What has been less clear is whether similar disparities occur within the courtroom. In our newly published study, we examined whether sentencing outcomes differ between Māori and New Zealand Europeans charged with nearly identical offences.
We focused on first-time drink-driving cases, using alcohol readings as an objective, standardised measure of offence severity. Our core question: do Māori face a higher likelihood of a community-based sentence, instead of the more common – and least severe – outcome of a fine?
The results suggest they do.