A Youth19 Brief: Pacific Rainbow young people

Most Pacific Rainbow young people reported positive family and school environments, high levels of volunteering and moderate or good health. However, members of this group also reported major inequities compared to others, including significantly higher food and housing insecurity, poorer healthcare access, and higher discrimination by healthcare providers than Pākehā young people and higher levels of mental health concerns than non-Rainbow young people. In total, they reported more challenges than students who were Pacific and non-Rainbow, those who were Pākehā and Rainbow, and those who were Pākehā and non-Rainbow. We can improve wellbeing for Pacific Rainbow young people by ensuring that they are heard, welcome and included in all environments, and that they and their aiga/kopu tangata/kāinga/ magafaoa/matavuvale/kāiga (family), are free from discrimination and have access to the resources they need. We also need to ensure that Pacific Rainbow young people feel safe at school and in all settings and that their health needs are met.