Speaking the Unspoken: Racism, Sport and Maori

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Holly Raima Hippolite
Toni Bruce

Abstract

In this paper, we argue that the intersection of two key ideologies – New Zealand’s purported history of good race relations, and the positive contribution sport is believed to make to racial equality – has created an environment in which it is difficult to talk about, let alone discuss constructively, Māori experiences of racism in the sport context. Our aim is to put the issue on the agenda by engaging with 10 experienced Māori sport participants, coaches and administrators whose experiences demonstrate the existence of, and pain caused by, cultural and institutional racism in New Zealand sport. In this aim, we do not seek to hide behind a veil of neutrality or objectivity. Rather, following a kaupapa Māori research approach, our interest is in bringing to light the voices, frustrations and concerns of Māori in order to contribute to a much-needed conversation.

Article Details

Section
Articles (refereed)
Author Biographies

Holly Raima Hippolite, Department of Sport and Leisure Studies, University of Waikato

Raima Hippolite is completing her Master's degree at the University of Waikato. She has published an article in Mai Review (2008) based on a summer research internship funded by Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga, New Zealand's National Institute of Research Excellence for Maori Development and Advancement.

Toni Bruce, Department of Sport and Leisure Studies, University of Waikato

Associate Professor Toni Bruce's research focuses on gender, national identity and race and ethnicity in relation to the sports media. She has published in a wide range of journals and books and is co-editor of Sportswomen at the Olympics: A Global Content Analysis of Newspaper Coverage (2010) and Outstanding: Research about New Zealand Women in Sport (2008).