Ngāti Ruanui Demands Apology For 'Shameful' Shane Jones Comments

Friday, 15 May 2026, 3:25 pm
Article: RNZ

Lauren Crimp, Political Reporter

Resources Minister Shane Jones has rejected Ngāti Ruanui's demand for an apology and doubled down on his declaration that the iwi lacks intelligence.

Ngāti Ruanui tumu whakahaere (leader), Haimona Maruera Jnr said Jones' comments in Parliament on Wednesday were "shameful" and "an attack on the mana of our entire iwi".

Jones was thrown out of the House after taking jabs at Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and the iwi.

He was arguing that some "luddites" and "troublemakers" did not see the importance or economic value in mining for critical minerals.

Ngarewa-Packer interrupted Jones to point out he'd "failed" after a mining company withdrew its fast-track application to mine the Taranaki seabed. Ngāti Ruanui had opposed the application.

Jones said it was important that the $1.4 billion sector be enabled to grow.

"Whether it's through the fast-track legislation ... and I accept ... that in some areas, the growth in intellect and the growth in intelligence will take a lot longer, and I fear that the longest period of time it will take will be around Ngāti Ruanui and Taranaki."

Ngarewa-Packer labelled Jones "insecure" because "that little iwi took you on and won" in their battle against mining the Taranaki seabed.

After more back and forth between the pair, the Speaker Gerry Brownlee told Jones to "haere rā ... off you go", and he left the House.

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Ruanui Trust said on Friday it had lodged a formal complaint with Brownlee and wanted Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro to encourage the minister to apologise.

Its tumu whakahaere, Haimona Maruera Jnr said Jones' comments were "shameful" and "an attack on the mana of our entire iwi".

"This is not the first time the Minister has made disparaging comments referencing Ngāti Ruanui in the New Zealand Parliament," he said.

"When a minister of the crown uses the debating chamber to insult a Treaty Partner, and does so while hiding behind legal immunity, the relationship risks being fundamentally fractured."

Maruera Jnr said Jones had attacked the iwi because it holds a different view on mining, which showed "a shocking display of arrogance".

The comments were an affront to the Ngāti Ruanui Claims Settlement Act which was built on a foundation of mutual respect and a formal Crown apology, he said.

Jones would not apologise, telling RNZ his comments were made "with a fair degree of humour and jest" - and that Ngāti Ruanui needed to stay out of Parliament business.

"If they hop into the boxing ring with the Matua, then they will find that there's no place for giddy parrots in politics," he said.

"Me challenging their intelligence is not shameful, because it's never shameful to state a fact."

Jones said the iwi was not smart because it supported Ngarewa-Packer.

"They consistently undermine the capacity of Taranaki to unite, and I rather fear that it's to shore up Debbie's fading Parliamentary fortunes ... that is not intelligent."

Ngarewa-Packer said Jones was "bullish" and "misogynistic".

"Shane Jones is really comfortable throwing his weight around when wāhine Māori stand in the way of his extractive politics, and I won't be bullied out of defending what Ngāti Ruanui have successfully achieved," she said.

"We've got a minister here, a very senior minister, who has normalised the belittling of wāhine Māori simply because we are extremely informed, unapologetic and prepared to challenge his power and his opinions."

She and Ngāti Ruanui were experienced in understanding the environmental effects of seabed mining, she said.

"[Jones] should back down and humble himself to Ngāti Ruanui, they are tangata whenua, and he has an obligation as a member of the Crown to his relationship, to honour that - they're a settled iwi."

The iwi had "every right" to defend itself, Ngarewa-Packer said.

A spokesperson for the Governor-General had no comment.

The Speaker's office has also been approached for comment.

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