November 26, 2021
Māori public service numbers rising
The number of Māori in leadership roles in the public service has almost doubled since 2016.
The latest workforce data shows the public service is becoming more ethnically diverse.
Māori now hold 13.5 percent of leadership roles, up 1.1 percentage points on last year, and Pacific people hold 4.3 percent of leadership roles, up 0.9 percentage points in the last year,.
Public Service Commissioner Peter Hughes says it shows the effect of the Papa Pounamu diversity and inclusion programme started four years ago.
Pākehā still make up two thirds of public servants, but this has decreased from 70.5 percent five years ago.
Māori representation in the workforce at 16.4 percent is high compared with the overall New Zealand working-age population of 14.5 percent.
The number of women in senior management roles also continues to increase, and is now at 53.5 percent, a slight increase on last year but compared with 39.8 percent in 2010.