Maori unemployment figures.

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Permalink Reply by Nigel Chetty on May 9, 2009 at 11:17pm

Kia Ora tatou

Unarguably Maori and Pacifica have always represented the majority group in New Zealand’s underachievement statistics. It’s been an issue of grave concern and debate for many decades. I personally find it a rather disturbing reality that a solution to the problem is made to seem almost non existence.

I have witnessed and experienced personally the actual lack of unity amongst people when it comes to finding an effective solution to the problem. Government agencies, community organizations and Iwi’s in most instances continue to remain at odds with each other. There is no centralized or community approach.

Hui’s after hui’s after hui’s is all that ever seems to happen with no practical outcomes. Agencies and organizations alike become too focused on protecting their own interests. In instances where community organizations and Iwi’s do come up with dynamic and practical solutions beaurocracy is quick to ensure that they get bogged down with ridiculous loads of paper work, policy alignments and unnecessary requirements which not only is disheartening, discouraging and extremely frustrating but also a common factor as to a way of delaying and canceling projects.

The Maori Party is not to blame...we all are…we are all equally responsible for allowing our politicians over generations to create the beaurocratic mess and red tape structure that now dictates the future of our community and people. First and foremost the issue of beaurocracy needs to be resolved and a “commonsense” approach needs to be implemented.

In its entirety EDUCATION is the answer to our problems. We must educate both our young and old to break the generational cycle that holds our people back. We must educate our communities to not tolerate cultural suppression of our younger generation. We must educate our people to effectively function as a community. We must reinstate in our people via education the morals, values and kaupapa our ancestors once embraced.

We must also bear in mind that the current economic climate is a huge factor in causing the unemployment rates to be at its highest. Employees in “bottom-end” jobs have been the hardest hit, as it is at this level of employment that job cuts typically occur. Our people (Maori and Pacifica) are those that are typically the ones employed at this level. Why you may ask? The answer is quite simple; it’s because of a general lack of education and skills.

Therefore it would be quite silly for us as the opposition to attack the Maori Party on this issue, as the current economic climate and the underlying “reality” of the issue would play greatly to their advantage. It would be more beneficial and productive for us to come up with practical solutions to the problem which would also in return help to restore voter confidence.

Regards

Nigel Chetty

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Permalink Reply by Patrick Anderson on May 10, 2009 at 1:35am

Nga mihi mahana ki a koutou,

The Maori Party joined with National because of how Labour dealt with the Seabed and Foreshore legislation. I don't blame the Maori Party for siding with National. I think the way that Labour dealt with this issue was appalling. Labour failed to follow due process. Labour took Maori support for granted and are now paying for it. Labour have a similar relationship with the Greens. Labour need to learn how not to marginalise possible coalition partners.

I refer to Te Tiriti o te Waitangi

Article the Second.

Her Majesty the Queen of England confirms and guarantees to the Chiefs and Tribes of New Zealand, and to the respective families and individuals thereof, the full, exclusive, and undisturbed possession of their lands and Estates, Forests, Fisheries, and other properties which they may collectively or individually possess, so long as it is their wish and desire to retain the same in their possession; but the Chiefs of the United Tribes and the individual Chiefs yield to Her Majesty the exclusive right of Pre-emption over such lands as the Proprietors thereof may be disposed to alienate, at such prices as may be agreed upon between the respective Proprietors and persons appointed by Her Majesty to treat with them in that behalf.

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Permalink Reply by Kelvin Davis on May 10, 2009 at 10:04am

Education is the long term answer to turning Maori unemployment figures around. What is happening at the moment is the low skilled workers at the bottom of the food chain are getting laid off first. Maori make up much of that low skilled group, so Maori get laid off first, and that is why Maori unemployment figures are up.

The way to ensure this doesn't happen in the long term is to make sure Maori are highly educated and aspire to hold the high skilled jobs, that have some durability in a recession.

There needs to be a re-framing of the educational debate so that from the Minister of Education throughout the whole system we focus on what is known to make all students in general, and Maori students in particular achieve. Unsurprisingly the strategies that get Maori students to learn the fastest work for all students.

There is a mountain of solid research that spells out what makes kids learn. Educational policy should be based around that research. The secrets to excellent teaching are no longer secret.

Most commentators don't actually understand the deliberate acts of teaching that make learning happen.

There is very little educational legislation either passed since the election or in the pipeline that is based around improving achievement as a result we won't improve the outcomes we are currently experiencing and Maori will continue to under achieve.

So in the foreseeable future Maori will continue to be at the bottom of the educational heap and leave school looking for the low skilled jobs that are the most vulnerable in a down turn.

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Permalink Reply by John LANGDON on May 10, 2009 at 1:13pm

Can someone clarify for me how unemployment statistics are compiled...I am told that if you are paid for one hour's work a week you are counted in the statistics as employed...

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Permalink Reply by Nigel Chetty on May 11, 2009 at 6:24pm

Hi John

Check out this link, it might help answer your question: http://www.dol.govt.nz/publications/lmr/lmr-hlfs-summary.asp

Cheers!

John LANGDON said:

Can someone clarify for me how unemployment statistics are compiled...I am told that if you are paid for one hour's work a week you are counted in the statistics as employed...

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Permalink Reply by Simon Lambert on September 1, 2009 at 3:25pm

Thank you for the opportunity to post.

Aotearoa/New Zealand's unemployment figures hid two things: our lack of productivity growth and the vulnerability of Maori, whose unemployment is now over 12% (it was never better than 8% although I may be wrong on that, and yes there are considerable regional differences).

I do not see Labour as any sort of solution to Maori problems (aspects of which I see have already been posted on this site). Indeed one might argue they have contributed to many of the issues we still struggle with (I'm thinking back to the neoliberal reforms of the 1980s). Here's a quote from Ralph Love, at the 1984 Hui Taumata: “Our fate as a people is intertwined with the economic development of New Zealand. We believe that growth in the economy is essential. If there is no growth we realise we will slip behind further and that our people will be the major sufferers. Our urgent requirement is growth in the economy". Pakeha society has never faced the worst effetcs of a recession - unemployment - as Maori and Pasifika comprise this country's proletariat.

As Love said in 18984, if the economy as a whole doesn't grow, we are screwed as a people. The irony is that Maori agribusiness and aquaculture ventures are considered some sort of 'sleeping giant' in the economy. I agree with what others have said, that education is the key to greater security as individuals and whanau, but education costs (albeit as an investment) and its quality has declined (I say this as a university staff member!).

So, sadly, no solution anytime soon, primarily as the much-needed productivity gains are not likely under the sort of (dis)investment currently being undertaken by the National coalition. The best economic option for many Maori since colonisation has been emigration, once to the cities of A/NZ, now to Australia, a rational if quite a sad choice.

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