There has been a slight increase in the number of Maori in employment.
Unemployment has remained above 8 percent in provinces such as Northland, Hawke's Bay and Wairarapa. Photo: RNZ
Official statistics shows the number of Maori in work rose 2.8 percent to 267,000 in the June quarter, compared to a year ago.
There has also been a small decrease in tangata whenua who are not in work, which fell from 12.8 percent to 11 percent in the June quarter, or 33,000 people.
Maori unemployment is still double the overall rate of 5.6 percent for the whole country, which is the lowest level in more than five years.