State of Pacific Peoples report: More work, fewer young offenders

The suicide rate among young people in Pacific Aotearoa has halved in the past decade, while the number of young offenders has fallen by two-thirds and the number of people in jobs has almost doubled, according to a new report.

But The Salvation Army’s State of Pacific Peoples report also shows that child poverty, housing affordability and educational achievement are still issues that disproportionately affect the community.

The report measures the social progress of Pacific communities across more than 50 “indicators” over the past decade, says Salvation Army analyst Ana Ika.

There were some victories, she said.

The suicide rate among young people has more than halved in that period and the number of juvenile delinquents has fallen by two-thirds.

The number of people employed has almost doubled from 96,600 to 182,400 – during which time the working-age population has increased by only 20 percent.

The employment rate rose from 58 percent to 70 percent, compared with the general population’s increase from 68 percent to 72 percent, indicating the gap is narrowing, the report said.

Pacific Islanders who left prison were also less likely to be re-imprisoned or re-convicted compared to the general population.

Recidivism rates among people in the Pacific were down by 30 percent, while among the general population they fell by 19 percent.

Many of these success stories can be traced back to government and community investments in those areas, Ika said.

For example, the biggest change in the suicide rate among young people in the Pacific occurred in 2013, when it fell among the general population, she said.

“In 2013, the government made a significant investment in Le Va, a Pacific mental health provider of sorts, which was able to deliver targeted mental health interventions in the Pacific.”

But the community still faced many challenges, she said.

For example, since 2019, more than 5,500 children in New Zealand have been lifted out of material hardship, but the number of children in material hardship in the Pacific has increased by almost 5,000.

School attendance has decreased by almost 50 percent; in 2023, only 32 percent of Pacific students were in school for more than 90 percent of the second semester, compared to almost 50 percent of the general population.

Housing insecurity was also a “key concern”.

In high population density areas in the Pacific, such as Cannons Creek North in Wellington, rents have risen 110 per cent in the past decade, making many private rental properties unaffordable, the report said.

“While these challenges are significant, they also present opportunities for real change,” Ika said.

“With targeted investment in key areas such as housing, education, gambling, workforce development and minimizing alcohol and harm, we can deliver lasting improvements for Pacific communities across Aotearoa.”