Discrimination
According to the New Zealand Human Rights Commission, the most common forms of discrimination in New Zealand are:
- Age discrimination
- Disability discrimination
- Ethnic or racial discrimination
- Gender discrimination
- Religious discrimination
- Sexual orientation discrimination
The Human Rights Commission also found that discrimination is more likely to be experienced by people who are:
- Female
- Disabled
- Māori or Pasifika
- LGBTQIA+
- Young
Tolerance
Despite the existence of discrimination, New Zealand is also a tolerant society. According to the 2021 New Zealand Attitudes and Values Study, the vast majority of New Zealanders believe that:
- People of all races and cultures should be treated equally (94%)
- People of all sexual orientations should be treated equally (89%)
- People of all religions should be treated equally (88%)
- People with disabilities should be treated equally (96%)
New Zealanders are also generally supportive of policies that promote tolerance and inclusion. For example, the 2021 New Zealand Attitudes and Values Study found that 84% of New Zealanders support same-sex marriage, and 75% support the Treaty of Waitangi.
Challenges
While New Zealand is a tolerant and inclusive society, there are still some challenges that need to be addressed. For example, the Human Rights Commission found that discrimination is still a common experience for many New Zealanders. Additionally, there is a need to continue to promote tolerance and understanding of different cultures and identities.
Overall
The data on discrimination and tolerance in New Zealand shows that, while there is still some progress to be made, New Zealand is generally a tolerant and inclusive society. New Zealanders are generally supportive of equality and inclusion, and there are a number of policies in place that promote these values.
