‘Āhurutanga - A mātauranga Māori response to racism’
A case study on addressing racism in an Aotearoa public health setting with Āhurutanga.
Kei aku mātāwaka, kei aku maunga whakahī, e ngā mana, e ngā reo tēnā koutou katoa.
We send our humble acknowledgements to all the mountains, rivers and ancestors of all peoples reading this report. We acknowledge the whānau, hapū and iwi knowledge keepers, as well as Indigenous knowledge keepers, who around the globe, tiaki (care) and look after our knowledges, the whakapapa (origin) of our knowledges and their dissemination methods.
We acknowledge all the whānau of Oranga Tū, whose original mahi (work) has guided many areas of this experience. We acknowledge the Imagining Anti-Racism Project, funded by AUT and the Marsden Society who supported the publication of this report. We also acknowledge the other colleges, organisations, Dr B and individuals who also provided support, either through resourcing, guidance, or peer review.
‘Āhurutanga - A mātauranga Māori response to racism’ highlights the limitations in the Aotearoa health and regulatory system to prevent and adequately respond to racism. This case study describes a racist incident at a professional medical conference and the anti-racism praxis (accepted practice or custom) and the mātauranga Māori led reconciliation and resolution process developed and implemented by our team in response.
Racism is a major, inexcusable driver of health inequities between Māori and non-Māori. Māori experience inequitable cancer outcomes and have a shorter life expectancy than that of non-Māori. There are many published examples of racism in health, however there are few published examples of mātauranga Māori led responses to racism in these settings.
It as an entirely contextual experience, in that our name Hei Āhuru Mōwai guided our response and will continue to guide our dissemination of this kōrero.
The expression of āhurutanga recognises the tapu (sacredness) and the mana of tāngata, kaupapa and all other affected parties, including the environment. Āhurutanga was the overarching tikanga of this reconciliation journey.
In the continued spirit of Āhurutanga we now share this case study with all organisations, providers, associations, professional memberships and individual practitioners in Aotearoa New Zealand’s public health and cancer control sectors as a guide to help address - and ultimately eliminate - future incidences of racism toward Māori in our public health settings.
We acknowledge our kaimahi Māori and whānau members of Hei Āhuru Mōwai Māori Cancer Leadership Aotearoa for your valued contribution to deliver and share this anti-racism praxis: Jacquie Kidd (Ngāpuhi), Rawiri Blundell (Ngāti Porou ki Uawa), Dr Nina Scott (Ngāti Whatua, Waikato, Ngāpuhi), Dr Maxine Ronald (Te Kapotai ki Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Wai, Ngāti Hine), Dr Rachelle Love (Ngāpuhi, Te Arawa), Moahuia Goza (Ngāti Kauwhata, Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Unu, Ngāti Kahu), and Hayley Arnet (Tangata Tiriti).