HUMAN RIGHTS IN NEW ZEALAND 20 1 0 Mäori economic development patterns), safety (assault mortality and victims of crime), The commercial assets owned by Mäori are key economic employment (median hourly earnings and workplace resources for iwi and New Zealand. Over half (52 per injury claims) and housing (household overcrowding). cent) of Mäori investment is in primary industries, In June 2009, a Whänau-centred Initiatives Taskforce including agriculture, forestry and fisheries. A further was established to develop a policy framework for a new 40 per cent is invested in tertiary industries, including method of government interaction with Mäori service cultural and recreational services; wholesale and retail providers, to holistically meet the social service needs trade; education; health; and community services. Mäori of whänau. This is known as ‘Whänau Ora’ – a whänau- commercial assets grew significantly between 2001 centred approach to Mäori wellbeing. After extensive and 2005–06, and the value of Mäori businesses has consultation, the taskforce reported in April 2010 also increased. The increased business value is partly and government is considering how to implement its due to a greater number of Mäori employers and Mäori recommendations. self-employed.25 Gaps continue to exist between the Mäori and non-Mäori In 2009 the Minister of Mäori Affairs organised a Mäori labour markets. Despite improvements over the last employment hui and a Mäori economic summit to decade, these gaps have widened due to the economic co-ordinate a response to the economic recession. recession that began in late 2008. Unemployment rates A Mäori Economic Taskforce was subsequently established in particular have risen, and are higher for Mäori than for and will receive government investment of $10 million non-Mäori. Inequalities also persist in pay rates, occupa- over 2009–10 and 2010–11 to protect and support tional spread and representation in senior roles. Mäori through the period of economic recession; think beyond the recession and identify strategic economic development opportunities for Mäori; and promote and utilise kaupapa Mäori and Mäori structures as drivers of prosperity. The taskforce works in seven key areas: tribal asset development, the primary sector, education and training, small to medium enterprises, social and community development, investment and enterprise, and economic growth and infrastructure. Economic and social rights Since 2001, the annual Social Report, published by the Ministry of Social Development, has charted improvements in socio-economic outcomes for Mäori. A number of these improvements have occurred at a greater rate than for the total population. Outcomes for Mäori have improved significantly in the areas of life expectancy, On average, Mäori continue to have poorer health outcomes that any other ethnic group in New Zealand. Despite very slight improvements in 2008, Mäori remain over-represented in all aspects of the criminal justice system. Criminal justice and social-welfare legislative reforms undertaken in 2009 are likely to have a disproportionate effect on Mäori. These issues are discussed in greater detail in other chapters. Public awareness of the Treaty and human rights In 2009, UMR Research found that 70 per cent of Mäori and 56 per cent of all New Zealanders agreed that the Treaty was New Zealand’s founding document. A total of 56 per cent of Mäori and 49 per cent overall agreed the Treaty was for all New Zealanders. participation in secondary and tertiary education, and In the same survey, 34 percent of all respondents said unemployment and employment rates. Despite improve- they had high-level knowledge of indigenous rights, ments in these and other areas, average outcomes for compared with 45 per cent who said they had a high Mäori tend to be poorer than for the total population. level of knowledge of human rights. Declared high-level Areas in which there are significant gaps between Mäori knowledge of the Treaty tends to be slightly higher among and the rest of the population include health (especially Mäori respondents. (Due to the small sample size of Mäori smoking rates, obesity and potentially hazardous drinking respondents, the results for Mäori are indicative only.) 25 Te Puni Kökiri (2008), Te Pütake Rawa o Ngäi Mäori: The Mäori Asset Base, Fact Sheet 2001–2008. Accessed 30 November 2009 from http://www.tpk.govt.nz/en/in-print/our-publications/fact-sheets/maoriassetbase/download/tpk-maoriassetbase-2008-en.pdf 53