Challenges
After doing some thinking or learning about colonisation or racism, a super common question is "What can I do?". These are some ideas of what you can do in your everyday life to fight racism, and white supremacy.
Challenge posters
Check out these awesome posters with 10 decolonisation actions for Non - Māori Kiwis and Tauiwi - Led Organisations. They were made by Tamaki Treaty Workers as part of Tiriti-based futures and Anti-racism 2020.
Have conversations
Have a chat with your whānau, friends, or colleagues about what being Pākehā means to them and share resources with them. Talking and making connections is the best way to make change.
Learn about local history
Research the mana whenua of where you live, and how colonisation imapcted them. The websites of your local iwi runanga and council, museums, and settlement deeds can be helpful, if you can't find anyone to talk to. Then, see if there is any way you can support local iwi and hapū.
Donate
Vote with your money! If you are able, donate to causes led by Māori or people of colour. Try buying at organisations who uphold Te Tiriti, and make an effort to support Māori artists, authors and businesses.
Name challenge
Often, the words we most commonly use for streets and places are named after colonists, but they have a Māori name relating to the history of the mana whenua of where you live. Finding out about these names can lead into discovering both sides of the history of where you live. Then, try to go a week without saying any place names in English. 1000 Māori Place Names and Ingoa Wāhi o Aotearoa might be helpful!
Start or join a study group or book club
Meet with a group of friends to discuss the issues covered on this website. Some good places to start would be doing the Me and White Supremacy workbook by Layla F. Saad, or reading documents like Te Tiriti o Waitangi, He Whakaputanga, UNDRIP and Matike Mai and discussing how they are relevant to you and todays world.
Go to a workshop
Go to a Te Tiriti o Waitangi workshop based on the Māori text, and advocate for Treaty educators to visit your workplace or school or organisation.
Protest
Show up to protests for Māori land rights, like Ihumātao, or marches against racism, like Black Lives Matter. If this isn't viable for you campaigns also often have petitions to sign and places to donate.
Get educated
Use the resources on this website as a starting point to learn about how racism and colonisation impact our society.
Me and White Supremacy Workbook
Read Layla F. Saad's book Me and White Supremacy, which guides you through 28 days of journalling challenges looking at the basics of white supremacy and racism. It is designed to help white readers to understand and dismantle their privilege and fragility around race. You can do this alone or with a group, learning about and reflecting on a different subject each day.
Volunteer
Research to see if there are any initiatives led by Māori or other people of colour that you can support with your time and energy, or volunteer helping to educate your Pākehā friends, family and colleagues. If you are helping a Māori led organisation make sure to support in the background rather than taking a public or leadership role.