Community Engagement Report for developing a National Action Plan Against Racism Tangata Whenua said the way society operates today makes them feel uncomfortable embracing and celebrating their Māori whakapapa. One participant said that they did not want their people to be ashamed of their whakapapa or change themselves, “to never feel their whakapapa is wrong and to be made to correct that and fit into the correct mould”. In some settings, participants felt unsafe to embrace their whakapapa. One person expressed their desire for this to change for future generations: I think, for my mokopuna, I want them to feel safe in spaces. I want them to feel safe to get to the top of the food chain. I have been very privileged, because I am white-passing. So, I am safe enough in these spaces. But I am very aware that a lot of people who aren’t white passing are not safe. That is something that needs to be addressed within these spaces. One participant commented that a racism-free Aotearoa would give them opportunities, “[a racism free Aotearoa] would give me home ownership opportunities, I would be able to access leadership roles within my workplace.” Another participant thought that social supports for Māori should function better: “to give mana back to Tangata Whenua, through [the] opportunity of improved housing, access of homeownership, employment and education”. Another participant sought “better incomes for Māori (without longer hours) so we can all do more volunteer mahi in community and marae”. Tangata Whenua want better outcomes across a wide range of areas, in particular access to Māori land and housing, improved health and mental health services, education, employment and incomes. One participant described better outcomes as: New Zealand Human Rights Commission Less Māori in prisons. Māori could live longer. Would mean Māori will have higher success in schools and education. Would mean less demands on social service providers. Would mean more opportunities for Māori as there are for our tauiwi whanau. Many examples drew attention to the lack of housing available to Tangata Whenua. Processes set by central and local government meant Tangata Whenua were unable to exercise their tino rangatiratanga and use whenua in the traditional ways their ancestors had. This has meant many have been unable to use land because the way they wish to develop it does not fall within the scope of current resource management laws. Due to this whānau were losing connection to their whakapapa and traditional lands, which in turn has exacerbated existing inequities among their whānau in health care, education and justice. Many Tangata Whenua participants believe that Māori land cases are poorly handled by the Māori Land Court and local councils. Queries to occupy Māori-owned land are often refused by the court, resulting in homelessness and poverty amongst Māori. As one participant said: [The] Māori Land Court [has] very poor handling for all Māori land cases. Very poor services & resources that are not up to date either. Their policies that they have for such common queries like getting a License to Occupy, Occupation Order, information for evicting trespasses, land locks, etc - their whole system & staff needs a complete overhaul as it's one of the biggest barriers for individuals trying to utilise their land. So many Māori have homeless whanau members in emergency housing or poor density housing, yet they are shareholders of Māori land because they've been rejected to put a house or tiny home on their own land. There's so many Māori family case studies that gets highly ignored - creating more homelessness & poverty. 47