Māori students told they ‘don’t look Māori’
A senior lecturer at Massey University has apologised for telling two Māori students they ‘‘don’t look Māori’’.
Dr Chris Galloway, who teaches public relations at the university’s Albany campus, made the comment towards students Mikaela Matenga and Caleb Monk, who were representing Te Waka ō Ngā Ākonga Māori (Māori Students Association) stall at Clubs Day on July 20.
Matenga (Te Arawa, Rongowhakaata, Ngāti Tuhourangi), who is the president of the association, said Galloway told the pair: ‘‘I hope this isn’t offensive, but you guys don’t look Māori at all’’.
Matenga said the comment was ‘‘highly racist’’. She felt it was an attempt to minimise her and Monk’s identities as tangata whenua. To have someone in a powerful position making comments such as Galloway’s would make Māori feel unwelcome at the university and less likely to succeed, Matenga added.
‘‘Everyone should feel comfortable, welcome and safe to come and learn.’’
Galloway has since provided a written apology to the students.
‘‘I hope you will accept my apology for my thoughtless, insensitive, and inappropriate comment to you on Clubs Day,’’ he wrote.
He had learnt from the experience and would adjust his approach, which would ‘‘be different’’ moving forward, he said.
Matenga and Monk said the apology was marred by communication, journalism and marketing school head Dr Doug Ashwell’s repeated requests that the matter and apology be kept private and confidential.
A spokesperson said the university took complaints of racism very seriously and acknowledged Matenga’s and Monk’s complaint could have been handled better.
Galloway’s actions had been addressed as per the university’s current policy and procedures, the spokesperson said.
Additionally, the student complaints process was under review.
This reporting is Public Interest Journalism funded by NZ on Air.