March 22, 2021
Survey uncovers persistent racism


A Māori think tank says everyday racism continues to affect Māori health and well-being of Māori.
Te Atawhai o Te Ao, the independent Māori institute for environment and health, surveyed more than 2000 Māori from February 2019 to February 2020
Director Rāwiri Tinirau says the Whakatika Survey found 93 percent of Māori felt racism had an impact on them on a daily basis and 96 percent said racism was a problem for their wider whānau.
As well as general experiences of racism, the survey looked at getting service and shopping; media representation of Māori and Indigenous peoples and colonial monuments; tūpuna or Māori names; and Māori kai.
Dr Tinirau says racism is an attack on rangatiratanga, it maintains colonial power structures, damages connections with tūpuna and compromises the ability to pass on Māori ways of knowing and being to future generations.
He says racism and discrimination are so widespread they will never be conquered just by isolated activities, such as unconscious bias training, but require a constant, consistent, Māori-focused multipronged approach.
The Whakatika Survey Report and associated publications can be accessed via the website www.whakatika.teatawhai.maori.nz
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