Launch of Inaugural Superdiversity Stocktake

Monday, 2 November 2015, 11:19 am
Press Release: Chen Palmer

Launch of Inaugural Superdiversity Stocktake: Implications for Business, Government And New Zealand

A groundbreaking publication looking at the implications of superdiversity in ethnic New Zealand will be launched on 3 November 2015 in Auckland.

The Superdiversity Stocktake: Implications for Business, Government and New Zealand has been written by Mai Chen, Chair of the Superdiversity Centre for Law, Business and Government.

Ms Chen said, “New Zealand's defining issue through the coming decades will be, not diversity, but superdiversity. This is especially evident in Auckland now, where almost 50 per cent of the population is Maori, Asian and Pacific peoples; where 44 per cent were not born in New Zealand; and where there are over 200 ethnicities, and 160 languages spoken. Statistics New Zealand is also projecting that by 2038, 51% of all New Zealanders will be Asian, Maori and Pasifika.”

The Superdiversity Stocktake is New Zealand’s first stocktake of the implications of New Zealand’s ethnic superdiversity for business, government and citizens. The Stocktake includes relevant statistics and research on ethnic superdiversity, new survey results of the impact of superdiversity on business, government and citizens, and the identification of the key benefits, issues and challenges from superdiversity. There is a stocktake of how Government departments are adjusting to ethnic superdiversity in the provision of services and in making policy and law, including a top four and a ‘most improved’.

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Ms Chen said, “The Stocktake presents the data on what is happening to our country demographically, and what we need to do to ensure it remains economically and socially strong and racially harmonious. This is critical to good quality debate on whether we need a formal multicultural policy on a bicultural base.”

The Superdiversity Stocktake has been sponsored by the BNZ, Xero, the Human Rights Commission, the Ministry of Education, Designworks, Perpetual Guardian and Chen Palmer New Zealand Public and Employment Law Specialists.

Another publication by the Superdiversity Centre will also be launched on 3 November 2015, Superdiversity, Democracy and New Zealand’s Electoral and Referenda Laws. This is a study into why migrants do not vote and whether further changes need to be made to New Zealand’s electoral law for voters with little or no English. The study has been funded by the New Zealand Law Foundation and Chen Palmer.

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Chen Palmer

New Zealand Public And Employment Law Specialists

Chen Palmer was the first public law firm in New Zealand. Our reputation is for delivering a result. We don't just advise on public and employment law problems, we fix them, and we do so quickly. Our depth of experience and unique approach makes us leaders in our field. Our approach is based on Thomas Edison's words: "There must be a better way - find it!"