Support for indigenous and multicultural rights and intergroup attitudes in New Zealand: The role of indispensability

Abstract

Different ethnic groups can be considered more positively if they are perceived to be indispensable for society, either in terms of ‘who we are’ -identity indispensability- or ‘what we do’- functional indispensability. In this study we expand the boundaries of indispensability research by investigating the role of perceived indispensability of Indigenous (Māori) and immigrant (Chinese) groups on intergroup outcomes (support for rights and outgroup attitudes) in New Zealand, a settler colonial society. We also considered the role of perceived diversity ideologies of interculturalism (identity-conscious) and colorblindness (identity-blind) on these intergroup outcomes. Given New Zealand’s bicultural history, we expected Māori to be rated higher on identity indispensability but lower on functional indispensability than Chinese New Zealanders. In this study, 174 New Zealand university students of European descent (Pākehā), with a mean age of 19.1 years, answered the online survey. As expected, participants rated Māori higher on identity indispensability but lower on functional indispensability than Chinese New Zealanders. Perceived identity indispensability of Māori was the strongest significant predictor of support for Māori rights. Perceived functional indispensability of Chinese New Zealanders positively predicted support for multicultural rights and outgroup attitudes. Perceived interculturalism was positively associated with support for multicultural rights and attitudes toward Chinese New Zealanders. The results are discussed in terms of the promising role of perceived indispensability of both Indigenous and migrant groups for more harmonious and equitable societies.