Racism in the New Zealand Justice system

Published by Montehius Stowers-Solomona

The purpose of this post is to better inform our Polynesian and Māori communities of the Racism that happens in our New Zealand Justice system. I will be talking about three questions. Does racism have an impact on how New Zealand law enforcement treats people of color? is the first question I'll be writing about. Do individuals of color experience frequent harassment by the judicial system in New Zealand because of presumptions about their moral character based on their skin? is the second topic I'll address in this post. How can law enforcement support people of color and diversity is the third and final question I'll be looking into.

Because of the anguish it has caused to several families in New Zealand and how unfairly the legal system operates, I decided to focus on "Racism in New Zealand in the Justice System". As a Polynesian/Maori, I understand how offensive it is to portray us as obnoxious, untidy, and dangerous when, in truth, we represent a beautiful culture with a rich history. I find it amusing that some people still believe in outmoded stereotypes because it is now acceptable to classify Polynesians and Maori as "Hori" and "dangerous" yet, in reality, we are all genuinely good people. I was inspired to publish this post after seeing the film "The Hate U Give" directed by George Tillman Jr. in class, which piqued my curiosity in the prejudice that exists in New Zealand's legal system. Another reason for this disparity in the justice system I believe is the way Maori and Polynesian people are portrayed as criminals and useless people in the media. was that The hypothesis is that racism in the justice system negatively affects people of color in New Zealand, as police officials and the legal system are biased against Maori and Polynesians. I believes that racism exists and that misconceptions about their culture exist, leading to prejudice against them. I aim to find evidence supporting this bias.

Maori representation in film as ugly, unfashionable gangsters. Source: E-Tangata (2017)

This post aims to investigate whether New Zealand law enforcement treats persons of color unfairly. There is clear evidence of racism in the legal system, with the government acknowledging this bias towards Maori. The Stuff Circuit has recognized unconscious bias as a "live issue." The fact that Maori make up the majority of detainees demonstrates that racism is more widespread in the legal system than most people realize. The system is not colorblind, and the government acknowledges this issue. The New Zealand justice system often portrays Maori and Polynesians as dangerous individuals, leading to citizens misinterpreting their personalities based on skin color. Māori are prosecuted and convicted at a higher rate than anyone else, with 81% of Māori inmates having another conviction five years after release. The Waiariki MP reported that 55% of the male prison population was Māori, and 64% of female inmates. The Department of Corrections' latest prison facts and statistics report states that 53.4% of all inmates were Māori. This disparity in treatment between Māori and Pakeha is concerning and could worsen if this is the "normal" situation. The situation is expected to worsen from here on out. The New Zealand justice system prioritizes punishment over rehabilitation, disproportionately targeting Māori offenders.

This approach has resulted in millions of dollars in costs and long-term consequences. The system's focus on punishment over rehabilitation, allowing late assessments, hinders change. Making treatments more accessible could improve the situation, but the long-term consequences are severe and require urgent attention. This post investigates the impact of racism in the New Zealand justice system on Māori and Polynesian people. The research indicates that Māori and Polynesians face disadvantages in the system, indicating racism exists. However, people often accept it as normal rather than addressing the root causes. This impacts society as a large portion of the population is Māori/Polynesian. A possible solution is to be more mindful of cultural understanding rather than stereotypes.