Activist groups called for strikes on Thursday as part of a second National Māori Day of Action.
In an Instagram post published alongside Te Pāti Māori, organizers called on all Māori and Tangata Tiriti to go on strike on Thursday and protest against government policies affecting Māori.
Hikoi are planned throughout the country, including in parliament.
During his weekly caucus meeting on Tuesday, Prime Minister Luxon said a strike would not be appropriate.
“No. That would be illegal,” he said, noting that it was “fairly clear what the rules are around strike action.”
He said it was “wrong” for Te Pāti Māori to advise people to take a day off.
“I think that's completely wrong, I think – feel free to protest, we have weekends for that, but I'm just saying to you: Te Pāti Māori, they are completely free to protest however they want – as long as it's legal is peaceful and lawful.
“But I'm not focused on that, I'm focused on making sure I create a budget for New Zealanders, whether they're Māori or non-Māori, where they can see they can get ahead.”
Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka said he was not concerned about the protests.
“I think Te Pāti Māori and others have a democratic right to protest lawfully and we recognize that there are diverse protesters here all the time,” he said.
Labor leader Chris Hipkins also said he supported people exercising their right to free speech, but warned people not to break the law.
“I think any strikes should be within the bounds of the law, so there's a pretty clear law of when people can and can't strike, it's in the context of negotiations – so I think people should follow that. .”
However, the only Labor MP in a Māori seat – Ikaroa-Rāwhiti's Cushla Tangaere-Manuel – said she would personally attend the protest and that if people chose to strike it would reflect the strength of their feeling.
“I'm not a lawyer by any means, but I think when people make that decision it's because of how strong they feel and how quiet they feel,” she said.
“We've heard a lot of kōrero in the house about promoting people's voices and so on, and yet Māori feel silenced.”
She said it was nice of Luxon to give Te Pāti Māori full credit for the protest, but it was “quite insulting to iwi and hapū in my opinion”.
“You can see how organized the iwi are becoming, and there's no doubt they should be concerned about this budget. We've already seen cuts, we already know there's going to be a reduction in Kaupapa Māori investment compared to the $1 billion they received. under Labour, so they should be worried.”
Labor Māori-Crown Relations spokesperson Peeni Henare said the choice to strike was “up to each individual”.
“Let's be honest about what is being lost here, what the challenge is. Māori Health Authority, backward views on Māori policy are the cause of this kind of pain for people, so they will make their own choice as to whether or not they go out and support it.
“We shouldn't be surprised. Big hui in Tūrangawaewae, big hui in Waitangi, big hui in Rātana and a constant voice from the Māori leadership that this government is failing our people, so I don't know why anyone would feel surprised. “
The consequences for those who chose to strike were “a matter for the employer and the workforce”, he said.
'So I do not know. But look, when that happened, a lot of people came out to support the protest on the seabed and the waterfront – I've never heard of anyone losing their job because of it.
He himself would not be at the protest and say: “I will be here and fight against the budget here”.