Be victims, says study

more victimisation appears to be that fact that just being Ma¯ori increases the likelihood of being a victim of crime.’’

Hampton said reducing the victimisation of Ma¯ori would require effort inside and beyond the justice sector.

The study showed victims were concentrated in small groups, who experienced crime ‘‘over and over again’’, he said.

About 5 per cent of the Ma¯ ori population experienced about 81 per cent of interpersonal violent crime, and 56 per cent of burglaries.

‘‘It’s those who are most likely to experience psychological distress ... and so it’s particularly important we provide additional support to help them over those crimes and then help prevent them being the victims of future crimes.’’

Ma¯ori living in Wellington and the South Island experienced higher rates of crime than those in the rest of the North Island. Hampton said further research was needed to understand why that was the case.

‘‘. . .just being Ma¯ori increases the likelihood of being a victim of crime.’’

Tim Hampton

How solid are the findings?

Hampton said the survey, from which the report was drawn, was ‘‘gold standard’’, and the only one giving a true sense of overall crime in Aotearoa.

The results showed 75 per cent of crime goes unreported, he said.

‘‘This survey is the only thing that shines a light on that ... it picks up not only the crime that’s reported to police, but also the non-reported crime.’’