UNCONSCIOUS BIAS AND EDUCATION

A strategy to reduce implicit bias towards Māori
Mounting evidence suggests racism 1 contributes to Māori disadvantage in New Zealand.
This perspective changes the focus of attention from Māori social and economic problems –
to the role of the (predominantly Pākehā) majority population in maintaining the status
quo. Racism is disparaged in New Zealand where the vast majority of the population has
consciously endorsed fairness and equity. At the same time, enduring disadvantage for
Māori remains unexplained. This chapter introduces an alternative framework to elucidate
the psycho-social sources of discrimination towards Māori in New Zealand. The chapter
explains the processes of bias and latent racism as well as the exclusionary behaviours that
arise from these phenomena. Examples of how they may impact upon Māori are presented.
The chapter also offers strategies to reduce implicit bias and latent racism towards Māori.
Māori in New Zealand
The historical relationship between Māori and Pākehā has created a complex social and
political milieu in New Zealand. Contradictions are evident. Although Māori have achieved
legal recognition of their right to equality alongside Pākehā, significant inequities remain.
Pākehā are the majority at 75% of the population, swamping Māori (15% of the
population). 2 While a very high level of social integration is the reality of contemporary
Māori society (nearly 50% of Māori also identify as European/Pākehā), there is, arguably,
some wariness between Māori and Pākehā which reflects a history of colonisation and
intergroup conflict. In addition, despite a variety of Government programmes designed to
support equity between Māori and European/Pākehā, significant and enduring social and
economic inequalities remain. 3 4 5
Māori have lower incomes and poorer quality housing than European/Pākehā.
Māori are more likely to live in poorer residential areas.
Māori are also less likely to succeed in New Zealand’s mainstream educational
system compared to European/Pākehā.
In relation to employment, Māori tend to be concentrated in lower-paid primary and
semi-skilled occupations.
There are major health disparities between Māori and Pākehā with Māori
experiencing higher rates of illness, infection and disease.
A complex mix of factors associated with socio-economic status and lifestyle contribute to
these continuing inequities. Apart from these factors a number of recent publications have
suggested that racism contributes to Māori disadvantage. 6 7 8 Racism has been defined as
an ideology of racial superiority followed by discriminatory and prejudicial behaviour
towards those targeted (Jones, 2000). 9 The following section provides a sample of the
range of studies which indicate Māori experience racism throughout most, if not all, sectors
of New Zealand society.
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