A review of the New Zealand government's support for Pacific education priorities has resulted in heavy cuts to funding.

Information of several news agencies obtained through a request to the Official Information Act has revealed that the Ministry of Education's Pacific bilingual language programs have been slashed by more than half, from $NZ2.6 million in the 2023-2024 budget to $1.2 million just 12 months later.

The 54 per cent decline in spending has the ministry describe such departmental cuts as a "small part of its overall investment" in Pacific learners and languages.

However, some political pundits argue the decision by the National Party government represents a serious setback for its Pacific communities amid a greater global cultural war.

One of the most vocal against the cuts is Labour's deputy leader, Carmel Sepuloni, a former school teacher.

She criticised the heavy reduction as a clear sign of the government's disregard for Pasifika languages and culture.

"I'm highly disappointed, and it just goes to show that this government doesn't value, respect or appreciate our Pasifika community, the importance of our languages and of our cultures –and they've done this in such a quiet way," Ms Sepuloni said.

Ms Sepuloni is concerned the Pasifika community has not been fully informed about the cuts, which she said will affect critical resources for the greater Pasifika diaspora.

She also highlighted the significance of evidence-based policy, saying the government's own actions undermine opportunities for Pasifika children to succeed.

"I know full well that our children, who are confident in who they are and have access to their language are more likely to achieve and thrive in education than those who are denied these opportunities," Ms Sepuloni said.

The daughter of a Samoan/Tongan immigrant who could not speak English before landing in Aotearoa, Ms Sepuloni said the cuts will leave permanent scars should the conservative shift is not returned.

"If the government doesn't act now, we risk losing these languages forever," she said.

"Language is more than just communication, it is identity, culture, and connection.

"If we lose it, we lose a core part of who we are as Pacific people."

A Pacific linguistic expert has also expressed grave concerns over future learning outcomes.

Leali'ie'e Dr Tufulasi Taleni, from Canterbury University, echoed the remarks of the Opposition and called the funding reduction as "disheartening".

"Pacific languages are at the heart of our families and communities – cutting the funding to teach these languages in schools is a major setback," he said.

Mr Taleni added that even with past funding, maintaining the teaching and learning of Pacific languages was challenging already, and this cut would make it even more difficult.

"The research is very clear: for Pasifika children: it's about motivation, full engagement in the classroom and learning which comes from that motivation," he said.

"When Pacific children are strong in their identity, language and culture, they feel good about their learning."

Mr Taleni said these slashes in the budget contradicted the Ministry of Education's own past vision for Pacific education, which was outlined in its Pacific Education Plan for 2013-2017.

The plan aimed for "five out of five Pacific learners participating, engaging, and achieving in education while securing their identities, languages, and cultures".

According to Mr Taleni, their latest fiscal policy completely undermines that goal.

He cited international research highlighting the importance of cultural capital in education after the Pasifika Early Literacy Project, the Pacific Instructional Series, Pacific Bilingual eBooks and Pacific Bilingual Mathematics Resources as key programs affected in 47 schools and 56 early learning settings in both Auckland and Wellington.

Despite the series of cuts, acting deputy secretary for the Ministry of Education, Pauline Cleaver, insisted Pacific language learning still remains a priority.

"The ministry continues to invest significant, targeted funding in a range of areas, including resources and support for Pacific learners and professional learning opportunities for the teachers of Pacific Bilingual and Immersion settings," Ms Cleaver said.

Recent statistics from 2018 indicate a worrying decline of the Pacific languages in Aotearoa.

Despite Pacific residents comprising of more than eight per cent of the population, only 37 percent of them can speak their native languages.

UNESCO has classified some Pasifika languages, like Tokelauan, as severely endangered.

During the past 15 years there has been a significant decline in ethnic language speakers, with Tongan among those experiencing major declines.

The Ministry of Education confirmed there was no consultation with schools, teachers, or Pasifika communities before the funding reductions were decided.

Despite this situation, the ministry reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Pacific language learning.

"The ministry also continues to fund the Pacific Bilingual and Immersion Education PLD (professional learning and development) initiative, which supports schools that offer Pacific bilingual education," the ministry said in a statement.

"This PLD lifts the capability of the Pacific bilingual workforce, so that all students in these settings experience quality curriculum in their Pacific languages.

"Alongside this, the ministry also continues to fund other Pacific-focussed PLD, including Tapasā, Tautai o le Moana and Reo Moana PLD."