Asians are the most discriminated against group in New Zealand, according to a new survey.
And attitudes towards them have changed little in the past five years.
In a survey conducted for the Human Rights Commission, 75% of
respondents named Asians as the most discriminated against.
The Race Relations Commissioner, Joris de Bres, says Asians are now
one of the country's four largest population groups and the fastest
growing.
He said the time has come for the Asian community to be recognised
alongside Maori, Pakeha and Pacific island communities.
A Human Rights Commission review of discrimination and harassment found that the number of media reports of racially motivated crime dropped in the past year, but still included a number of serious assaults.
Two Thai women were abused both physically and verbally in Nelson, a couple set their dogs on a Filipino man and Japanese student in Christchurch, a man in New Plymouth attacked his Indian neighbours' car with a machete, and a Chinese student was assaulted at an Invercargill petrol station.
'Focus on inclusion'
De Bres told the New Zealand Federation of Multicultural Councils in Wellington that an active focus on inclusion of Asian New Zealanders in all aspects of New Zealand life was required to break down discrimination.
"Asians are now one of our four largest population groups, and one of the fastest growing. Yet the only publicly funded television programme, Asia Downunder, was discontinued last year," he said.
There are very few Asians on the boards of District Health Boards, not enough Asian teachers in New Zealand schools, not enough Asian local councillors or community board members and Asian migrants continue to face discrimination in applying for jobs, he said.
De Bres said that one of the organisations that has strongly focused on Asian recruitment over a recent years is the New Zealand Police.
That meant they were able to deal effectively with Asian communities after the Canterbury earthquake, as well as being accessible to Asian communities elsewhere, he said.
"All public agencies should be doing the same. Some private sector organisations, such as the major banks, have also reached out to Asian communities because it makes good business sense," de Bres said.
For example, Auckland University, which has rightly provided a space for Maori and Pacific students with the marae and the Fale Pasifika, could be thinking how they can similarly provide a space for Asian students who comprise a significant proportion of the student body, he said.
To view the full review of discrimination and harassment in 2011 visit the Human Rights Commission website.
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