Building political competencies for the transformation of racism in Aotearoa

In the face of enduring systemic racial disparities between Māori and non‐Māori, we invite Pākehā health, education and social service professionals to review their ethical conduct and to enhance their political competencies to help transform racism. This paper examines how Pākehā became beneficiaries of racism and how libertarian discourses are used to distract attention away from the associated privileges. Based on experience in the anti‐racism movement, we (the Pākehā authors) advocate for the grounding of Pākehā practitioners in a deeper understanding of colonial history. We invite closer attention to structural analysis as a means of gaining the understanding needed to strengthen political competence in order to avoid collusion with institutional racism. We make a case to develop co‐intentional relationships with Māori through active whanaungatanga and the applications of the teachings of Freire as pathways for strengthened practice.