Ki te whaiao, ki te ao Mārama The history of racism in Aotearoa begins with colonisation Racism is a pillar of, and is underpinned by, the colonisation of Aotearoa by the British Crown (the Crown). Despite the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi (te Tiriti) between Rangatira and the Crown in 1840, which sought a mutually beneficial relationship, the Crown has repeatedly broken the promises it made in te Tiriti. Instead, the Crown used violence against Tangata Whenua to enforce their dominance, through invasion and warfare, destruction of property and land confiscations. These actions were authorised by law, and used to alienate iwi, hapū and whānau from their traditional lands, territories and resources. The Crown sought to assimilate the traditional structures of Tangata Whenua through the suppression of mātauranga, te reo and tikanga through the enforcement of colonial norms. These actions undermined the tino rangatiratanga (absolute authority and self-determination) of Tangata Whenua making them landless and homeless within their own tribal boundaries. Colonisation is not just a past event but an ongoing denial of Indigenous sovereignty and the undermining of self-determination.iv It drives social and economic inequities, with Tangata Whenua experiencing the worst outcomes across all measures of wellbeing, including low levels of home ownership, high rates of poverty, unemployment and incarceration, and poorer education and health outcomes. Tangata Whenua report they can encounter racism and feel unsafe in almost any setting. These settings include at work, school, sports, while out shopping, socialising, when speaking te reo, and when seeking housing and employment. They experience racism with central and local government systems, legislation and policies. Tangata Whenua experiences of racism are unique. More than 180 years of legislation and government policies and practices have supported and entrenched racism which directly affects them. The experiences of Tangata Whenua are like those of Indigenous peoples globally, including those in Australia, the Americas, the Arctic region and Asia. Indigenous peoples around the world have endured subhuman treatment, from those who colonised them, and their histories and voices strategically forgotten, routinely erased or minimised. This report should be read alongside the report Maranga Mai! which explores, through research and narrative, and the testimony of expert voices, the dynamics and impact of colonisation, white supremacy, and racism on Māori as Tangata Whenua in Aotearoa. It outlines the history of racism experienced by Tangata Whenua, including the specific events referred to at a high level in this introduction (see Appendix One for a summary of Maranga Mai!). The history of racism in Aotearoa extends to Tangata Tiriti Among other things, Te Tiriti enabled migration to Aotearoa. The Crown assumed control of migration and, along with new settlers, imported European understandings of race. As the new colony was settled, racism privileged white settlers and disadvantaged Tangata Whenua and ethnic minorities. Te Kāhui Tika Tangata From the beginning of the colony ethnic migrants were marginalised and their contributions ignored, e.g. in the late nineteenth century the Government imposed a poll tax on Chinese immigrants and placed additional restrictions on their ability to migrate to Aotearoa. Anti-Chinese prejudice was rife and several overtly white supremacist organisations 24