Pacific, Māori and Ethnic Pay Gaps
Pay gaps can also be assessed and measured in
terms of ethnicity. In Aotearoa New Zealand, the
pay of Māori, Pacific, Asian and Middle Eastern/Latin
American/African (MELAA) ethnic groups is assessed
and measured in comparison to Europeans (Pākehā
or New Zealand Europeans). While there are several
different indicators that can be used to measure
Pacific, Māori and ethnic pay gaps, the results,
like those for the gender pay gap, are reasonably
consistent.
Data to measure the ethnic pay gap in Aotearoa
New Zealand has only been available since 2009.
These figures reveal that Pacific peoples consistently
experience the largest pay gaps compared to other
ethnic groups (see Table 3). Since 2009, this gap has
shown no indication that it is closing.
Table 3 Percentage (%) ethnic pay gap in median hourly earnings from main job compared to European
(2009–2021)
Year
European
Māori
Pacific peoples
Asian
MELAA
2009
ref
13.1%
18.1%
10.6%
9.5%
2010
ref
14.3%
18.4%
9.0%
4.0%
2011
ref
16.4%
21.0%
10.9%
10.9%
2012
ref
13.5%
18.7%
14.6%
4.4%
2013
ref
16.7%
20.0%
11.1%
23.6%
2014
ref
15.3%
20.9%
14.4%
13.1%
2015
ref
16.8%
20.0%
12.0%
16.6%
2016
ref
15.8%
21.1%
13.8%
11.8%
2017
ref
13.7%
20.6%
12.5%
8.7%
2018
ref
13.9%
17.0%
11.5%
0.4%
2019
ref
14.3%
16.3%
10.6%
3.2%
2020
ref
11.1%
14.7%
8.8%
1.1%
2021
ref
13.3%
16.7%
9.5%
2.5%
Source: Household Labour Force Survey data from Stats NZ. Note: All percentages are compared to the reference group –
European – for each year. MELAA statistics should be interpreted with caution.
The factors contributing to the ethnic pay gap are
similar to those we outlined above that drive the
gender pay gap. Like women, Māori, Pacific and Asian
workers face occupational segregation and vertical
segregation. This means they are overrepresented
in lower-paid occupational groups and there are
relatively fewer ethnic minorities in leadership and
senior roles. In addition, racism – both interpersonal
and institutional – are factors contributing to these
patterns.
Voices of Pacific peoples
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