behind our own culture, our values, but if we want to succeed these are the things we need to do. (Provider) Compromising cultural identity, values and expression: Many participants described compromises made by migrant groups in Aotearoa New Zealand to improve their chances of gaining employment and acceptance in society. This included changing accents, behaviours, names, cultural expressions and presentation. Conversely, some participants believed they would never be accepted as ‘Kiwis’ regardless of any compromises made. Everything you do isn't normal, so you try and change to be like them that’s why most of us who migrated here we're kind of left the Tuvaluan culture because we've tried to fit into the Westernised society. (Tuvaluan focus group) Even though we say we're Kiwis, we'll never be Kiwis. We'll still be looked at by other people as strangers, as immigrants, as aliens. As refugees. (Indian focus group) Negotiating culture and identity: Māori and tauiwi participants commonly noted that experiences of racism in Aotearoa New Zealand made them question their identity and connectedness to culture. You question yourself; you doubt who you are living in New Zealand and things like that. (Kiribati focus group) Many participants said they frequently thought about their culture, identity and/or religion in relation to their behaviours and interactions with others and noted having to constantly negotiate their identity, thoughts and behaviours to accommodate others. This was not considered necessary for Pākehā participants. For so many European descent people it’s not required to live, to get through the everyday. We don’t need to think about our ethnicity. We don’t need to think about our language. (Pākehā 2 focus group) At the back of my head, I wonder what the other person thinks of my ethnicity, I wonder if they’re aware if it’s okay to be different or I’m from a different place…Like an ethnic radar. New Zealand is full of surprises. (African focus group) For me, nearly every day, because it made me the person I am today. I take my religion very seriously. My religion says to respect others, respect other religions…It's a normal part of your life. (Former refugee focus group) Every morning when I light a candle for my ancestors. (Te Waipounamu Māori focus group) Participants highlighted pressures associated with a need to constantly and consciously adapt to accommodate dominant Western culture and other ethnic groups in different spaces (e.g. university, school, general public, workplace etc). Being at university is survival in a Westernised and Eurocentric system. I have to always take off my cultural hat and put on my Western hat in order to write in a way that is acceptable. I sometimes get carried away with that Western mindset that I forget who I am as a Tongan, that’s the constant struggle. (Tongan focus group) www.malatest-intl.com Drivers of racism – March 2021 58