7.9. Child development and role-modelling racist behaviours Modelling racist behaviours and beliefs to children as well as internalised racist impacts was considered a way of reproducing intergenerational racism and trauma. Racialisation occurs really young in all of us, we are taught pretty early on the stereotypes and understandings of these unconscious biases. What I’ve realised with the younger generation is there is a lot of internalised understanding of racism. (Tongan focus group) I mean I think they're more likely to be racist if their parents or grandparents are racist. (European migrant focus group) They still follow what their older generation have taught them, so their thinking is not so broad, they're thinking just in that square box. (Indian focus group) 7.10. People seen only as social and economic capital Participants commonly noted that individuals and groups of people can be judged by their perceived economic value and seen as either financial contributors or liabilities. People with privilege and power were seen to have amassed material and financial wealth and a sense of superiority over those with less. The underlying issue is the relational power. It’s the fact that people in position of power or privilege in regard to how much money they have therefore they’re entitled or feel superior above others, therefore they have the right to say whatever they want to say. (Latin American focus group) My grandparents moved here to work and then New Zealand went through a depression and then bam they didn’t need us anymore. It’s like they only look at us through an economic value. (Tuvaluan focus group) 7.11. Negative bias and inaccurate stereotyping and attention Deficit-focused and negative stereotypes, messaging and media coverage about Māori and tauiwi communities were considered major drivers for racism in Aotearoa New Zealand. The media were described as using biased stories and representation and reinforcing negative stereotypes for attention grabbing and/or fear inducing soundbites to elicit public attention and responses. I see their perspective of what a Māori is because I know they see shows like Police Ten 7. The cuzzie’s on there smashing his head through the picket fence and he’s getting dragged away from the cops. That’s what they see. (Te Ika-a-Māui Māori focus group) Many participants noted that positive stories about Māori and Pacific peoples were inclusive and framed as Kiwi successes, while bias and negative reporting excluded these groups from mainstream Aotearoa New Zealand. www.malatest-intl.com Drivers of racism – March 2021 77