17 Dec 2004

A recent report Measurement of Maori in Tourism, Te Ahu Mai – He Tatau Tapoi Maori found that Maori participation rates in tourism have increased by 72 percent in the decade 1991-2001, twice the growth rate of the total tourism workforce.

Maori are estimated to employ 18,400 full time equivalent tourism jobs, comprising 11 percent of total tourism related employment. In addition the report found that Maori in tourism employment are more likely to be:

? part-time workers (37 percent compared with 33 percent in the total tourism industry);

? mostly younger workers (44 percent aged under 30 years);

? lower qualified (77 percent have no qualification or school-only); and

? employed at lower income levels than the total tourism workforce (median income level for Maori is $18,200, 14 percent less than for all workers within the tourism industry of $21,200).

The full report, can be downloaded from www.trcnz.govt.nz