Rāhoroi, 29 Mahuru, 2007

A new report by Te Puni Kōkiri (Ministry of Māori Development) titled Māori in Australia - Ngā Māori i Te Ao Moemoeā, gives the most accurate picture yet of just how many Māori there are in Australia, why they went there, and how they’re faring.

Te Puni Kōkiri Chief Executive Leith Comers says Māori in Australia also highlights the fact that while a significant group of Māori are living and working in another country, they still consider themselves to be Māori and most are still calling New Zealand “home”.

The report was launched today by the Minister of Māori Affairs Parekura Horomia at Australia’s largest Māori sports event the New South Wales Māori Rugby League Tournament.

Māori in Australia was written by Te Puni Kōkiri Policy Manager Paul Hamer and is based on research undertaken while he was a visiting fellow in the Department of Politics and Public Policy at Griffith University in Brisbane, Australia, in 2006.

Part of his research included a 50-question survey being filled in either online or in hard-copy by 1205 Māori across Australia. The views of another 400 Māori are included from research fieldwork carried out around the country.

The resulting 230 page report is divided into 20 chapters. Topics include the history of Māori contact with Australia; the reasons Māori move across the Tasman; the jobs they have been drawn to; their integration into the Australian state through, for example, their take-up of citizenship; their attempts to build community infrastructure and maintain the practice of their culture; their sense of being different from Māori in New Zealand; and the challenges that go with being Māori overseas.

“Māori are truly a trans-national people,” says Mr Comer. “There is much in this report that will help Te Puni Kōkiri and other government organisations form future policy

“Māori have always enjoyed easy access to Australia and haven’t placed any special demands on their hosts. Through this report, the Australians and ourselves will now have a better picture of the Māori presence in Australia and how to deal with that,” he says.