What is the issue?

In New Zealand Pacific Islanders are often treated unfairly in the workplace. Whether they are being under valued, over worked and under paid this is something that has been going on for many years. 

They are being overlooked for better high paying roles and positions simply because of their ethnicity and physical appearance regardless of the fact that they are qualified and have earned the right to be selected and become the successful applicant.

There have been many situations in which this has happened but the employers whom are doing the mistreating are also bullying those pacific peoples to the point that they become fearful of losing there jobs,  so they just accept being treated that way and rarely dispute and lodge any formal complaints against there employer.

The above mentioned has one way or another all resulted in Pacific Islanders feeling mistreated and discriminated in the workplace.  The one specific result that has come from this has been there income.

Pacific Islanders have the lowest income when compared to other ethnicities.  In the 2013 Census the median personal incomes for the major ethnic groups were:

$37,100 for 'Other ethnicity' (includes 'New Zealander')
$30,900 for European
$22,500 for Māori
$20,100 for Asian
$19,800 for Middle Eastern/Latin American/African (MELAA)
$19,700 for Pacific peoples

I believe that if something is done to help prevent this problem from recurring in the future that New Zealand will become a more equal place to live in.

Our Key Demands

We want the government to create and fund a three part programme that:

1. Creates awareness of the issue of workplace discrimination
2. Delivers workshops for employers that teaches them about making the most of cultural diversity in their workplaces.
3. Hosts specially focused workshops for Pasifika employees about their rights, and how to make their culture work for them in their jobs.