HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION | A FAIR GO FOR A L L ? that the experience of racial discrimination may potentially experienced across a range of settings has the potential be a major health risk that contributes significantly to to impact on a wide range of health outcomes and risk ethnic inequalities.84 Harris et al argue that interventions factors”.87 and policies to address health inequalities must take into account the health effects of racism. A further 2012 study using data from the 2006/7 New Zealand Health Survey found that racial discrimination The wider social and economic context does have a role in health care and other domains was associated with to play in perpetuating disadvantage between ethnic lower odds of breast and cervical cancer screening among groups. Researchers in the Decades of Disparity (2006) Mäori women. Racial discrimination – both in general and series analysed the ways in which structural reforms specifically by a health professional – was associated with combined with global economic downturn significantly negative patient experiences for all participants.88 disadvantaged Mäori and Pacific peoples and worsened health outcomes during the 1980s and 1990s. Mäori life expectancy, for example, stagnated in the 1980s and early 1990s, while non-Mäori life expectancy showed strong increases. The structural reforms of the 1980s and early 1990s, and in particular the high unemployment rates that peaked in 1991–92 at 25% for Mäori compared to 8% for European, almost certainly contributed to the divergence of Mäori and non-Mäori life expectancy trends in the 1980s and 1990s.85 A 2012 University of Auckland study, using data from the Youth 2000 survey, researched the relationship between ethnic discrimination and health outcomes among secondary school students in three areas: unfair treatment by the police, unfair treatment by health professionals, and bullying. Pacific, Asian, Mäori and other ethnic participants were significantly more likely to report ethnic discrimination by health professionals than New Zealand European participants. The study found that students who reported ethnic discrimination were more likely to report In December 2009, one of the Decades of Disparity fair/poor self-rated health, have experienced significant researchers, Professor Tony Blakely, warned that the most depressive symptoms and be cigarette smokers. Again, current economic downturn would disproportionately these findings are consistent with international studies.89 affect Mäori and Pacific peoples and could lead to increased suicides. The recession was also likely to slow improvements in Mäori and Pacific health.86 Using data from the 2002/03 and 2006/07 New Zealand Health Surveys, a University of Otago and Ministry of Health study published in 2011 found that, controlling for other socio-economic variables, experience of racial discrimination was linked to a range of negative health outcomes and risk factors. Their findings were consistent with international findings on the links between racism and negative health outcomes. Reported experience of racial discrimination was measured in both surveys and covered five items: experience of an ethnically-motivated physical or verbal attack; and unfair treatment because of ethnicity by a health professional, in work, or when gaining housing. Culturally-specific health provision. Despite a growing body of research that shows socio-economic deprivation and monocultural approaches are key factors in persistent ethnic disparities in health, public debate on the issue is still sometimes explained using a “deficit theory” approach i.e. placing the blame on the victim by claiming that individual choices or cultural differences results in poor health outcomes. Health researchers Papaarangi Reid and Bridget Robson suggest that New Zealand’s policy focus on universal health provision, i.e. providing the same service to all irrespective of socio-economic status or ethnicity is at fault. Universal health provision: assumes that everyone has equal access to services and Reported experience of racial discrimination increased ignores the obstacles faced by ethnic groups (such as between 2002/03 (28.1% ever) and 2006/07 (35.0% ever) Mäori and Pacific peoples) in accessing services. The among Asian peoples but remained largely unchanged adoption of a universal approach to service provision for other ethnic groupings (Mäori 29.5%, Pacific 23.0%, both legitimates the non-recognition of ethnic disparities European 13.5%). Experience of racial discrimination was and privileges Päkehä. In so doing, it provides evidence associated with all negative health measures except excess of institutional racism.90 body fat. The authors concluded that “racial discrimination 19