In the year ending 30 June 2010, discrimination due to disability was by far the most common ground of complaint to the Human Rights Commission. The areas in which discrimination was most frequently alleged were employment and government activities. During the year, the Human Rights Commission received 1,908 complaints about unlawful discrimination – as well as 831 complaints regarding allegedly racially offensive comments made by MP Hone Harawira in an email of November 2009. Complaints relating to Harawira's comments are not included in the graph, as they would have misleadingly skewed the numbers involved.

The figures in the graphs add up to more than 100%, as some complaints were on more than one ground or covered more than one area.