Tūi Tūi Tuituiā

Attitudes toward Asians become more positive

A report by the Asia New Zealand Foundation, New Zealanders’ perceptions of Asia and Asian peoples: 1997-2011 shows that New Zealanders’ attitudes to Asian immigration and immigrants have become more positive over time.⁷

The report captures the changes that have occurred over 15 years since the Asia New Zealand Foundation first began to analyse public opinion towards Asia and Asian peoples in 1997.

In the late 1990s, the average proportion of New Zealanders who rated Asian immigration as positive or very positive was 31 per cent. However, by 2011, this had increased to 55 per cent. Most New Zealanders agreed that Asian people contributed significantly to our economy and brought valuable cultural diversity to Aotearoa New Zealand. However, some still believed that Asian people could do more to learn about New Zealand culture and Māori, in particular, continued to express concern about the arrival of Asian immigrants.

Growing contact between non-Asian and Asian New Zealanders has played a crucial role in contributing to positive attitudes. This is backed up by research that shows that the more contact there was, the more positive the attitudes expressed.

By 2021, it is estimated that Asians will make up 16 per cent of the Aotearoa New Zealand population and almost 30 per cent of the population of Auckland. Asia and Asian people are part of Aotearoa New Zealand’s present and future and it is welcome news that there is a significant and growing level of acceptance.

The Taniwha and the Dragon: ancient and modern bonds

Māori and Chinese cultural bonds were celebrated at a pōwhiri and festival hosted by Ngāti Whātua o Orākei and Auckland Chinese community leaders. The inaugural Taniwha and Dragon Festival was an extravaganza of cultural experiences including kapa haka, dragon dances, traditional foods and the flying of traditional Māori and Chinese kites.

The festival was followed later in the year by a Taniwha and Dragon cross-cultural concert arranged by the Music Association of Auckland and Te Pou Whakairo Kapa Haka group. The Taniwha and Dragon initiative emphasised the ancient genetic bonds which unite Māori and Chinese. It also highlighted contemporary bonds such as a shared experience of discrimination in Aotearoa New Zealand and a commitment to building understanding of cultural differences.

The festival was an opportunity to reflect on the burgeoning business links between Māori and Chinese, as Māori consider options for investing and developing iwi assets alongside the growing influence of Chinese investors and business experts.

Speaking about the Taniwha and Dragon Festival, Māori Affairs Minister Dr Pita Sharples said “The new millennium sees Māori people connecting with Chinese people in many ways, through trade and business, via cultural and educational exchanges, and as citizens of the global environment. All of these things should be based on building strong relationships between our people and communities”.⁸

Whakahāweatanga me to nonotitanga – Discrimination and harassment

Is Aotearoa New Zealand a racist country? In April 2013, TV3’s national debate programme The Vote posed this question to its viewers, inviting them to register their opinion. Of those that voted, 76 per cent said ”Yes”.

Racial discrimination and harassment can take many forms. Confronting it requires bravery, resilience and a commitment to equal treatment for all people.

Asian peoples and Māori most likely to experience discrimination

Aotearoa New Zealand has comprehensive laws, policies and practices in place to prevent discrimination and promote equality. Nevertheless, discrimination remains a reality for certain groups of people.

Almost one out of every ten New Zealanders (9.6 per cent) experienced discrimination in the last 12 months, according to the latest New Zealand General Social Survey.⁹ The survey, which assesses the wellbeing of New Zealanders aged 15 years and over, asked people if they felt they had been treated unfairly or had something nasty done to them in the last year because of the group they belonged to or seemed to belong to. This included being treated unfairly because of their age, skin colour, family status, sex or because of a disability or health issue.

The survey found that the highest rates of discrimination were reported by those in sole parent families (14.3 per cent), recent migrants (15.1 per cent), Māori (15.7 per cent) and Asian peoples (15.8 per cent).

Complaints to the Human Rights Commission

Racial discrimination continued to be the most common form of unlawful discrimination reported to the Human Rights Commission, with 496 racial discrimination complaints received in 2013. Those complaints made up almost one third (30.5 per cent) of all unlawful discrimination complaints received by the Commission during the year, a pattern which has changed little over the last decade.

Employment settings

As in previous years, most race-related complaints (29 per cent) referred to unlawful discrimination in employment settings, either while at work or when seeking employment.

Around a third of these were to do with racist bullying or harassment in the workplace. This was closely followed by complaints about pre-employment practices, in particular regarding employers who were perceived to be deliberately excluding job applicants of certain ethnicities.

Other complaints included being treated unfairly or having lesser/less advantageous working conditions compared with others, and failure to have cultural needs accommodated in the workplace.

Frequently asked questions about your rights when getting a job can be found in the handbook: An A-Z of for employers and employees − pre-employment guidelines available at www.hrc.co.nz/hrc_new/hrc/cms/files/documents/31-Jul-2008_21-34-42_A-Z_Pre-employment_Guide.pdf.

Government

A significant number of complaints (21.5 per cent) related to unlawful discrimination by government. This included actual or perceived discrimination by agencies or individuals in their application of legislation, policy or practice, in areas such as education, local government, health and justice.

As in previous years, the largest number of complaints related to education establishments, which received more than twice the number of complaints of alleged unlawful discrimination than any other sector. A number of complaints were also made about actions by local councils, police, prisons and health services. A lesser number were in areas such as welfare benefits and housing support.

Most complaints (70.5 per cent) came from people who felt they had been treated less favourably based upon their race, ethnicity, national origins or colour; while 16 per cent related to racial harassment or bullying. Other complaints related to failure to accommodate language or cultural needs.

A small number of complaints were also received from non-Māori people who felt that specific programmes or policies which engaged with and strengthened Tangata Whenua were discriminatory, despite the fact that such initiatives were affirming a particular cultural identity, not diminishing or subjugating another.

Provision of goods and services

Complaints to do with the provision of goods and services made up 16 per cent of race discrimination complaints. Complainants said that they had been treated unfairly, stereotyped or harassed in retail situations or when accessing services. Of these around a quarter said that they had been excluded from receiving goods or services on the basis of their race, ethnicity or colour. The largest number of alleged unlawful discrimination complaints related to incidents when using health services (such as hospital and doctor visits), closely followed by incidents in supermarkets and bars/nightclubs.

Racial disharmony

Complaints related to abusive, derogatory or offensive words used in a public place*  made up nineteen percent of race discrimination complaints.

Cartoons published in The Press and Marlborough Express about free school meals resulted in a very high number of complaints. Fifty nine people contacted the Commission regarding the cartoons’ alleged negative stereotyping of Māori and Pacific people and in response to comments made after the cartoons were published.

Material published on Facebook, websites and blogs was a major source of complaints, with online media generating more than double the complaints of traditional media such as television, radio and newspapers (not including the cartoons complaints above).

* Note: For such comment to be unlawful under section 61 of the Human Rights Act, it needs to cause or excite hostility against groups of people, or bring them into contempt, because of their race, colour, or ethnic or national origin. A complaint of exciting racial disharmony must be balanced against the right to freedom of expression.

Significant events which led to race-related complaints

There were several key incidents during the year that prompted a number of people to contact the Commission. While these events were not categorised as being perceived or actual unlawful discrimination, they provoked discussion and debate around race relations.

Offensive material about Chinese and Jewish people left in mailboxes and posted online generated 31 complaints. While the actions did not meet the threshold for unlawful discrimination or inciting racial disharmony, the Human Rights Commission worked with the New Zealand Police to monitor the activity and support the communities affected. The distribution of such materials is a problem the Commission has seen resurface regularly over the years. The materials, distributed by small groups of individuals, left people feeling upset, angry and threatened.

Comments made by a Danish politician, Marie Krarup, were met with international outrage when she mocked a Māori welcome to Aotearoa New Zealand, dubbing the pōwhiri an "uncivilised" ritual, and marae a "grotesque" mark of multicultural worship. Her comments, and the response to the comments, were the subject of 41 complaints.

The Commission also received 23 complaints after remarks made by NZ First MP Richard Prosser were considered to be “anti-Muslim” when published in Investigate magazine. The reaction to Mr Prosser’s comments as well as the cartoons about free school meals are discussed in more detail in the Media chapter.

Have you faced racial discrimination or harassment?

Do you have a human rights enquiry or complaint? Find out how you can speak with us or submit a complaint online at:

www.hrc.co.nz/enquiries-and-complaints-guide/what-can-i-complain-about.