New research released today shows that 93 per cent of M\u0101ori in Aotearoa experience racism every day, and even more \u2013 96 per cent \u2013 say racism is a problem for their wh\u0101nau.<\/p>\n
Legal definitions of racism and discrimination fall short of describing the breadth, depth and true cost of racism to M\u0101ori, the research finds. That cost includes impact on both physical and mental health.<\/p>\n
The research \u2013 Whakatika: A Survey of M\u0101ori Experiences of Racism \u2013 was launched in Wellington today by the independent M\u0101ori institute for environment and health, Te Atawhai o te Ao.<\/p>\n
Dr R\u0101wiri Tinirau, who is the director of the Whanganui-based kaupapa M\u0101ori institute, said the research surveyed 2000 M\u0101ori across Aotearoa in 2019 and 2020 to identify the full spectrum of everyday experiences and the ways M\u0101ori coped with, opposed and challenged racism.<\/p>\n
“We went into this research knowing that racism was something that our people experienced, but even we were surprised by the data that has come directly from our people, giving us a picture of how embedded everyday racism is in the fabric of our country,” Tinirau said.<\/p>\n
“Racism is pervasive – the survey shows the nature and impact of it on our daily lives. Whakatika was undertaken to bring forward M\u0101ori voices in the struggle to eliminate racism. Everyday racism prevents us from living our lives in the ways we want to. It enables and maintains existing power structures that systematically disadvantage M\u0101ori.”<\/p>\n
Racism was experienced by M\u0101ori as both act and omission, including micro and macro aggressions, media representation, ignorance and disrespect. This included the invalidation of M\u0101ori knowledge, mispronunciation of M\u0101ori names, and the celebration of colonisation with colonial statues and monuments.<\/p>\n
The survey is part of the research programme He Kokonga Ng\u0101kau: M\u0101ori Ways of Healing, Recovery and Well-being, funded by the Health Research Council of New Zealand to look at intergenerational trauma.<\/p>\n
Tinirau said the research painted a bleak picture of the daily struggles M\u0101ori faced. For example, when shopping or seeking services, 89 per cent of M\u0101ori said they were less likely to receive assistance because they were M\u0101ori, and most had been followed, watched or asked to open their bags in a shop. A quarter of those surveyed said they were followed all the time or often. Eighty-seven percent had seen other M\u0101ori being treated unfairly in shops. Most M\u0101ori (79 per cent) said that non-M\u0101ori media negatively portrayed M\u0101ori all the time or often, and of the 71 per cent of M\u0101ori with a M\u0101ori name, most (53 per cent) had to explain or spell their name regularly.<\/p>\n
The survey asked what M\u0101ori felt when exposed to racism, with participants saying they were left feeling deeply sad or angry at their experiences.<\/p>\n
“This signifies that racism deeply impacts a person’s health \u2013 both physical and mental \u2013 as well as their wairua [spirit],” Tinirau said. “The harms of racism include grief and anger. Racism damages connections and compromises ability to pass on M\u0101ori ways of knowing and being to future generations.”<\/p>\n
The research also captured the way M\u0101ori responded to racism.<\/p>\n
“M\u0101ori are not passive victims. They react and act. M\u0101ori resist by talking back, ‘calling it out’, raising their voices, making complaints, or taking their business elsewhere,” Tinirau said.<\/p>\n
M\u0101ori also found refuge and respite from daily encounters of racism with their wh\u0101nau and in “M\u0101ori spaces”, where they could talk honestly and discuss their experiences.<\/p>\n
“We seek solace amongst ourselves, we confide in our wh\u0101nau, and we prefer to be in places where we are most comfortable and valued, including our homes, papak\u0101inga [tribal settlements] and marae. These are the places where we have learned different strategies to deal with racism.”<\/p>\n
However, the survey found that it was not enough for M\u0101ori to argue back against racism.<\/p>\n
“The environments within which racism happens must change,” Tinirau said.<\/p>\n
“There is a need for a broad range of anti-racism activities. Racism and discrimination are so widespread that they will never be conquered through isolated activities alone, such as unconscious bias training. Addressing racism requires a constant, consistent, M\u0101ori-focused, multi-pronged approach.<\/p>\n
“I can’t speak for those who inflict racism, but from my own perspective they need a lot of care and support, and their people will need to create and provide healing avenues for them. But for our people, we have seen as we’ve been out on the road gathering peoples’ experiences that those statistics paint a very, very sad picture for us, and our experiences of racism are unfortunately very common. Something needs to be done.”<\/p>\n