Inclusion is the key to unlocking Wellington’s potential
Wellington’s immigrant communities are major contributors to the local economy, civic, sporting and cultural life. However, evidence shows they also tend to have disproportionately poorer social and economic outcomes, as exacerbated by the current pandemic.
Addressing these existing inequities and achieving the economic prosperity ofWellington is dependent on our ability to enhance the social inclusion of our ethnic communities.
The latest Census, from 2018, shows that Wellington is becoming more culturally and linguistically diverse. While the European ethnicity recorded a slight decrease since 2013, all other ethnicities have recorded increases, and this is only projected to continue growing.
Yet, for the most part, discussions about the challenges and work needed to make Wellington a better place to live have tended to exclude people who look like me, my friends and my family. For this reason, I felt a sense of responsibility in accepting an invitation to speak at a recent forum on Wellington’s economic future.
Anyonewho knows me well will tell you that I never shy away from engaging in critical discourse. It comes from a place of love and wanting to help shape a better city, nation, and society at large.
So, it should not come as a surprise that I chose to highlight the untapped economic potential of immigrant communities the city was missing out on as a result of underlying structural inequities and social exclusion.
While it is currently difficult to measure precisely the economic impact of racism, Australian research suggests that the health cost of racial discrimination is up to A$45 billion. The cost of discrimination in the United States has been estimated at nearly 4 per cent of its gross domestic product.
And despite the lack of relevant New Zealand estimates, persistent and growing inequities in income provide an indication of the economic impacts of racism. Ma¯ori and Pacific staff in government departments and district health boards, for example, are far less likely to earn six-figure salaries than their Pa¯keha¯ counterparts.
Simply put, it is no longer good enough for our perspectives to be excluded. Unlocking the full potential and participation of ethnic groups is key to Wellington and New Zealand’s overall economic recovery and future success. But this requires Wellington City Council to facilitate an inclusive whole-ofcommunity approach.
An inclusive approachwill also help develop a sense of belonging, and allow our immigrant communities to feel valued as integral contributing members of society.
I ama firm believer that what is good for Ma¯ori is also good for rest of society. And if we can’t get it right for Ma¯ori, then we are unlikely to get it right for anyone else.
It is imperative, inmy view, that the council adopt the recent proposal from councillors Jill Day and Tamatha Paul to introduce greater Ma¯ori representation on council committees. Central government also has a role to play in facilitating greater Ma¯ori representation in local government. Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta is absolutely right to prioritisework to repeal discriminatory settings in the Local Government Act.
Furthermore, the Government’s 2019 Economic Plan has set goals for prosperity and wellbeing in relation to productivity, skills and employment, regional development, sustainability and housing. Inclusion is fundamental to these goals, and yet it is not possible to achieve wellbeing and prosperity without first understanding the structural barriers that exist in everyday society.
As we continue to engage in further dialogue about Wellington and the future city we want to shape, let us remember we all have a lot to learn about why things are the way they are. And we must sometimes unlearn things if we want to make our city a better place to live for everyone.
Wellingtonians pride themselves on being a socially progressive bunch, which is true for the most part. We overfilled our beloved Basin Reserve after the Christchurch attacks and, earlier this year, a record crowd of 20,000 people rallied in support of the Black Lives Mattermovement.
Let us harness this same energy to help shape a more welcoming, inclusive, and prosperous Wellington.