Race Relations in 2010

Racial equality, in the enjoyment of fundamental human rights, encompassing civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, is a prerequisite for good race relations. As this year’s race relations report shows, New Zealand continues in many respects to make progress in relationships between its diverse ethnic groups. However, despite the many efforts of communities and successive governments, social and economic inequalities, accentuated by the economic recession, remain unacceptably high. An unrelenting focus on the elimination of racial inequalities is needed, so that future generations of New Zealanders are free from this blight. It is also time to examine whether there are still systemic or institutional barriers to racial equality that need to be addressed to make other interventions more effective.