Maori participation in the Baby Boom

Maori participation in the Baby Boom

Statistics New Zealand (1995) reports that Maori did not participate demographically in the post-war population boom of the 1940s and 1950s, because they were already on a steady and steep population growth path. There is also some question about whether Maori participated on the post-war period of economic plenty enjoyed by other sectors of the New Zealand community.

The Health, Work and Retirement Study (Allpass, 2008) is tracking Maori and Pacifica people and a comparative attitudinal study would inform those research findings with some insights into the motivations and intentions of these two important sectors.

Maori were underrepresented in the New Zealand Boomer Dreams Study (4.1% participation, compared to a population of 13%), and there were not enough survey respondents to compare this segment with the main sample. The survey could not be weighted to more closely represent the Maori population, because there were too many unknown characteristics that may have influenced Maori responses. Any weighting assumptions could not have taken into account the peculiar social, cultural and economic profile of Maori respondents, making any subsequent conclusions unreliable.

There is an opportunity to launch a comparative Boomer Dreams Study among Maori, to answer the research question:

Are Maori the same as other New Zealand Boomers? How do their responses to a Boomer Dreams survey compare with non-Maori New Zealand baby boomers?

While internet penetration is high among Maori (78%), the low response rate for the online New Zealand Boomer Dreams Study suggests it may not be the best way to deliver a Maori Boomer Dreams survey as it has no face-to-face or peer component to add cultural appeal.