Two new Opposition MPs are labelling the new coalition Government "the most racist in decades".
Their comments come ahead of protests dubbed by Te Pāti Māori as a National Māori Action Day to mark the start of the new Government which is sworn in on Tuesday.
Green MP Tamatha Paul, 26, told The Hui host Julian Wilcox on Monday the coalition was the most "racist and harmful we've ever seen" - although she acknowledged that, as a rangatahi (young person) she hadn't personally seen many Governments.
She accused National of putting profits before people, and described ACT's policies of having services offered on the basis of need and not race, as "racist dog-whistling".
The former Wellington City Councillor also described NZ First leader Winston Peters as having views that belong in the 1970s.
Te Pāti Māori MP Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke, 21, agreed with Paul.
"I think this is the most racist Government we have seen in decades - in a very, very long time," Paul said.
"They're attacking our kura, our tamariki; they're attacking our taiao (natural environment), they're attacking our fisheries, they're attacking our health, they're attacking our reo; there is nothing they are not attacking so we need to hold the frontline very, very strong."
Labour's MP for Ikaroa-Rāwhiti Cushla Tangaere Manuel was also part of the panel of new wahine Māori MPs.
Manuel described the coalition as launching an attack on Māoritanga.
All three MPs declared that Māori would defend themselves.
Manuel quoted Waikato Tainui chairperson Tukuroirangi Morgan's warning not to underestimate Māori nor the sophistication of Māori today.
"People have talked about civil unrest but what he was talking about was the sophistication of Māori; the organisation that we have as iwi, individually and as a whole as people," Manuel told The Hui.
"Māori are worth $70 billion to our economy. So we are a strong force. It's not merely going to be protest; it's going to be action - court action if need be."
Paul told Wilcox that the election had not only delivered the coalition Government - voters had also elected MPs who would fight for Māori rights.
"I would say to the people you have also elected some of the biggest fighters, who are going to go into the House every single day and scrap for our rights and to stop them from rolling back all of the things that our people have fought for, for the last few decades," she stressed.
ACT leader David Seymour has repeatedly rejected allegations that either he or his party's policies are racist.
National leader Christopher Luxon has stressed that his Government is committed to delivering for Māori.
