Survey reveals widespread M¯aori grief and anger at daily experiences of racism

New research shows that 93 per cent of Ma¯ ori in Aotearoa experience racism every day, and 96 per cent say racism is a problem for their wha¯ nau.

Legal definitions of racism and discrimination fall short of describing the breadth, depth and true cost of racism to Ma¯ ori, the research finds. That cost includes the impact on both physical and mental health.

The research – Whakatika: A Survey of Ma¯ ori Experiences of Racism – was launched in Wellington yesterday by the Ma¯ori institute for environment and health, Te Atawhai o te Ao.

Dr Ra¯ wiri Tinirau, who is the director of the Whanganui-based kaupapa Ma¯ori institute, said the research surveyed 2000 Ma¯ ori across Aotearoa in 2019 and 2020 to identify the full spectrum of everyday experiences and the ways Ma¯ ori coped with, opposed and challenged racism.

‘‘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. ‘‘Racism is pervasive – the survey shows the nature and impact of it on our daily lives. Whakatika was undertaken to bring forward Ma¯ ori 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 Ma¯ ori.’’

Racism was experienced by Ma¯ ori as both act and omission, including micro and macro aggressions, media representation, ignorance and disrespect. This included the invalidation of Ma¯ ori knowledge, mispronunciation of Ma¯ori names, and the celebration of colonisation with colonial statues and monuments.

The survey is part of the research programme He Kokonga Nga¯ kau: Ma¯ ori Ways of Healing, Recovery and Wellbeing, funded by the Health Research Council of New Zealand to look at intergenerational trauma.

Tinirau said the research painted a bleak picture of the daily struggles Ma¯ ori faced. For example, when shopping or seeking services, 89 per cent of Ma¯ ori said they were less likely to receive assistance because they were Ma¯ ori, and most had been followed, watched or asked to open their bags in a shop. A quarter of those surveyed said they