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Multicultural New Zealand has rejected a suggestion New Zealand’s intelligence agencies may struggle to recruit more Maori and Pacific spies because they come from open, honest, trusting families and communities.
The rationale was made in a report on diversity within the Security Intelligence Service and the Government Communications Security Bureau.
It found the agencies were mainly staffed by white males in an “old boy’s club” culture where racist jokes were made at the expense of the few Maori and Pacific staff.
Multicultural New Zealand executive director Tayo Agunlejika says it was also patronizing of the report to claim security clearances could be an issue because ethnic minorities have a higher showing in crime statistics.
A similar review of other government agencies is likely to find significant discrimination against hiring minorities.
She says all government agencies should have an ethnic relations strategy, which would make recruitment more attractive to ethnic minorities and allow agencies to become more effective in reaching minorities and providing more equitable access to public services.
Copyright © 2016, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com
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