3.2.2 Childhood economic disadvantage

The relationship between socio-economic disadvantage and increased risk of later persistent offending is also well-established 1. Table 4 below shows a greater proportion of Mâori than non-Mâori suffer socio-economic disadvantage, based on the presence of indicators such as low income, receipt of state benefit, crowding, lack of access to a car, and lack of telephone access.

Table 4: Socioeconomic indicators by ethnic group (%)
Indicator

Mâori

non-Mâori

School completion (6th form cert. or higher)

32.5

50.8

Unemployed, age 15+ years

11.4

4.0

Total personal income less than $10,000, 15+ years

30.1

24.1

Receiving means-tested benefit 15+ years

30.7

11.5

Living in household without telephone access, 15+ years

12.5

6.1

Living in household without motor vehicle access, 15+ years

11.9

5.6

Not living in own home, 15+ years

64.8

39.1

Household crowding, all age groups

21

6.9



Ministry of Health. http://www.health.govt.nz/nz-health-statistics/health-statistics-and-data-sets/maori-health-data-and-stats


1 Boyle Michael H & Lipman Ellen l (2002) Do places matter? Socioeconomic disadvantage and behavioural problems of children in Canada. Journal of Consulting & Clinical Psychology, Vol. 70, No. 2, 378-389.