New data reveals significant ethnic pay disparities for Pacific workers in New Zealand’s public sector. The Public Service Commission reported a 16.6% pay gap for Pacific employees in 2023, down from 21.6% in 2018 but still among the highest.
At the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), Pacific workers face a 20.4% pay gap, four times higher than for Māori. The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) reported a staggering 24.42% gap for Pacific workers. DIA attributed this disparity to overrepresentation in lower-paying roles.
Seimoana Naisali, a Pacific women’s advocate, highlighted systemic barriers. “If you’re a mum and you’re Pacific, you face additional barriers such as bias and discrimination from employers [and] cultural obligations,” she said, adding that Pacific women are underrepresented in leadership roles.
University of Auckland data showed Pacific women face a 13.1% pay gap among professional staff. Advocacy for pay transparency and employer bias acknowledgment is growing.
Dr. Ritupurna Roy, an expert on racial justice, called for better data collection. “There shouldn’t be any excuse for public organisations to not collect data on Asian groups,” she said, emphasizing the need for tailored policies to address pay inequities.
Despite some progress, advocates stress that systemic change is needed to close the gaps and ensure equity for Pacific workers.
Source: RNZ