Summarised by Centrist
Una Jagose, the country’s Solicitor-General, has issued revised prosecution guidelines after the original October 2024 guidelines suggested prosecutors consider Māori ethnicity when deciding on charges.
The backlash led to widespread accusations of endorsing racial bias. The revised guidelines focus on “individualised factors” like poverty, abuse, and lack of education. However, they still encourage prosecutors to understand tikanga Māori and promote te reo Māori.
The Platform’s Sean Plunket pressed Jagose on whether promoting cultural initiatives was the proper role of prosecutors, asking, “Why are lawyers being asked to promote te reo? Is this justice, or activism?”
Jagose defended these provisions, citing statutory obligations such as the Māori Language Act.
Plunket also questioned Jagose on broader ideological issues, asking if she believed New Zealand should be “decolonised” or supported critical race theory. Jagose refused to answer both questions, insisting they were irrelevant to her role.
“If it’s not important, why not answer the question?” Plunket said.
Plunket pressed further on her refusal:
“Do you believe New Zealand needs to be decolonised? Because if you do, I don’t think any New Zealander would think you were an appropriate person to hold the position you do,” he said.
Image: Te Tari Ture o te Karauna
