The focus of our Inquiry The initial focus of our Inquiry was on three industries that have high numbers of Pacific workers: construction, manufacturing and health. Manufacturing and construction are the top industries of employment for Pacific men, with manufacturing also employing a significant portion of Pacific women. Health and social care is the top industry of employment for Pacific women. All three of these sectors were deemed essential industries during the COVID-19 lockdowns. People employed in healthcare and manufacturing worked throughout the lockdowns, while those in construction were permitted to return to work before other industries. While the initial intention to engage the community was face to face, this changed to a survey as a result of the resurgence of COVID-19 in August 2022. And we saw that most people who filled in the survey did not come from our initial three focus industries. In response to this broader participation, we expanded the Inquiry focus. Research commissioned The literature review and economic analysis were commissioned to inform and complement the final Inquiry report. Both these pieces of research are referred to throughout the report. Literature review The literature review was undertaken by Matada Research Group, a Pacific-owned and operated firm specialising in research, consultation and programme development concerning Pacific peoples. A Pacific lecturer in law at the University of Auckland peer reviewed the literature review and the final report. Economic analysis Analysis of available secondary data on Pacific peoples and their experience of the labour market was commissioned from the New Zealand Work Research Institute. This work included: · an analysis of Pacific, Māori and ethnic pay gaps and a demographic and labour market profile 26 of Pacific peoples in relation to other ethnicities, based on the Household Labour Force Survey and New Zealand Census data · a statistical analysis of the factors contributing to Pacific, Māori and ethnic pay gaps based on the unit record Income Survey data from Stats NZ · an estimation of the cumulative impacts of pay gaps on Pacific peoples’ overall incomes over a lifetime · an assessment of the ethnic profile of the population whose income falls below the living wage.