Race relations highs and lows

Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres has outlined the highs and lows for race relations in New Zealand over the past year at the Diversity Forum today (Monday 23 August).

There has been progress on some issues, Mr de Bres says, and expressions of prejudice and discrimination have generally got short shrift from the public and media. However, continuing discrimination against Asians needs to be addressed, and the high rate of Māori imprisonment is bleak.

“The Diversity Forum is an opportunity to celebrate harmonious race relations in New Zealand and the great progress that has been made in this area. Unfortunately, there is still some way to go to establish a level playing ground for all ethnicities,” says Mr de Bres.

Other issues highlighted by Mr de Bres are the need for the new Auckland council to establish Māori seats and secure Pacific and ethnic boards, and the increased unemployment rates for Māori, Pacific and youth.

The year to June 2010 unemployment rate for Māori rose from 12 to 14.3 per cent, from 12.8 to 14.1 per cent for Pacific peoples and from 7.8 to 10.5 per cent for Asian people. This compares to a rise from 4 to 4.4 per cent for European New Zealanders.

More worrying is the increased rate of youth unemployment, particularly for Māori, Pacific and Asian youth. Māori unemployment for 15-19-year-olds is now 41.4 per cent, 43.3 per cent for Pacific youth, 28.4 for Asian youth and 21.7 per cent for European youth.

Read more about the annual Diversity Forum.

ENDS

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