KEY POINTS:
There are richer pickings across the ditch for Maori than in their own country, says a Te Puni Kokiri report released yesterday in Sydney.
And policy manager Paul Hamer, who wrote the report, believes there are opportunities for Maori on both sides of the Tasman to benefit.
The study - "Maori in Australia" - was undertaken last year and involved 1600 people in a country that has a Maori population estimated to be between 115,000 and 125,000. The report canvassed the reasons Maori went to Australia and how they were doing.
It said Maori believed they were pushed out of New Zealand by perceived prejudice and negative experiences arising from social dysfunction, while they are pulled to Australia by whanau already living there, better weather and higher wages.
The report said many believed it was easier to get ahead in Australia because it was "relatively free" of negative stereotyping of Maori, of obligations to whanau, and of limiting expectations which stopped Maori striving for success.
Other findings include:
* Eighty-seven per cent said since moving to Australia their employment had become "much" or "a bit" better.
* Seventy per cent believed Maori in Australia were more motivated to get ahead than Maori in New Zealand.
High-profile occupations for Maori include entertainment, shearing, mining, construction and security.
Queensland (31,078), New South Wales (29,817) and Western Australia (12,552) attracted most Maori.
Mr Hamer said the downsides for Maori living in Australia were being cut off from their culture, Maori not having broad kin structures, and a lack of government understanding of cultural requirements.
But the reasons to stay in Australia were strong, he said.
"For most people the material benefits outweigh the cultural deficit."
However, the situation provides an opportunity for Maori to help Maori.
For example those in Australia could provide support structures for expanding New Zealand businesses, while Aotearoa-based Maori could reciprocate with more cultural support in terms of reo and tikanga which Australian Maori "pined" for, he said.
"I think what we could have is a mutually beneficial relationship."
Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia released the report at Nga Hau e Wha NSW Maori rugby league tournament, one of the biggest Maori community events in Australia.
His message to those Maori was to come home.
But Maori social commentator Willie Jackson is annoyed at the "waffle" Maori in Australia are spouting. He said Maori in the "lucky" country got superiority complexes for no good reason.
"I'm sick and tired of them coming back with the same claptrap when they're really making excuses for why they weren't a success here," he said.
"This is the best place for Maori to be. If they want to exercise their Maoriness then they need to contribute here - life over here isn't that hard for Maori."
