Combatting bias in schools: A Kaupapa Māori study into students’ experiences of racism by Māori, with Māori, for the benefit of Māori

Project Summary 

Teachers are increasingly tasked with acknowledging their racial biases and the resulting impacts on their students’ learning and wellbeing. However, anti-bias trainings are typically generalised learning experiences with little effect. Through focus groups with Māori students in Northland schools, this project identified common incidents of racism. 

The initial project objective was to shine a light on Māori students’ experiences of racism in Aotearoa schools; longer-term, the study findings were to inform the creation of a virtual reality intervention in which teachers embody students’ perspectives in order to surface and change teachers’ deep-seated racism. 

The research sought to address the following questions:

1. In what ways do Māori students experience racism in Aotearoa schools?
2. How can these experiences inform the creation of a virtual reality intervention to combat teacher beliefs and behaviours?

By researching the experiences of Māori students by Māori researchers, using Māori methodologies, and for the benefit of Māori and all we sought to centre students’ experiences to ultimately improve schooling outcomes and experiences, both social and academic. Student voices can act as a lever for change by confronting teachers’ beliefs and behaviours.

Lead Researcher

Dr Maia Hetaraka, Ngāti Wai, Ngāi Tahu, Ngā Puhi, Ngāti Paoa, Te Papa Ako o te Tai Tokerau

Research Team

Dr Jo Smith , University of Auckland

Dr Frauke Meyer, University of Auckland

Prof Christine Rubie-Davies , University of Auckland

Assoc Prof Heather Came-Friar, Pākehā, Auckland University of Technology

Justice-Te Amorangi Hetaraka, Ngāti Wai, Ngāi Tahu, Ngā Puhi, University of Auckland

Highlights

• Open hui in July 2022 to introduce the project to the community
• Multiple engagements with local high schools and kāhui kaumātua
• Recruitment hui in December 2022
• Wānanga-based data collection and co-analysis with participants
• Final consultation in May 2024 to confirm the poetic representations of findings
• Around 20 collaboratively produced creative works emerged from the study
• Writing retreats for the PI and research assistant ensured a deeply collaborative process