ACT Party wants to close demographic ministries like the Ministry for Ethnic Communities, and in this episode we're talking to community organizations who are concerned about this possibility and it's potential impact.

The ACT Party intends to shut down demographic ministries, and this week on Voices we're out in the community talking to groups with concerns around how this policy could possibly impact them.

The Ministry for Ethnic Communities administers funding of about $4.2 million through the Ethnic Communities Development fund (ECDF), helping better economic outcomes for ethnic communities while improving inclusion into wider society.

Ethnic communities make up around 20% of New Zealand's population and several organizations across the country benefit from the ECDF. In 2021, nearly 310 community initiatives were funded. Formed in July 2021, the Ministry took the place of the Office of Ethnic Communities, employing many new staff. ACT Party's David Seymour sees demographic ministries like MEC as a waste of resources and the party proposes to reorient public services based more on equal opportunity as opposed to ethnicity; while attempting to cut government spending.

In this episode we speak to Minister for Diversity, Inclusion and Ethnic Communities, Priyanca Radhakrishnan, ACT's David Seymour, Sharron Ward, CEO of Refugees as Survivors and Rochana Sheward, COO of Belong Aotearoa on the impact the closing down of the Ministry could have on communities.

Listen to the full conversation on Voices:

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details