Community Engagement Report for developing a National Action Plan Against Racism
Pou 3: Whakamana te Tapu o te Wānanga
Empower and restore how we educate ourselves and generations of mokopuna in te ao Māori
Tangata Whenua respondents emphasised that, for
Aotearoa to eliminate racial discrimination, te Tapu o
te Wānanga must also be restored. Aotearoa needed
to acknowledge its racist history and the racism that
continues today. This requires hearing experiences
of racism and understanding what racism is. It was
particularly important for those who benefit from
racism, and are either unaware or refuse to recognise
it, to understand how it occurs and the negative effects.
Tangata Whenua support a comprehensive education
programme about the history of racism in Aotearoa,
and how to address it, as a priority for the Plan.
Tangata Whenua told us that decolonisation is
integral to shifting negative attitudes and stereotypes
about Māori. Through wānanga: iwi, hapū and
whānau can ensure the stories of their tīpuna are
accurately told and heard. Restoring wānanga and
learning systems for Tangata Whenua was important
to ensure they can exercise their tino rangatiratanga
when educating their tamariki. This will also help grow
kaupapa Māori education.
Pou 4: Whakamana te Tapu o te Whānau
Empower, restore and strengthen Indigenous systems to support whānau to thrive through
whānau determinants of sustainable wellbeing
Tangata Whenua highlighted that restoring the health
and prosperity of whānau was central to restoring
tino rangatiratanga and mitigating the negative
impacts of colonisation and racism. People wanted
to see the collective nature of Tangata Whenua
social structures accepted and supported so whānau
members are not left behind. Tikanga and kawa were
essential to helping whānau determine for themselves
what they needed to flourish. Being supported in this
way would help whānau to re-connect to te ao Māori.
Support for whānau to engage with government and
broader systems was also identified as important.
Tangata Whenua want better outcomes across a
range of areas including access to Māori land and
housing, improved health, education, employment
and incomes. Earlier themes of reigniting tino
rangatiratanga and restoring Pou 2: te Tapu o te
Ahurei Tuakiri and Pou 3: te Tapu o te Wānanga were
seen as crucial to creating an environment in which te
tapu o te Whānau can be supported and healed for
future generations.
Pou 5: Whakamana te Tapu o ngā Iwi Taketake
Empower and support Tangata Whenua to work with other Indigenous peoples to progress
human and Indigenous rights and eliminate racism
Tangata Whenua spoke about wanting to connect with
and work in solidarity with Indigenous peoples around
the world. This would enable them to share knowledge,
experiences and solutions to better understand how to
combat racism and white supremacy and to progress
Indigenous rights. It would also emphasise the global
origins of racism and white supremacy and draw out
how they manifest in Aotearoa.
As in Pou 3: Whakamana te Tapu o te Wānanga,
participants spoke about the need for honesty around
racism, particularly in politics and the media. They
New Zealand Human Rights Commission
noted the need to eliminate racism from politics and
the political process. Discussion also highlighted the
role of media and social media in disseminating racism,
while also providing the space for anti-racist action.
Participants wanted stronger regulation of media and
online spaces to regulate and eliminate racism, white
supremacy and hate speech.
Tangata Whenua also discussed the important role of
education more generally in combatting racism, but felt
anti-racist education was a job for Pākehā allies.
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