Running a small business is challenging enough, but for pakihi Māori, the struggles can go beyond the usual business hurdles. Unfortunately many of us have encountered racism, both online and in real life, and in today’s environment it sometimes feels like all things Māori are under attack.

At Whāriki, we’re hearing more and more stories of online harassment and hateful comments on social media. Whether you’re a retail business, hospitality whānau, or offering professional services, pakihi Māori are increasingly subjected to racist rhetoric.  

Sadly, we at Whāriki are not immune to this either. Even when we’re sharing positive stories or information designed to uplift and support Māori businesses, we still receive anti-Māori comments. These kinds of interactions can leave you feeling disheartened, but it’s important to know you’re not alone – and there are ways to combat this negativity.

Here are five practical steps you can take to deal with online racism:

1. Build a Strong Network
   Connect with fellow pakihi Māori. Support one another online by leaving positive and encouraging comments on their social media platforms. Together, we can drown out the negative voices. If you’re looking for a safe space, the Te Hapori o Whāriki platform provides a community of over 1,200 pakihi Māori to connect with.
2. Remove Racist Comments
   Engaging with racist comments often increases their visibility. The best thing to do is to remove them. Don’t give hate a platform on your business pages.
3. Block and Move On
   People who leave racist comments aren’t the type of customers you want anyway. Block them to keep your business spaces safe and welcoming for your valued customers.
4. Lean on Your Support Network
   Don’t face racism in isolation. Reach out to your friends, family, and fellow pakihi Māori. Racism can take a toll on your mauri, so it’s important to seek help when you need it and talk things out.
5. Manaaki Fellow Pakihi Māori
   Make it a habit to leave positive, supportive words for other Māori businesses on social media. By uplifting each other, we can shift the focus from negativity to empowerment.

You can also report online racism via:

• Netsafe has a free and confidential service for people experiencing online bullying, abuse or harassment. https://report.netsafe.org.nz/hc/en-au/requests/new
• Social Media platforms Meta (Facebook and Instagram), SnapChat, TikTok, X and LinkedIn have functions to report racist content or harassment.

Tū kotahi, kōkiri tahi – stand together, move as one. Together, we can build resilience, support one another, and ensure that the voices of positivity and manaaki are louder than those of hate. Let’s stand strong as a community and make a difference.