The Race Relations Commissioner is critical of New Zealand's public services, saying they disadvantage Maori, Pacific and ethnic people.
Issuing a report by the Human Rights Commission report in Auckland, Joris de Bres said minority groups continue to be let down by a 'one-size-fits-all' system.
Mr de Bres said institutional racism is an ongoing problem among the justice, health and education systems which do not account for different needs and values.
The report says the unemployment rate for Maori is nearly 14%, 16% for Pacific people and 5.5% for Europeans.
It highlights targeted programmes as the best way to improve inequality, but says political opinion can erode small gains, programmes are shut down all too soon and funding is cut.
