Other researchers conducted a study to highlight the discrimination faced by Asian people seeking employment with real recruitment consultants who thought they were facing real job applications rather than suitability scenarios (Ward & Masgoret, 2007). Four CVs were fabricated for two fictional people, one NZ European and one Chinese. They had equivalent experience and qualifications; the differences between them were the names, citizenship and the location of their education and initial employment (i.e., New Zealand versus overseas Chinese qualifications). The CVs were sent to 85 recruitment agencies for technology and sales. The results clearly showed NZ European to again be favoured over Asian applicants. The NZ European applicants received requests for future contact with consultants more often (28%) than did the Chinese applicants (9%). Similarly, 27% of the Chinese applicants were told that there were no current opportunities compared with 3% of European applicants being told this. These findings together illustrate that Asians in New Zealand face inequities in their access to employment compared to NZ Europeans. Asian migrants with foreign qualifications and ethnic-sounding names have a much lower chance of gaining suitable employment than NZ Europeans and other migrant groups. However, this research also indicates that Asian people who are born and raised in New Zealand, with New Zealand education and employment experience, face inequality compared to white-skinned, English speaking migrants with foreign qualifications. 4. Coping with Discrimination Despite these reports of discrimination, when asked how satisfied they are with their lives, Asian people report feeling just as satisfied as other groups, if not slightly more so. So how do they cope with the discrimination that they face? European Māori Very satisfied / satisfied with life overall 87.1 81.5 Pacific 80.2 Asian 84.1 Source: Statistics New Zealand, 2009 Given the depth and breadth of research showing evidence of discrimination against Asians in New Zealand, one might be hard pressed to explain the high levels of life satisfaction reported by Asians in a recent national survey (84%, trailing only NZ Europeans). In fact, Asians are accustomed to using secondary control strategies, that is, coping strategies that involve changing oneself to accommodate external pressures rather than engaging in a confrontational and costly campaign to change external circumstances beyond one's control (Yamaguchi, 2001). There is evidence to suggest that Asians cope with prejudice and discrimination directed against them by putting it out of mind or minimising the experience. For example, the Human Rights Commission's 2009 Race Relations report found that 752 of 14

Select target paragraph3