Relevance
Surveys on perceived discrimination towards groups of people provide one indication of the level and type of discrimination in New Zealand. They do not measure actual levels of discrimination and therefore it is not possible to conclude whether actual levels of discrimination have increased or decreased.
Current Level And Trends
In January 2004, more than three-quarters of respondents from the Human Rights Commission Survey 2004 (78 percent) thought that Asian people were subject to a great deal or some discrimination, the highest proportion for any group. This was followed by recent immigrants (72 percent) and refugees (70 percent). Perceived discrimination against these groups has increased since December 2001, from 73 percent for Asians, and from 68 percent for recent immigrants and refugees.
Table CP3.1 Proportion (%) of survey respondents who perceived selected groups as being subject to a great deal or some discrimination, December 2000-January 2004
| Group | Dec 2000 | Dec 2001 | Jan 2003 | Jan 2004 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asians | 73 | 73 | 79 | 78 |
| Recent immigrants | no data |
68 | 77 | 72 |
| Refugees | no data |
68 | 72 | 70 |
| People who are overweight | 72 | 65 | 65 | 68 |
| People on welfare | 75 | 70 | 68 | 66 |
| Gays and lesbians | 74 | 65 | 61 | 58 |
| Pacific peoples | 71 | 65 | 65 | 57 |
| People with disabilities | 61 | 55 | 53 | 55 |
| Maori | 70 | 62 | 57 | 53 |
| Older people | 53 | 48 | 49 | 46 |
| Women | 50 | 44 | 41 | 38 |
Source: Human Rights Commission (2004)
Approximately two-thirds of survey respondents thought that people who are overweight and people on welfare were the target of a great deal or some discrimination. More than half thought that gays and lesbians, Pacific peoples, people with disabilities, and Maori were subjected to such discrimination.
Women, older people, Maori, Pacific peoples, people who are overweight, people on welfare, people with disabilities, and gays and lesbians were all less likely to be considered the targets of some or a great deal of discrimination in January 2004, compared to December 2000.
