Seen abroad as a leader on Indigenous rights, New Zealand enters a divisive new era

As New Zealand celebrates its annual Māori language week, the government is ramping up initiatives to remove recognition of Indigenous people and language from public policy and law. The political division follows an election last year that propelled two minor parties championing anti-Māori policies to power and comes as the popularity of Māori language and culture has exploded in New Zealand. The parties' pledges include ending affirmative action in policy for Māori, who since the colonization of New Zealand have been disadvantaged on most social, economic and health criteria. The lawmakers have also provoked a fraught debate about New Zealand's founding document.