Fantastic writing and so useful too. I’m a 60 year old tauiwi woman who spends a lot of time studying and thinking about my identity as a non-Māori ally. There is, on the face of it, a simplicity to that identity and yet it is incredibly complex and nuanced.
I work in a DHB and am anticipating the birth of the Māori Health Authority with a mix of optimism and cynicism founded in my understanding of the history you’ve so eloquently sketched in your writing. Institutional and individual racism is alive and kicking in healthcare and my DHB has tokenism down to a fine art. I feel invigorated after this read, thank you. I wish I could surround myself with people like you.
This is thoughtful, lovely comment - thank you, Alison. I feel a bunch of trepidation about the Māori Health Authority (and wider reforms). I absolutely agree with the direction - I just feel anxiety that it has to be got right, because it's a generational opportunity. I'm sorry for the things you've seen and experienced in the DHB, but at the same time relieved that, as a perceptive and concerned person, you see it and want to change it. Fingers crossed, and thanks for reading. 😊
Fantastic writing and so useful too. I’m a 60 year old tauiwi woman who spends a lot of time studying and thinking about my identity as a non-Māori ally. There is, on the face of it, a simplicity to that identity and yet it is incredibly complex and nuanced.
I work in a DHB and am anticipating the birth of the Māori Health Authority with a mix of optimism and cynicism founded in my understanding of the history you’ve so eloquently sketched in your writing. Institutional and individual racism is alive and kicking in healthcare and my DHB has tokenism down to a fine art. I feel invigorated after this read, thank you. I wish I could surround myself with people like you.
Ngā mihi
This is thoughtful, lovely comment - thank you, Alison. I feel a bunch of trepidation about the Māori Health Authority (and wider reforms). I absolutely agree with the direction - I just feel anxiety that it has to be got right, because it's a generational opportunity. I'm sorry for the things you've seen and experienced in the DHB, but at the same time relieved that, as a perceptive and concerned person, you see it and want to change it. Fingers crossed, and thanks for reading. 😊
Beautiful and heartfelt, as always. I have been meaning to re-read this and you've just provided the catalyst. Thank you!!