In response, HRC commissioned Malatest International to conduct qualitative
research on the drivers of migrants’ experiences of discrimination. The research is
purposed to support and inform potential and targeted cross-government and nongovernment agency responses to discrimination.
1.1.
Research aims
The research aimed to:
•
Explore migrants’ experiences of racism that may have emerged, increased,
or changed over the last few years
•
Understand how Māori, Pākehā5 and other tauiwi migrants’6 attitudes and
experiences of racism may contribute to fostering a positive or negative
environment for migrants.
•
Understand how to better support migrants who experience racism
•
Explore potential opportunities for all New Zealanders to understand the
drivers for racism and strengthen responses to racism.
The research recognises Māori as first peoples and Te Tiriti o Waitangi partners with
the Crown. It recognises that Pākehā migration (namely British and Australian
migration) began over two hundred years ago, Chinese and Indian New Zealanders
began migrating in the late 18th-early 19th centuries, and increased migration of
Pacific peoples throughout the 1960s and 1970s (Anae, 2001; Cormack, 2007; Elers,
2018; Lowe, 2016). Other smaller migrant groups that settled in New Zealand prior
to 1987 included French (mainly in Akaroa), German (in Nelson), Scandinavians (in
Hawke’s Bay and Manawatū), Dalmatian peoples (who came to work in the
gumfields) and Dutch (who arrived after the Second World War) (Phillips, 2015).
This research acknowledges historical and contemporary contexts for Māori,
including structural violence imposed by the state, loss of land and ability to access
Te Ao Māori. It is inappropriate to focus on tauiwi (defined in this research as all
non-Pākehā migrants to New Zealand) without acknowledging the importance of
Māori realities. This research is inclusive of Māori experiences, perspectives and
realities with racism and views on migrant experiences but is not intended to be a
comprehensive examination of Māori experiences. We have woven Māori voices
into the overall findings. As highlighted in sections 4-7 of this report, Māori
participants shared many similarities with each other and migrant groups in this
5
6
Pākehā is used throughout the report to refer to New Zealand-born people of European descent.
Tauiwi is used throughout the report to refer to all non- Pākehā migrant groups.
www.malatest-intl.com
Drivers of racism – March 2021
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