13.3 Ethnicity
An issue relating to ethnicity that frequently arises with time-series analysis is that ethnicity definitions and systems of classification can change over time. For example, earlier approaches to definition might have involved a Government official determining ethnicity on the basis of appearance, while it is common today to allow self-identification (as is the case within Corrections). Such a change may mean that the proportion of any population counted as “Māori” or “Pacific” may not be directly comparable to figures from earlier times.
Nevertheless, in every year since 1991, the largest single sub-group of sentenced inmates have been Māori. Where increases have occurred in the proportion of Māori and Pacific people, these are usually associated with a corresponding decrease in the proportion of European inmates.
A higher degree of ethnicity variation within the female inmate population (as seen in Table 13-3) is in part a reflection of low numbers.
Table 13-3 Ethnic group of sentenced females (percent)
|
Ethnic group |
1991 |
1993 |
1995 |
1997 |
1999 |
2001 |
2003 |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
European |
38.8 |
36.9 |
38.6 |
37.0 |
31.5 |
29.2 |
31.3 |
|
European and Māori |
1.7 |
1.8 |
6.4 |
13.3 |
18.0 |
6.2 |
6.1 |
|
Māori |
47.1 |
51.4 |
49.3 |
42.0 |
38.0 |
45.3 |
50.8 |
|
Māori and Pacific |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
2.5 |
3.1 |
1.5 |
|
Pacific peoples |
5.8 |
5.4 |
3.6 |
3.3 |
9.5 |
10.6 |
5.0 |
|
Other (incl. Asian) |
6.6 |
4.5 |
2.1 |
4.4 |
0.5 |
5.6 |
5.3 |
|
Total |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
Table 13-4 Ethnic group of sentenced males (percent)
|
Ethnic group |
1991 |
1993 |
1995 |
1997 |
1999 |
2001 |
2003 |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
European |
40.7 |
38.3 |
38.9 |
38.2 |
35.9 |
31.6 |
35.7 |
|
European and Māori |
2.4 |
2.9 |
3.5 |
5.1 |
5.7 |
7.2 |
3.5 |
|
Māori |
43.3 |
42.7 |
45.0 |
43.8 |
44.4 |
44.6 |
45.4 |
|
Māori and Pacific |
0.4 |
0.5 |
0.9 |
1.1 |
1.2 |
1.4 |
1.7 |
|
Pacific peoples |
9.4 |
9.9 |
10.2 |
10.1 |
10.3 |
10.7 |
9.8 |
|
Other (incl. Asian) |
3.9 |
5.6 |
1.4 |
1.7 |
2.5 |
4.5 |
3.9 |
|
Total |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |