Incomes for women and Maori: the post-80s plateau

When I raise the point that New Zealand has become much more unequal since the 1980s – faster than almost any other country – one of the common responses is: yes, but we’ve made so much social progress since then. Outcomes for traditionally disadvantaged groups have improved as we’ve become a more tolerant and modern…

Inequality ‘a chronic illness’ for New Zealand

Income and wealth gaps have a profound – and negative – effect on New Zealand, researchers have claimed. Speaking to a conference on inequality organised by the Institute for Governance and Policy Studies, education researcher Cathy Wylie said inequality was “a chronic illness – and it’s getting worse”. A poorer area like Porirua lost a…