Māori are overrepresented in New Zealand's homicide statistics, a new report has highlighted, with roughly 32 percent of victims annually recorded as Māori despite making up just 15 percent of the population.
"Those of European descent appear most frequently in the homicide data, but Māori account for approximately a third of all victims, yet make up only one-seventh of New Zealand's population,” Detective Superintendent Tom Fitzgerald, national manager criminal investigations, said in a statement.
Released by the New Zealand Police on Tuesday, the Homicide Victims Report 2018 found that 22 of the 64 homicide victims in 2015 were of Māori ethnicity; 25 of the 58 victims in 2016 were Māori; and 13 of the 50 victims in 2017 were Māori. In comparison, there were 22, 20 and 26 European homicide victims respectively across that three-year period, despite Europeans comprising the largest ethnic group in the country.
Provisional figures for 2018 found 26 of the 73 homicide victims were of Māori ethnicity. Eighteen were male and eight were female.
"European is the largest ethnic group within New Zealand. So, it follows that Europeans are represented by the largest number of homicide victims in these statistics. Māori, however, are overrepresented," says the report.
The paper also found that New Zealand women continue to be overrepresented in statistics regarding death by partners or ex-partners. Roughly 75 percent of those killed in incidents of domestic violence are female, although 62 percent of homicide victims between 2007 and 2017 were male.
"Over the 11-year period, 62 percent of homicide victims were male and 38 percent were female," Det Supt Fitzgerald confirmed.
Children under the age of five made up 12 percent of homicide victims - a "disturbing" finding, Fitzgerald said. Around one in five were under 18.
"These victims include the most vulnerable members of society, who too often are killed by those whose job it is to keep them safe," Fitzgerald said.
The majority of homicides occur in adults aged between 20 and 60 and children under five years old, according to the report.
Homicide numbers trended down between 2007-2017, but increased in 2018
The number of homicides trended down between 2007 and 2017, according to statistics published in the report, but it appears there was a higher than average number in 2018.
Between 2007 and 2017 there were 737 homicides - an average of 67 homicide victims every year - with 70 percent being murdered.
However, provisional figures - which police warn are "not yet stable" due to ongoing investigations - show the number of homicides jumped from the lowest annual figure of 50 in 2017 to 73 in 2018.
In the selected period, 2009 had the largest number of homicides with 94, while the lowest was in 2017 with 50. In the first five years of the period, there was an average of 74 homicides, compared to an average of 61 between 2012 and 2017.
"The report gives insights that are important and of public interest," says Fitzgerald.
"However, we must not lose sight of the fact that every one of these numbers represents a person whose life has ended prematurely at the hands of another, in often tragic and horrific circumstances."
