Looking Ma¯ori predicts decreased rates of home ownership: Institutional racism in housing based on perceived appearance

Abstract

This study examined differences in rates of home ownership among Ma¯ori (the indigenous peoples of New Zealand). We identified systematic factors that predicted why some Ma¯ori were more likely to own their own home (partially or fully) relative to other Ma¯ori. Data were drawn from a large national postal sample of 561 self-identified Ma¯ori collected as part of the New Zealand Attitudes and Values Study. As predicted, our analyses indicated that self-reported appearance as Ma¯ori, or the extent to which people thought they personally displayed features which visibly identified them as Ma¯ori to others, significantly predicted decreased rates of home ownership. This association held when adjusting for numerous demographic covariates, such as education, level of deprivation of the immediate area, household income, age, relationship status, region of residence, and so forth. Our analyses suggest there is, or at least has been in the recent past, institutional racism against Ma¯ori in New Zealand's home lending industry based on merely appearing more Ma¯ori.