Promoting access and success for Māori and Pacific staff: Bicultural discourses in tertiary education

Abstract

Biculturalism typically ...

Concentrates on learning/ learning about artefacts of Māori culture (hongi, haka, hangi)

Assumes ‘getting to know each other’ better so ‘we can all get a long better’ is the answer

Emphasises ‘national unity’ – devalues diversity and the Māori contribution

Distracted from structural limitations to Māori success and material differences between Māori and non-Māori experience

Fails to provide opportunity for Māori to provide alternate ideologies to frame alternate structures

Maintains a dominance-subordinance power relation between Māori and Pākehā

Perpetuates Pākehā privilege – colonial legacy, well protected