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Asians still the most discriminated against
Asians continue to be the most discriminated against, according to a survey released by the Human Rights Commission.
The survey, conducted annually by UMR Insight Ltd since 2000, showed that 77 per cent of New Zealanders consider that Asians are discriminated against more than any other group. This figure is up from 75 per cent in 2009 and 74 per cent in 2008.
The figures are published in the Human Rights Commission’s annual review of racial discrimination and harassment, which was released today (Saturday 26 February) by Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres.
Speaking to a meeting of the National Federation of Multicultural Councils in Palmerston North today, Mr de Bres said the survey was a reminder that even with the popularity of events such as the Chinese New Year and Diwali, there is still a degree of prejudice in some sections of the community.
The Commission’s report also listed media reports of “sporadic incidents of racially motivated violence” in 2010, “ranging from verbal abuse to severe physical assault”.
The Human Rights Commission received 543 complaints and enquiries on race-related matters last year, around a third of all complaints made. The most common area of complaint related to employment and pre-employment, accounting for more than a third of complaints. Complaints related to poor treatment, harassment, bias in pre-employment, and the use of languages other than English in the workplace.
One woman complained she had been asked by her employer to change her shirt before serving clients at a corporate function so her moko would not be seen. The complaint was not resolved through mediation and has now been referred to the Human Rights Review Tribunal.
Mr de Bres said one matter that had finally been resolved last year was the discrimination against Māori All Blacks excluded from touring South Africa during the apartheid era. The South African and New Zealand Rugby Unions formally apologised in May.
Another positive development was the establishment of a web-based reporting system for racist incidents in Nelson Tasman, which was developed by the Nelson Multicultural Council and other local organisations and supported by the Nelson and Tasman Councils.
Download the review of racial discrimination and harassment (1MB).