By Lanxin (Lucy) Li Course: SOCIOL 101/G Understanding Aotearoa Prompt: “Critically explore how the settler colonial history of Aotearoa relates to you by reflecting on your positionality in Aotearoa." Positionality can be defined as the social and political contexts in which identity can be described, through relational labels such as race, gender, or ability(Maher & Tetreault, 1993). My positionality, in the context of my day-to-day ife, is simple: I am Kiwi, Chinese, a you

By Leo Baker Course: SOCIOL 101/G Understanding Aotearoa (S2'22) Growing up as a sheltered white kid in an affluent suburb of Tāmaki Makaurau, it has required, and will require, a lot of unlearning to fully understand my privileges. I am Pākehā, which is to say, I am racialised as white. Racialisation as white in Aotearoa means a lot of things: seeing people of your ethnicity positively represented in media, enjoying a higher standard of living and comfort compared to indigen

By Kate Hatley Course: SOCIOL 101/G Understanding Aotearoa (S2'22) I have endured far too many family gatherings listening to distant relatives harping on about the state of racism in New Zealand. “It’s not as bad as it used to be... why do we even need a tribunal?” I only see these people once or twice a year. Who let Uncle Roger speak with such brazen disregard for the reality of others? I internally prepare myself to rebut as calmly and eloquently as possible. Once again,

By Hayley McCarthy Course: SOCIOL 101/G Understanding Aotearoa (S2'22) The statement "I am scared of my grandma" is bold; it might make you think that I have been terribly mistreated, spark concern for my well-being, or make you uncomfortable. However, the truth is that none of that is accurate. In fact, I grew up with privilege, safety and generally overall well-being due to my positionality in Aotearoa (or, if you are my grandma, New Zealand). For some exposition, I will ex