Institutionalised racism in our justice system is behind what's being called one of our biggest human rights issues.
A recent UN report highlighted the over-representation of Maori in prison.
Maori make up 50% of the population in jail, despite accounting for just 15% of all New Zealanders.
Maori Party co-leader Marama Fox says researchers have been talking about discrimination in the court system for a long time.
"Nobodies listened to that for many many years, and I think it helps when the UN puts a bit of light on it because then we get a bit of action."
Marama Fox says it's not a new problem.
"If you're committing the same crime as someone else, but you're being treated differently simply because you are Maori, does that not hint that there is something inherently wrong with the system?"
She says institutionalised racism is a very real thing.
"Two people might go and burgle a car, and so one might get diversion, and the other will go to jail. That happens all over the place and it's been happening for a long time."
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