Maori percentage in all jobs sought

Press, 26 June 1987, Page 5

Maori percentage in all jobs sought

PA Hamilton Maori people should have 15 per cent representation in all occupations and New Zealand institutions, the Roysl Commission on Social Policy has been told. A former Hamilton City councillor, Ratu Tibble, told the commission that this was the best thing the country could do for Maori people, in his submission at a Hamilton public meeting. As an example, he said, Maori should, make up 15 per cent of lawyers and 15 per cent of social welfare staff with a built-in chance to advance up the grades. If 15 per cent of council staff had to be Maori they should not be “all shovel pushers,” Mr

Tibble said — “fifteen per cent means 15 per cent across the board.” Mr Tibble said Waikato was the heart of the Maori nation and although he was not part of tribal affiliation, he was concerned about a lack of Maori involvement in the area.

Hamilton’s architecture showed little Maori input and he did not think any lecturers in areas such as engineering, mathematics or any librarians at Waikato University were Maori. There had been invitations to elders, from the Waikato Technical Institute to join, but there was generally a lack of invitation and a sheer domination (by non-Maori) in this area, Mr Tibble said.