The controversial report by Dr Greg Clydesdale that suggested Pacific migrants were a ‘drain’ on the New Zealand economy has been stopped from being presented at an international conference in Brazil in July.
The controversial report by Dr Greg Clydesdale that questioned Pacific migrants’ contribution to the economy will not be presented at an international conference in Brazil next month.
Organisers of the Academy of World Business Marketing and Management Development 2008 Conference in Rio de Janeiro say the Massey University lecturer and economist could not present the report because it has already been published.
Dr Clydesdale will still attend but will present a different report on teaching students to manage work relationships.
His three-year report titled Growing Pains, Evaluations and the Cost of Human Capital was issued in May and immediately sparked outcry in New Zealand’s Pacific community. Many labeled it outdated and not reflecting the positive achievements of Pacific peoples in New Zealand society.
But some defending Dr Clydesdale say he was only using available facts and never distorted them.
Using government data from the Economic Development Ministry, Labour Department and Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs released back in 2002, the report focused on Polynesians having the highest rate of unemployment in every age group, over-representation in crime statistics and low educational achievement.
