Labour leader David Cunliffe says the unemployment rate for Maori in Te Tai Tokerau has soared to 18 percent - and up to a third of young Maori are now out of work.
Labour leader David Cunliffe Photo: RNZ
Mr Cunliffe launched his party's economic development policy for Maori in Whangarei this week.
He said under a National-led government, Northland has gone backwards - but Maori have had the worst of it, with median real incomes down $38 a week since John Key took office.
Mr Cunliffe said, if elected, Labour would put $200 million into a regional development fund, and ask the regions and iwi to come up with viable projects to improve local economies.