There’s another team that are full of white people and they will have better access to resources - up to date laptops, flash phones compared to my Pacific team…That team will have better pay. It should be fair despite ethnicity. (Cook Islands focus group) Tokenistic recruitment and a lack of commitment to diversity: Employing tauiwi purely for diversity rather than for skills and competency, and an ongoing recognition of the need for diversity but little commitment and action to reflect this. Cultural loading and deference to Māori staff for karakia and other cultural labour was also considered a default setting and form of exploitation within organisations. I’ve landed some jobs because I actually looked different. They said we like you; you have fresh energy, you look different and we would like to consider you for the role. Should I feel privileged because I got the job? (African focus group) [My workplace] keeps talking about the importance of diversity and we need more Māori and Pacific analysts and we’ve had the conversations yet everyone who keeps coming in the door are from England. (Te Ika ā Māui Māori focus group) 5.1.5. Society and social connections Systems and society, and biased media and social media representation that constantly ‘excluded’ and ‘othered’ Māori and tauiwi were considered powerful forms of institutionalised racism. Just about everywhere. When I read the newspaper, I’m othered, when I watch TV I’m othered, when I listen to the radio I’m othered, street names, I’m being othered all over the place like I don’t belong here. (Te Ika-a-Māui Māori focus group) 5.1.6. Education (knowledge and skills) Many participants highlighted an education system based on Eurocentric content and learning, inadequate teaching and understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in schools and incorrect pronunciation of te reo Māori. I learned no truth as a child, I was taught a lot of lies as a Pākehā girl (in the 1950s and 60s). Our schools taught that the people who were at fault were Māori. (Provider) In recent years, my friend’s daughter was so angry. She’s Māori, she came home and said I don’t want to be learning about the Treaty of Waitangyyy when I’m talked at for fifty five minutes…obviously not 100% accurate and the girl was picking up on stuff and also the pronunciation. (Pākehā 2 focus group) The system doesn’t work for the kids because it’s not created for Pacific Island kids. It was created in the white man’s book and everyone has to follow it. (Tongan focus group) 5.1.7. Justice system (safety and security) Some participants noted differential treatment within the justice system and harsher penalties and consequences for Pacific and migrant communities in comparison to Pākehā. www.malatest-intl.com Drivers of racism – March 2021 52