2 H U M A N R I G H T S COMMISSION | A FAIR GO FOR ALL? Introduction A fair go for all? The notion of everyone getting a fair go is a deep-rooted principle of New Zealand society. This perhaps arose from New Zealand’s migrant origins in seeking a better life, and certainly finding early expression in the Treaty of Waitangi’s promise of an equal entitlement to the rights and privileges of British subjects. But do all New Zealanders, regardless of the colour of their skin, ethnicity or national origin, get the same opportunity for good health, a good education, decent work and an adequate standard of living? The figures clearly say no, and the question to ask is what strengthen its efforts aimed at eliminating the disadvantages faced by Mäori and Pasifika in the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights by addressing structural factors and ensuring that relevant measures effectively benefit the most disadvantaged. The Committee also recommends that the State party set specific equality targets by year and closely monitor their achievement.1 are the barriers to people of different ethnicities and Key social indicators point to significant inequalities cultures getting the same start in life, having the same between ethnic groups in New Zealand. These inequalities opportunities, and collectively having broadly similar are not new; they are persistent and entrenched. outcomes. Additionally, inequalities disproportionately affect Mäori and There can only be two reasons for the kinds of inequalities experienced in New Zealand: either people of different Pacific populations. Some well-cited examples include: • the life expectancy rate for Mäori men it is 70.4 years ethnicities have different capabilities (which is not and for non-Mäori men it is 79.0 years. Life expectancy supported by the evidence), or people of some ethnicities for Mäori women is 75.1 years and for non-Mäori women face greater barriers than others to the achievement of it is 83.0 years. Although life expectancy rates for both good health, good education, decent work and an adequate European and Mäori have improved, the difference has standard of living. The first reflects a “deficit theory”, i.e. not narrowed. Pacific peoples have experienced the least that inequality is somehow the fault or in the nature of improvement in life expectancy over the past 20 years2 those who experience disadvantage. The second presents a “social model”, which leads us to consider what kinds of barriers lead to the persistence of inequalities between ethnic groups. • the unemployment rate for those classified as European was 5.6 per cent in the March 2012 quarter. That compares with 13.9 per cent for Mäori; 16.0 per cent for Pacific peoples; 14.1 per cent for MELAA (Middle Given that there have been a myriad of programmes to Eastern/Latin American/African); and 9.4 per cent for address ethnic inequalities without significant success, this Asian3 paper asks whether the systems, processes and practices of public agencies are themselves responsible. There is local, as well as “international” evidence that this is indeed the case, whether it is called structural discrimination, systemic discrimination or institutional racism. • European people comprise 33 per cent of the prison population, although they make up 68 per cent of the overall population. By contrast, Mäori account for 49 per cent of prisoners, despite being only 15 per cent of the national population.4 Pacific peoples comprise 11.31 per This paper looks at some of the evidence, as well as some cent of all prisoners yet only make up seven per cent of of the initiatives for systemic change that appear to be New Zealand’s population.5 working. Ethnic inequalities In 2012, the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights identified structural discrimination causing inequalities in New Zealand and urged the Government to address it. The Committee recommended that the Government: Although the frequent citation of negative statistics about inequality can have the unintentional impact of further perpetuating negative messages about Mäori and Pacific communities, statistics do provide an evidence base for analysing structural discrimination and encouraging government action. Te Puni Kökiri is one government agency, however, that has taken a different approach. It has created a macro-modelling tool, the Loss of Mäori Potential Model, which draws on these statistics to model alternative futures