It's the naivete when someone says to me, I would really like to support that family, I wonder if we can pay their children's school fees and I'm like, you're making a whole lot of assumptions there that are not right. It's really patronising. (Provider) Many participants also noted being constantly questioned about their identity - we’ve all heard the pātai “Oh where are you from?” - having others shorten or incorrectly pronounce their name, being ignored in conversations where eye contact and attention was diverted to Pākehā who were with them or being on the receiving end of inappropriate staring and attention because of the colour of their skin. Because you had a white face, people would direct the conversation to you, not to the person you were helping…That avoidance of engaging with someone in a real meaningful way is still there to a certain extent in those institutions. (Provider) To come to a small town here that was actually very white, and just the stares and comments that at times were quite ignorant, that was hard to take on. In 20 years, you get used to it. (Provider) Passive aggressive language and behaviour: This included others intentionally speaking quickly so migrants could not make informed responses, being the butt of racist jokes, humour and innuendos, and victim blaming. Racism was also described as being hidden and excused as satire within the entertainment industry. I have had experiences where people sort of mock me or phrase things as a ‘joke’, but there's an underlying tone, I know it's not a joke. (African focus group) My [Pākehā relative] when he says something is messy, he says this looks like a Māori backyard. (Latin American focus group) They’re still making conscious decisions to include racist characters. It’s making fun of disparity and really unfortunate real-life circumstances, but they will slap the satire label on it. (Te Ika-a-Māui Māori focus group) Exclusion and disregard in the workplace: Exclusion from staff events, racist taunts and comments among staff and non-migrant juniors undermining authority. It happened in the workplace, the colleagues bought some muffins and shared among the others during the lunch break. However, when their Chinese colleague came to the kitchen, he was told this was not for him. This is very mean. (Provider) Ignorant comments and stereotyping: Participants noted preconceived judgements and flippant comments about individuals and ethnic groups based on limited understandings, ignorant and stereotypical expectations of how they should dress, look and act. Someone applied for a job and having an interview and having to explain her background qualifications and then the interviewer asking the person “Oh I didn't realise you had universities in the jungle”. (Provider) Preconception and have that stereotype in your mind that this face belongs to this place, you look like that. I get that a lot when people ask me where I’m from and I say Brazil, www.malatest-intl.com Drivers of racism – March 2021 55