Maori students wonder if universities are a safe space after racism recall

By RNZ’s Meriana Johnsen

The fear and intimidation that University of Waikato professors have experienced when they denounce racism has prevented future students from going to university, the Maori Tertiary Students Association has said.

Te Mana Ākonga, the Maori student association, is the latest group to send an open letter to the Minister of Education, Chris Hipkins, calling for a national review of racism in all universities.

An open letter was also sent to Hipkins on September 14 calling for an urgent national review to begin, signed by 36 Maori teachers across the country.

Student Authority Director Mamaeroa Merito said it has been a difficult time for students.

“In fact, it has been quite a jarring experience for our tauira to see our rangatira really struggling and feeling the need to talk about these issues, but not only that, but also feeling fear and intimidation when they have done so and that obviously impacts our tauira negatively.

“In some cases that have been reported to us, we have prospective students who are now reconsidering which colleges they want to go to because of all the fear and intimidation that our rangatira is experiencing that has come to light.”

He said a review would create a better system, one that upholds the Treaty of Waitangi and that would restore Maori faith in tertiary institutions that had been shaken.

“They are beginning to question whether tertiary education is a safe space for them and that is one of our driving points for why we think a nationwide review is necessary.

“It is hard enough being a Maori student in tertiary education, and that is reflected in our results, but now the fact is that it is impacting potential Maori students and that is where we feel the need to call on our minister to intervene, for review so that we can create a better system and a better sector. “

Merito said they received an acknowledgment from Hipkins’ office that the letter was received, but received no response from him.

Auckland University Maori Studies professor Margaret Mutu was one of 36 professors who asked for a review more than a week ago.

She said that they had only just received an acknowledgment and was disappointed by the slow response.

“This is a major problem, not only in universities where it is really bad, but also across the country, so it will benefit them to take it seriously.

“I think it is an issue that has to be addressed in this country and hiding behind whatever, even that it is election time, is not good enough.”

Mutu said universities were “burying their heads in the sand” and, until a review was carried out, institutions would not know the true extent of racism.

“A review would pinpoint exactly what racism looks like and how it behaves within a university, and only once you know what you’re dealing with will you be able to address it.”

The minister was not available for comment, but said in a statement that he would respond to both letters “shortly.”

Hipkins said reports of systemic or structural racism were taken “very seriously” and that the government was committed to strengthening relations between the Maori and the crown.

He said the government would consider the findings of the University of Waikato’s independent review on specific claims of structural racism at the university.

Meanwhile, a letter was sent to the University of Waikato asking them to address racism at their institution.

That was signed by more than 6,800 teachers, students and graduates from New Zealand and around the world, with 43% of the signatories from abroad.