New research has highlighted the need for psychology to provide a culturally safe environment for psychologists and psychology trainees in New Zealand.
, led by (Ng膩ti Hako, Ng膩ti Mahanga), (Malaysian Chinese) and the Associate Professor Damian Scarf (笔腻keh膩) from the University of Otago, found that 47% of M膩ori, Pacific and Asian psychologists and students on internship reported experiencing racism in the last 12 months, and 41% of psychologists in training are seeking professional help because of their experience.
Dr Waitoki, an Associate Professor at the 糖心Vlog, says there鈥檚 an urgent need in the profession to address the barriers that hinder M膩ori and other minority groups from participating effectively in psychology training and the workforce.
Dr Waikaremoana Waitoki
鈥淧sychology in New Zealand is facing a crisis 鈥� there's a nationwide shortage of psychologists, and the system is under intense scrutiny,鈥� she says.
鈥淭he Government has acknowledged the system needs to change, yet systemic issues of racism and bullying continue to affect both practitioners and students.鈥�
The research is part of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment-funded , which focuses on addressing systemic racism within health education, training, and practice.
The Kia Whakapapa Pounamu Survey, launched in 2023, involved nearly 300 participants, including psychologists, academic staff and trainee students from across the country.
Report illustration by Sam Low. M膩ori and individuals from minority backgrounds are frequently called upon to provide "cultural" perspectives. These added responsibilities are rarely compensated, and it is up to them to learn deflection strategies to manage these demands.
The survey drew from over 40 years of studies that have called for greater M膩ori representation in the psychology workforce. It was designed to assess how well psychology training programs align with Te Tiriti o Waitangi aspirations and to identify barriers faced by M膩ori and other minoritised groups in entering and succeeding in the field.
鈥淭his report is a call to action for everyone in psychology to embrace necessary changes needed to improve the cultural safety of our discipline. We must hold ourselves accountable for developing a Te Tiriti-aligned approach to psychology,鈥� Dr Waitoki says.
鈥淥ur goal is to create a supportive environment where individuals can thrive and feel safe, rather than face trauma years down the line.鈥�
The research team also included Dr Logan Hamley (Ngai Te Rangi), Dr Ottilie Stolte (Dutch) and PhD candidate Joanna Chan (NZ-born Hong Kong Chinese).
