That moment when someone makes a comment about Te Tiriti o Waitangi or Te Ao Māori which is ignorant or offensive, and we want to say something, but we struggle to find the right words, or are too stunned to respond. What to do?
The trick is to just say something, no matter how imperfect. Because silence allows ignorance or racism to remain unquestioned and unchallenged. And now, more than ever, we need to stand in support of Te Tiriti.
That said, these conversations are much easier if we know what is most helpful, and have some insights and tools ready to go.
Here is a talk I gave called “Did I really just hear that? Practical insights for tricky conversations about Te Tiriti.” I was privileged to deliver this as part of the “Treaty and Me Lecture Series 2025“, put on by the wonderful team at Network Waitangi Whangārei. (The talk begins at minute 10 after the welcome and intros, and runs to minute 53.45, then question time starts from minute 55 and runs until 1.15.)
You can also view the slides here – they are a bit hard to read in the recording above.
Enjoy. And may your tricky conversations all go well.
A wonderfully flowing, articulate and relatable discussion on a topic all too easy to shy away from. Thank you for sharing your wisdom.
This is a great resource and thank you for sharing it Kate. There were some very practical pointers for having those difficult conversations and I have already worked with a few of the approaches you shared. Relatable and empowering.
Thank you Angela and Michelle for your comments – much appreciated and glad this is helpful.