Summary of prevalence of workplace sexual
harassment among Māori workers
In the last five years, one in three (34%) Māori workers have personally experienced sexual harassment.
Differences in prevalence rates using the labels of sexual harassment versus the behavioural definition
points to a gap in worker understanding of what constitutes sexual harassment.
PREVALENCE RATES
Sexual harassment
20%
34%
…of Māori workers report being
‘sexually harassed’ in their
working life.
…of Māori workers in the last
5 years experienced one or
more of the sexual harassment
behaviours measured in the
survey.
24%
…of Māori workers are aware
of sexual harassment affecting
others in their workplace in the
last 5 years.
“I’m gay, not obviously, but at the time was sensitive to whom I was. The jokes and
crude jokes about sexuality and race were constant amongst some members of
staff. Female staff were also joked about in an inappropriate way.”
- Māori male who was working in the professional, scientific, and technical services sector
“When I was 16, working in a supermarket, an older manager (at least in his 30s)
would make sexual remarks towards me and hit on me.”
- Māori female who was working in the retail trade sector
“I was sexually harassed twice by a client whilst performing work duties, he would
not take no for an answer, it was a very uncomfortable situation to be in & because
of the nature of the job task that I was carrying out at the time of the incident I was
unable to leave as the client was having personal care done.”
- Māori female who was working in the health care and social assistance sector
“Shown/flashed genitals in the workplace, ass slaps, breast touching, unwanted
sexual remarks, forceful comments to engage in sex.”
- Māori female who was working in the professional, scientific, and technical services sector
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KANTAR PUBLIC 2022