The Treasury’s report also acknowledged the unquantified but significant economic contribution made in unpaid labour. This uncounted labour predominantly falls to Pacific women, older children and youth in homes and community organisations. Economically, this unpaid labour is the unseen force that amplifies the economic resilience of Pacific communities. However, this contribution is absent from evidence bases, monitoring and review mechanisms that inform the development of policies and laws and which, if it was, could improve the lives of Pacific peoples. In addition, the counted and uncounted economic contribution of Pacific peoples to Aotearoa New Zealand would be significantly higher if their rate of accession to higher income positions was equal to those among other ethnic groups.103 The Pacific population is projected to make up an increasing proportion of Aotearoa New Zealand’s future workforce, especially in Auckland.104 There is great potential for upskilling, training and future employment within the health, science, technology and engineering industries.105 Pacific families have significant challenges in achieving adequate standards of living, relating to access to consistent employment, freedom from discrimination at work, low wages and lack of access to business finance. In considering employment, it is also prudent to consider government protections for those who have lost their source of income or are unable to work. In 2018 the Government convened the Welfare Expert Advisory Group to review the welfare systemin Aotearoa New Zealand. In its 2019 report, the Welfare Expert Advisory Group found that the welfare system was no longer fit for purpose and needs fundamental changes. Several of the Group’s recommendations were specific to 103 104 105 106 107 30 Pacific people do up to 30 hours of unpaid work per week according to a Treasury report. Photo courtesy of RNZ Pacific. “It should be remembered that the GDP measure of ‘value’ is a narrow measure indeed. The Treasury Living Standards framework reinforces the notion that the concept of contribution to an economy should embrace broader measures – including, for example, voluntary work, cultural capital, spiritual wellbeing, and intergenerational considerations.” (Treasury, 2018) Pacific peoples, including directing the Ministry of Social Development to commit to building its cultural responsiveness to Pacific people, to achieve equitable outcomes for Pacific people engaging with the welfare system.106 The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has recommended that discrimination in hiring, retention and promotion be eliminated.107 Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment and the Southern Initiative. Pacific peoples’ Workforce Challenge: Accelerating the advancement of Pacific people in the workforce, p. 6. Chen, M. 2015. Superdiversity Stocktake: Implications for Business, Government and New Zealand. Wellington: Superdiversity Centre, p. 80. Accessed at https://www.chenpalmer.com/wp-content/uploads/Superdiversity_ Stocktake.pdf. Chen, M. 2015. Superdiversity Stocktake: Implications for Business, Government and New Zealand. Wellington: Superdiversity Centre, p. 82. Accessed at https://www.chenpalmer.com/wp-content/uploads/Superdiversity_Stocktake. pdf. See report http://www.weag.govt.nz/assets/documents/WEAG-report/aed960c3ce/WEAG-Report.pdf. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination Concluding observations on the combined twenty-first and twenty-second periodic reports of New Zealand 2017 CERD/C/NZL/CO/21-22. Talanoa: Human rights issues for Pacific peoples in Aotearoa New Zealand