11 Mar 2010

Maori imprisonment rate 'bad look', says de Bres

10:18 pm on 11 March 2010

Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres is warning the current imprisonment rate for Maori is putting New Zealand in a bad light internationally.

Waatea News reports that in his annual report, released on Wednesday, Mr de Bres highlights 50% of prison inmates are Maori.

He says it's a long-term pattern that was raised at last year's United Nations periodical review and by the Committee on the Elimination of racial discrimination, and is likely to feature again this month in another UN review of New Zealand's civil and political rights.

Mr de Bres says the economic recession has increased the disparities between Maori and other workers, with 30% of young Maori now unemployed.

Prison conditions upset Sir Paul

Former governor general Sir Paul Reeves says Maori should be worried not just by moves to increase imprisonment rates but by current prison conditions.

Sir Paul visited New Plymouth prison at the weekend with the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu.

He says they were shocked to find young prisoners in their cells for 22 hours each day, and remand prisoners who had been locked up for more than a year, Waatea News reports.

Sir Paul says iwi leaders must get involved in the debate around measures in ACT's three-strikes bill, which is likely to mean even more Maori in jail for longer.