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Ethnic health inequities between Māori and other New Zealanders continue to manifest systemically across the health sector. They are unjust, unfair, and are a breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Institutional racism is a key modifiable driver of these disparities. Historically, health sector responses to racism could be characterised as ad hoc or in-action. Efforts have included investment in Māori health providers, Māori representation in governance, equity initiatives, kawa whakaruruhau—cultural safety and Te Tiriti training. Most anti-racist interventions have been educational and focused on individual change—especially for operational staff and students, rather than decision-makers. These historic contributions have been insufficient to address entrenched problems of systemic and societal racism. This paper examines three anti-racism initiatives currently occurring across Aotearoa; i) the Matike Mai Constitutional Transformation report/movement, ii) the development of the National Action Plan Against Racism, and iii) Ao Mai Te Rā currently being developed within the health sector.

Drawing on long-time involvement in anti-racism praxis and scholarship, the Māori and non-Māori authors of this paper are making the case to re-imagine anti-racism theory. Such re-imagining needs to centre engagement with Te Tiriti. In addition, we argue it needs to involve both tangata whenua and Tauiwi.