David Farrar: Which ethnicities are over and under represented in the public service?

The PSC reported that the ethnicity of the public service is:

• Maori 16.7%

• Asian 15.9%

• Pacific 11.0%

• MELAA 2.3%

• European (by calculation) 54.1%

How does this compare the the share of the adult population in the 2023 census?

• Pacific 11.0% vs 6.6% = 1.7

• MELAA 2.3% vs 1.6% = 1.4

• Maori 16.7% vs 13.2% = 1.3

• Asian 15.9% vs 15.5% = 1.0

• European 54.1% vs 62.9% = 0.9

So we have a greater share of Pacific, MELAA and Maori public servants than in the overall adult population. The Asian share is pretty spot on, ands we have fewer European public servants than the share of the adult population.

David Farrar runs Curia Market Research, a specialist opinion polling and research agency, and the popular Kiwiblog where this article was sourced. He previously worked in the Parliament for eight years, serving two National Party Prime Ministers and three Opposition Leaders.