UN told of extreme disadvantage for Maori

A United Nations report has highlighted what it says is the "extreme disadvantage" of Maori in comparison to the rest of the country.

The report was tabled in the General Assembly by the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, James Anaya.

In a mixed review, however, he hails the "significant strides" taken to advance the rights of Maori in recent years.

"The Special Rapporteur cannot help but note the extreme disadvantage in the social and economic conditions of Maori people in comparison to the rest of New Zealand society," the UN report says.

"This disadvantage, which manifests itself across a range of indicators, including education, health, and income, is certainly detrimental to Maori people's ability to act in partnership with the Crown, as contemplated under the Treaty of Waitangi.

"The Special Rapporteur notes that this disadvantage especially manifests itself among Maori people living in urban areas."

Anaya notes that "regrettably" New Zealand continues to incarcerate Maori at a high rate.

He said Maori made up 51 per cent of the prison population despite making up only 15 per cent of the total population.

"In addition to the negative impacts on individual incarcerated individuals and their families, high incarceration rates have a potentially significant impact on Maori political participation, as the New Zealand electoral law specifies that citizens who have been sentenced and imprisoned lose their voting rights," the report says.

- © Fairfax NZ News