The implementation of a cultural skills framework for Army personnel has been paused after concerns were raised with the Defence Minister about potential requirements for leaders to know waiata and karakia off by heart.

ACT MP Todd Stephenson wrote to Defence Minister Judith Collins after being sent a copy of the framework, saying it appeared to go beyond normal expectations of the Public Service.

The document outlines cultural practices like staff performing karakia, reciting pepeha and learning a minimum of two waiata under headings “minimal” and “must do”.

“This policy appeared to embed ideological and cultural requirements that go well beyond the Government’s expectations for a professional, politically neutral public service. Rather than focusing on operational effectiveness and merit, the framework imposes a set of cultural competencies that would not normally be expected of public servants,” Stephenson said in his letter.

Defence Minister Judith Collins replied that she hadn’t been made aware of the framework by NZDF.

“I have today sought further information from Army leadership. I am advised that the implementation of this Framework has been paused to enable broader consultation. The Army leadership agrees that this policy needs further consideration.”

Stephenson said he was pleased the framework had been paused.

“A number of people came to Act and said ‘this has been rolled out and can you look into it’,” he said.

“I think this Government’s been pretty clear that we actually want the Public Service, including the Defence Force, to focus on their core roles and responsibilities.”

“In this case, that would be making sure the army is a world-class and combat ready force, that’s modern, agile and highly adaptive,” he said.

When asked whether the pause was initiated by her, Collins said: “No, I understand that the Army decided to pause after I contacted them and said I had not heard about this new framework from them.”

In a statement, an NZDF spokesperson said: “The Army’s cultural skills framework was paused on Wednesday by the Chief of Army to enable broader consultation, after the Minister of Defence became aware of it. The Army agrees the framework needs further consideration.”

When asked what she thought about the framework Stephenson had sent her, Collins said it was unclear, and she certainly wasn’t happy with some of the language used.

“It was certainly written in a must-do rather than an optional or it would be good to. And I think they’ve got to go back to think about it a bit more. But their main job is to be a fighting fit army. I want them focused on being a fighting fit army,” she said.

Troy Matich is a political reporter with Newstalk ZB, working from Parliament’s press gallery. She joined NZME in 2025, previously working for RNZ as a producer for Morning Report.