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A study of diversity within New Zealand's spy services has found they are an "old boys club" largely staffed by white males where racist jokes are made at the expense of Maori and Pacific staff.
The study by a Massey University master's student on an internship at one of the agencies was based on informal conversations with staff and a review of what data was available from the agencies.
The study of the Security Intelligence Service and Government Communications Security Bureau relied on reviewing data from the agencies
and informal conversations with staff. It was carried out as part of an internship by a Masters student from Massey University who was asked to study diversity issues at the agencies on the basis the intelligence community was "not an accurate reflection of New Zealand's population".
It said there was a push to improve representation at the agencies because a diverse workforce performs better.
The government instigated a reform of both the GCSB and the SIS after the GCSB was found to be illegally spying on Kim Dotcom in 2012.
The report said Maori and Pacific staff felt "harassment through humour".
"Although it was not a pressing issue, staff did note that often at times this type of banter was excessive, unnecessary and that it would not be tolerated if the same was done to those of non-ethnic descent," the report said.
Maori make up about 15 percent of the population but just 4.9 percent of SIS staff and 7.4 percent of GCSB staff.
Maori Party vice president Ken Mair says the SIS is seen as an organisation which has actively worked to undermine indigenous aspirations, so it could struggle to recruit Maori.
The report was obtained by the New Zealand Herald under the Official Information act.
(LINK: http://m.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11568617)
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