The Pacific Pay Gap Inquiry

In order to better understand the Pacific Pay Gap and how it can be closed, the Human Rights Commission is conducting the Pacific Pay Gap Inquiry.

They commissioned the NZ Policy Research Institute to undertake a research note that explores the factors that contribute to ethnic pay gaps in New Zealand relative to NZ Europeans. We find that the gaps between average hourly wages for the European Workforce relative to Māori and Pacific workers is substantial, and mostly unexplained.

View and download the research note

Not enough time to read the full research note? We have also produced this informative infographic with our key takeaways.

Saunoamaali’i Karanina Sumeo and Professor Gail Pacheco discuss the findings from the report: 

Professor Gail Pacheco discusses pay transparency with Bernard Hickey:

The Pacific Pay Gap Inquiry sparked a range of media interest:

• Pacific workers earning up to 24pct less than Pākehā - research - Newshub
• National: Pacific Pay Gap in Aotearoa at least partly due to racism, research finds - 95bFM
• Onus must go on businesses to lift pay of Pacific workers - commissioner - NZ Herald
• Onus must go on businesses to lift pay of Pacific workers - commissioner - Kaniva Tonga
• Onus must go on businesses to lift pay of Pacific workers - EEO commissioner - RNZ
• New evidence boosts case for urgent pay transparency reform - Green Party
• Bias Against Pacifika People No Surprise Says MindTheGap - MindTheGap
• Study finds racism, unconscious bias could be behind the Pacific Pay Gap - Morning Report
• Big part of ethnic pay gap unexplained, raises questions of racism - Stuff
• Most of the Pacific pay gap is unexplained - study - TVNZ
• Radio Interview with Gail Pacheco - The Panel
• 'Bulk of the Pacific Pay Gap can't be explained' - Human Resources Director
• New Research Reveals Majority Of The Pacific Pay Gap Can’t Be Explained - Scoop
• It’s time we all stepped up against unjust pay gaps - Newsroom

Photo of koru by Nao Takabayashi on Unsplash