Do You Hear Me? A Critical Review of the Voice of Racism Anti-racism Education Campaign from Aotearoa New Zealand.

Abstract

In July 2020 the New Zealand Human Rights Commission launched their Voice of Racism digital experience as part of their Give Nothing to Racism Campaign. On the website you can "experience" the racism felt by real New Zealanders as performed by internationally acclaimed New Zealand director Taika Waititi. The immersive campaign provides some insights into the lived experience of racism and the anti-racism action that follows in Aotearoa, New Zealand. This paper, using ethnographic and critical race methods, uses a critical and systematic review of the Voice of Racism digital experience to consider: What is the New Zealand experience of racism? How are experiences of racism curated for the general population through the NZ HRC Voice of Racism online education campaign? This article suggests the campaign employs a classic diversity logic by calling attention to racism, recentering whiteness, and completely ignoring the systemic and institutional foundations that create and sustain white settler societies like New Zealand.