation it had supported in coalition with Labour—aiming to "remove woke 'DEI' regulations" and end "left-wing social engineering." Peters has labeled these policies "mind-numbingly stupid," reflecting a populist appeal to "middle New Zealand" frustrated by progressive overreach. 

Key Policy Actions 

Several policy moves illustrate this anti-woke stance: 

• Public Service Reform: NZ First’s bill seeks to eliminate mandates requiring public sector workforces to reflect societal diversity or promote inclusiveness, including Māori involvement. Luxon’s support for this aligns with a broader coalition goal to prioritize merit over identity. 
• Māori Policy Reversals: The coalition has moved to dismantle Labour’s co-governance frameworks, such as the Māori Health Authority, and reinterpret the Treaty of Waitangi to reduce race-based distinctions. This has sparked protests, with thousands rallying in December 2023 against perceived "anti-Māori" policies, highlighting a tension between anti-woke goals and indigenous rights. 
• Banking and ESG: NZ First’s "woke banking" bill, introduced in February 2025, targets environmental, social, and governance (ESG) frameworks, aiming to prevent banks from denying services to businesses (e.g., fossil fuel industries) based on sustainability goals. Luxon’s backing of this reflects an anti-woke push against "globalist climate radicals," though critics warn it risks financial stability. 
• Education and Culture: The coalition has signaled intent to refocus education on core subjects, sidelining Labour’s efforts to integrate Māori "ways of knowing" into science curricula, a move some saw as woke overreach.

  Resistance and Pushback 

  However, the coalition’s anti-woke agenda has not been universally embraced. Significant opposition has emerged, particularly around policies perceived as undermining Māori rights. The coalition’s moves to reinterpret the Treaty of Waitangi and dissolve Māori wards without referendums sparked mass protests, with thousands rallying in December 2023 and ongoing activism into 2025. Labour leader Chris Hipkins has accused NZ First’s Winston Peters of "using racism… to divide our country," a sentiment echoed by Māori and progressive groups who see the anti-woke stance as discriminatory. X posts from March 2025 note "widespread opposition from Māori and non-Māori alike" to these policies, suggesting a polarized electorate. The persistence of these protests indicates that a vocal minority—or potentially a growing segment—rejects the coalition’s framing of "woke" policies as elitist or divisive. 

  Public Sentiment and Polling 

  Recent polling offers mixed insights. A March 2025 Curia poll, suggests a "push back against nastiness/greed," with some interpreting it as "woke" (in its original sense of social awareness) pulling ahead of "anti-woke nastiness." This could imply fatigue with the coalition’s culture-war rhetoric among moderate voters, particularly National’s centrist base, which Luxon must retain. However, no comprehensive 2025 poll directly measures approval of the anti-woke agenda, leaving room for speculation. The 2023 election’s rejection of Labour remains the clearest data point, but evolving economic pressures—like inflation and housing costs—may now overshadow cultural issues, complicating voters’ reactions.

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Additional Reading:

𝔻𝕖𝕞𝕠𝕔𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕪 𝔹𝕣𝕚𝕖𝕗𝕚𝕟𝕘: ℕ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕒𝕝 𝕕𝕖𝕔𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕖 𝕚𝕟 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟜

ℝ𝕖𝕗𝕖𝕣𝕖𝕟𝕕𝕦𝕞𝕤 𝕠𝕟 𝕝𝕠𝕔𝕒𝕝 𝕔𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕔𝕚𝕝 𝕄ā𝕠𝕣𝕚 𝕨𝕒𝕣𝕕𝕤 𝕥𝕠 𝕣𝕖𝕥𝕦𝕣𝕟 - 𝕃𝕚𝕥𝕥𝕝𝕖 𝕤𝕙𝕠𝕣𝕥 𝕣𝕦𝕟𝕥

𝔸𝕠𝕥𝕖𝕒𝕣𝕠𝕒 ℕ𝕖𝕨 ℤ𝕖𝕒𝕝𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕗𝕚𝕟𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕚𝕒𝕝 𝕓𝕠𝕠𝕜𝕤 𝕚𝕟 𝕘𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕥 𝕤𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕖 𝕒𝕗𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕔𝕠𝕧𝕚𝕕 𝕣𝕖𝕤𝕡𝕠𝕟𝕤𝕖 𝕓𝕚𝕥𝕖

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Broader Dynamics 

Voter reactions also reflect a tension between economic and cultural priorities. Labour’s loss was partly attributed to material concerns (e.g., cost of living), not just "woke" policies, yet the coalition has leaned heavily into cultural battles—opposing DEI, ESG, and Māori-focused initiatives. This risks alienating voters who supported National for tax cuts and infrastructure, not a full anti-woke crusade. ACT’s libertarian bent and NZ First’s populism amplify this divide, with some X users historically noting that "most Kiwis… are in fact woke" in a traditional sense of fairness, hinting at discomfort with aggressive anti-woke framing. 

Conclusion 

As of March 12, 2025, New Zealand voters’ reactions to the coalition’s anti-woke stance are split. The 2023 election reflects strong support for rejecting Labour’s progressive legacy, with the coalition’s meritocracy and anti-DEI rhetoric resonating among those frustrated by identity politics. Yet, protests, opposition critiques, and anecdotal X posts suggest a significant counter-reaction, especially from Māori communities and progressives who view these policies as regressive or divisive. The coalition’s challenge lies in balancing its anti-woke agenda with economic delivery, as voter patience may wane if cultural battles overshadow tangible outcomes. Without fresh, definitive polling, the reaction remains a dynamic tug-of-war between approval and dissent, shaped by both ideology and pragmatism.

𝕭𝖗𝖚𝖈𝖊 𝕬𝖑𝖕𝖎𝖓𝖊

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