2.5 Pacific peoples, inequity and neoliberalism The literature suggests that it is important to contextualise the Pacific Pay Gap and workplace experiences of Pacific peoples in terms of the rise of neoliberalism in Aotearoa New Zealand. This review adopts the broad definition of neoliberalism offered by Barnett and Bagshaw, who define neoliberalism as a “political/economic model” with the following three elements:32 Economic restructuring, markets and privatisation—increased competition; removal of the state from commercial activity, greater openness to international trade and investment, freedom of movement of capital, labour and goods (‘globalisation’). Limiting public expenditure on social services, including healthcare and education, and infrastructure, with debt reduction the major goal (later called ‘austerity’ policies). Deregulation and promotion of individual responsibility—limiting government regulation that might inhibit economic activity, despite risks to personal health and safety or the environment, giving priority to individual responsibility and ‘choice’ over concepts of ‘public good’ or ‘community’. In regard to Pacific peoples, Mila notes that the decades following the Dawn Raids saw the living conditions of Pacific peoples progressively worsen due to the neoliberal reforms introduced by the Labour Government’s Minister of Finance Roger Douglas from 1984–1992.33 For example, the removal of protective tariffs for manufacturing industries resulted in mass job losses among Māori and Pacific peoples,34 which helped to see the unemployment rate of Pacific peoples rise significantly from 6 percent to 29 percent within a decade.35 In 1986, Pacific peoples earned a real median income that was 89 percent of the national real median income, and within five years, this plummeted to 69 percent.36 Due to the persistence of neoliberal laws and policies today,37 the socioeconomic position of Pacific peoples has never recovered. For example, Pacific peoples currently have disproportionately high unemployment rates, with 7.8 percent of Pacific peoples being unemployed compared to 3.9 percent of the total population.38 Furthermore, Pacific peoples have the lowest median wealth in the country of $15,000 compared to European household net worth of $138,000.39 Unfortunately, there is a lack of literature exploring the relationship between the rise of neoliberalism in Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific Pay Gap and the broader workplace experiences of Pacific peoples. There is a growing body of literature on 32 Barnett, Pauline, and Philip Bagshaw. “Neoliberalism: What it is, How it Affects Health and What to do About it.” NZ Med. J 133 (2020): 77. 33 Mila, Karlo. “Only One Deck.” In Inequality: A New Zealand Crisis, edited by Max Rashbrooke, 96. Wellington: Bridget Williams Books, 2013, citing: Ongley, Patrick. “Ethnicity, Migration and the Labour Market.” In Tangata Tangata: The Changing Ethnic Contours of New Zealand, edited by Paul Spoonley, Cluny Macpherson, and David Pearson. Melbourne/Palmerston North: Thomson/Dunmore Press, 2004. See also: Mila, Karlo. “Deconstructing the Big Brown Tails/Tales: Pasifika Peoples in Aotearoa New Zealand.” In A Land of Milk and Honey? Making Sense of Aotearoa New Zealand, edited by Avril Bell, Vivienne Elizabeth, Tracey McIntosh, and Matt Wynyard. Auckland: Auckland University Press, 2017. 34 Mila, “Only One Deck,” 96, citing: Bedford, Richard. “Pacific Islanders in New Zealand.” Espace Populations Sociétés 2 (1994): 187-200. 35 Mila, “Only One Deck,” 96, citing: Ongley, Patrick. “Immigration, Employment and Ethnic Relations.” In Nga Patai: Racism and Ethnic Relations in Aotearoa/New Zealand, edited by Paul Spoonley, Cluny Macpherson, and David Pearson. Palmerston North: Dunmore Press, 1996. 36 Mila, “Only One Deck,” 96, citing: Statistics New Zealand. Pacific Progress: A Report of the Economic Status of Pacific Peoples in New Zealand. Wellington: Statistics New Zealand, 2002. https://www.stats.govt.nz/reports/pacific-progress-a-report-on-theeconomic-status-of-pacific-peoples-in-new-zealand. 37 Barnett and Bagshaw, “Neoliberalism”; Reynolds, David, Miranda Mirosa, and Hugh Campbell. “Food and Vulnerability in Aotearoa/New Zealand: A Review and Theoretical Reframing of Food Insecurity, IncomeReview and Neoliberalism.”Theoretical Reframing of Food Insecurity, Income and Neoliberalism.” New Zealand Sociology 35 (2020): 123152; Keddell, Emily. “The Vulnerable Child in Neoliberal Contexts: The Construction of Children in the Aotearoa New Zealand Child Protection Reforms.” Childhood 25 (2018): 93-108. 38 Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment. Pacific Peoples in the Labour Market – June 2021 Quarter (Unadjusted). https:// www.mbie.govt.nz/dmsdocument/16895-pacific-peoples-in-the-labour-market-june-2021-quarter. 39 https://www.stats.govt.nz/information-releases/household-net-worth-statistics-year-ended-june-2018. Pacific Pay Gap Inquiry Literature Review 9