Te Kete o Karaitiana Taiuru (Blog)

Research and statistics show that Māori are more likely to see harmful material online and to be victims of online bullying. Often Māori are the primary person in harmful materials online.

Statistics released by the Ministry of Justice show that the main culprits are European men.

Despite these alarming facts, Māori voices or at least the voices of Māori who are pro active in the digital communities, and cultural concerns are ignored with both Internet governance in New Zealand, with safety precautions and other protective mechanisms and largely with any technological consultation by the government.

For many Māori there is no culturally safe way to engage with online services regarding harmful online communications.

Research also suggests that Māori youth are more in favor of Internet filtering and regulations than non Māori. This is likely due to the discrimination and minority voices not being heard.

The proposed amendments to the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Amendment Bill is a large step forward to protecting Māori from the phycological harm and other detrimental health issues that can be caused by viewing either intentionally or unintentionally harmful media online.

The key argument by non Māori groups who are often middle class NZ citizens mainly of Pākehā descent, who will most likely have a European man as the CEO or senior manager, is that the Internet must remain free for all to use without government interaction. These groups are also most likely to never have faced the biases in society that many Māori and Pacific Peoples endure on a daily basis.

The Māori voice is currently missing and or being loudly over spoken by niche and well resourced lobby groups who seek Utopia (that I might add has never existed for all) at the expense and risk of Māori and other minorities.

It is also a concern that these groups headed by Pākehā men, chose to actively ignore Māori voices.

In conclusion, the Bill will greatly benefit Māori health and well being and other minorities in society including those who are economically deprived who are not and never have been represented by the online community to have a voice. Noting the Bill is not perfect, but is a positive step forward.