Alexandra:

a) Yes, I would need to read the actual methodology and critique that before I could say I find it entirely credible. I do think it's interesting though :>

b) I'd actually venture to say that there is a low level of assimilation in many of those cultural groups. Things still operate the old way. I recently did research on Sorted for Retirement Commission and the Pasifika groups were fascinating in terms of how children in their 20s are still expected to pretty much carry on those traditions. It is very entrenched. I would say when they have children it will be that generation who will perhaps adjust more to European ways of saving. I don't know ... The level of knowledge is simply not there in this gen. There is a great deal of naievity and while I do not want to appear critical the level of personal debt in these groups is HUGE.

According to Census stats, if you project 20 years down the track, there will be roughly the same number of 'people of colour' (any colour) in NZ as there will be 'white'.

Unfortunately, these groups (esp Maori, Pasifika) are overrepresented in many areas of social concern. Justice, health, unemployment, etc.

At present, 'white' are the engine room of the economy - hold more jobs down, larger population, earn more money on average etc.

What is going to happen as the population becomes more 'brown' is that the engine room is going to end up more 'coloured', as many 'white' retire the balance of power is going to change. And when there are so many simmering problems under the surface in some of the 'coloured' groups, that means there will be more problems to deal with as that population increases.

There needs to be a huge movement in resolving some of these social issues or we will end up with a population with a hell of a lot of problems which could feasibily cause a lot of incongruency and conflict in society.

Please excuse talking in 'colours' like this, I do not mean it in a racist way. In fact I am borrowing Joe Williams' words (Chief Justice of the Maori Land Court) from a recent conference.