Hon Georgina te Heuheu MP
National Party Maori Affairs (Culture & Development) Spokeswoman

13 February 2008

No cause for complacency on Maori unemployment

The picture of Maori unemployment is not as rosy as Labour would have us believe, says National’s Maori Affairs (Culture & Development) spokeswoman, Georgina te Heuheu.

“Yesterday, the Prime Minister spoke of the overall reduction in Maori unemployment since 1999. But she failed to reveal that since 2004, the net reduction in Maori unemployment has been 200 jobs. That is less than one new job a week across the entire country.

“More alarming is the fact the number of Maori out of work increased between 2006 to 2007.

“Maori unemployment for the December quarter was 8% - up from 7.2% for the same period the year before.

“Despite population increases, more Maori were unemployed at the end of 2007 than at the end of 1987.

“No amount of spin can hide these facts. Helen Clark would do better to be more up-front about the situation and commit to addressing what is a very real problem.”

ENDS

Attached - Maori unemployment figures

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