remained embedded within colonised systems and institutions and extended to migrant populations. Participants also described numerous overt and subtle racist behaviours that were expressed in the forms of verbal, emotional and physical abuse. This was primarily shown by one ethnic group towards another, although verbal and emotional racist abuse was also noted to occur between members of an ethnic group. The impacts of racism for participants were extensive. Participants highlighted culture and identity loss and compromise, ‘colonised’ thinking and judgement of their own culture, eroding self-belief and confidence, learned helplessness and under-reporting, fear and disengagement in society, and exclusion and marginalisation. Awareness of racism has increased but participants held mixed views about changes in the prevalence and expression of racism in Aotearoa New Zealand: Participants identified an increase in the awareness of racism for both Māori and tauiwi populations in Aotearoa New Zealand. Recent and significant events including the Christchurch mosque terrorist attack, Black Lives Matter movement, and COVID19 were noted as increasing a willingness to talk about and respond to racism across all focus groups. Changes in awareness were influenced by increasing inter-ethnic relationships and a growing but limited awareness among some participants about migrants’ skills and contributions to workforce shortages, and the importance of te reo Māori. The most significant influences for change included an increased critical awareness and responsiveness to racism among young people across Aotearoa New Zealand and increased media, technology and social media exposure. It is important to acknowledge that these factors also have the potential to cause polarisation and extreme views at both ends of the racism spectrum. Despite increased awareness, a small number of participants noted mixed perspectives about the prevalence and expression of overt and covert forms of racism. www.malatest-intl.com Drivers of racism – March 2021 63