This is a summary of Māori statistics extracted from the Net Safe Report “Exploring New Zealand children’s internet access, skills and opportunities”.
The research report presents findings from a study that explores New Zealand children aged between 9 and 18, their internet access, online skills, practices, and opportunities. In terms of ethnicity, the sample was distributed as follows: NZ European/Pākehā (73%), Māori (26%), Pacific (13%), Asian (15%), and “other ethnicity” (2%. Noting that percentages may not be accurate because survey participants were allowed to choose multiple answers to some questions.
This highlights an issue with Maori. Maori do not have an opportunity to state that although they are Maori with mixed heritage, the more strongly identify as Maori. This has been a statistical issue for generations.
- Māori were the second frequent user of the Internet. Māori usage was (78%) compared to Asian (83%). Pākehā were (77%) followed closely by Pacific (71%).
- There was little difference among children accessing the Internet: Asian (98%), Pākehā (96%), Māori (96%) and Pacific (94%).
- Māori were knowledgeable about managing privacy settings than other ethcnicities. Children’s knowledge about managing privacy settings shows that Māori (66%), Asian (64%), Pākehā (63%) and Pacific (59%) were more confident about this specific skill.
- Fact checking information found online, Māori and Pacific Islanders were more vulnerable. When asked whether they find it easy to check if the information they find online is true, Asian (60%) and Pākehā (58%), Māori (56%) and Pacific (52%) indicated that this was fairly or very true.
Māori are accessing the Internet at much higher rates than previous based on this report. But that does not mean that the digital divide has improved for rural Māori. It is more balanced in the cities.
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