Background -- The Maori ethnic group -- The Maofri ethnic group, inter-ethnic marriage and disparity -- The projected rising Maori population share: partly statistical artefact -- Policy reasons for closing the gaps -- Is being Maori a good prdictor of disadvantage? -- Gaps are not growing -- Why are there gaps between Maori and non-Maori? -- Analysis of Maori ethnic gaps in earings and employment -- Conclusion -- references.