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CHRISTEL YARDLEY / Things
The University of Waikato has appointed two commissioners to conduct an independent review.
The University of Waikato unanimously agreed to conduct an independent review after a spate of accusations of racism.
Six Maori academics came out on Sunday citing “informal and structural racism” within the University of Waikato.
The allegations included ignorance of the Maori experience, symbolism, lower pay for Maori staff, and no significant commitment to the Treaty of Waitangi.
In a meeting on Tuesday, September 1, the University Council agreed to commission an independent review of the claims.
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Dominico Zapata / Things
The Chancellor of the University of Waikato, Sir Anand Satyanand, with Vice Chancellor Neil Quigley.
In a statement on Friday, Commissioners Sir Harawira Gardiner and Hekia Parata were appointed to conduct the review, which will begin Monday.
Indigenous education teacher Linda Tuhiwai Smith, one of six academics who have written a 13-page letter to the Ministry of Education, said “these conversations have been brewing” for a long time.
The catalyst was an incident involving two Maori staff members and the University during the national shutdown in March.
“[The letter] arose due to Covid-19. Something happened at our facility where staff were isolated and when we found out what they and their families were going through, we were outraged, ”Smith said.
When asked for more details about the incident and a copy of the letter sent to the Ministry of Education, Smith declined to provide them, citing privacy.
“It was happening to them one by one, while our University published all these beautiful messages.
“We wrote a collaboration letter … the fact that we want to protect the other names speaks to some of the issues that we have addressed in our letter about staff feeling vulnerable and unsafe.”
CHRISTEL YARDLEY / Things
About 20 percent of students at the University of Waikato identify as Maori.
Smith said he has heard numerous stories from Maori staff and students facing systemic and casual racism at the university.
This included highly-rated academics who were repeatedly denied promotions or project funding, students who complained of racism in their classes, and the incident was not addressed.
She said the University of Waikato used to be known for its diversity, but now that’s all “smoke and mirrors.”
“I feel like we as an institution have fallen behind,” Smith said.
“We were once a pioneer in this workspace with Maori and have fabulous relationships with Maori.
“But now the cork has blown.”
Staff and students with knowledge of the issues set forth in the terms of reference were asked to contact the University Legal Counsel to make time to meet with the Reviewers, said University of Waikato Chancellor Anand Satyanand.
Dominico Zapata / Things
In a statement from the University of Waikato, the institute said that Professor Neil Quigley, Vice Chancellor, speaks te reo Maori in pōwhiri. Indigenous education professor Linda Tuhiwai Smith said that just because she speaks the language does not mean there is no racism at the University.
“Commissioners will review and provide an assessment of recent public claims of ‘structural and systemic racism’ at the University of Waikato and the issues that have led to these claims.”
The review will include analyzing the progress of universities in meeting the obligations of the Treaty of Waitangi, programs to support Maori students, attract and retain Maori staff, integrate mātauranga Māori into their academic programs and promote Te Ao Māori in the college life.
Commissioners will also make recommendations to improve policy and practice.
“Reviewers will have full and unrestricted access to any information they deem necessary to complete a rigorous review of the issues raised.
Labor matters relating to individual staff are not formally within the scope of the review, but the reviewers will have access to information on all matters that are directly relevant to the events that led to the review.
