Law School initiative to promote understanding of Equity

This was an initiative of Associate Professor Hanna Wilberg in her role as Associate Dean Equity. She noted the Law School’s particular responsibility to build awareness and understanding, and that a commitment to equality calls for policies and practices aimed at levelling the playing field and at addressing historical and entrenched inequalities.

The Month opened with a thought-provoking public lecture by Dame Susan Devoy, who was the country’s Race Relations Commissioner from 2013 to 2018, having just stepped down from the role. Under the title Equality in Aotearoa? Reflections of the Race Relations Commissioner, Dame Susan shared her concerns over the lack of voice for the most marginalised such as Muslims and refugees; the lack of understanding of Treaty partnership; and the entrenched association between socio-economic disadvantage and minority race. In her experience, advocating for equality was too often still a lonely place to be. On the other hand, her “Give Nothing to Racism” campaign provided an opportunity to begin courageous conversations, with many New Zealanders sharing their stories and their aspirations for the country they want to live in.

The theme of socio-economic inequality and its intersection with race as well as gender was carried further by the next public event, a panel discussion on the topic of Equality for some: the challenge of poverty in Aotearoa New Zealand. This was kindly hosted by the NZ Law Society at the Law School’s request. It featured presentations by well-known economist Susan St John who works with advocacy groups such as the Child Poverty Action Group; Dr Shiloh Groot whose research at the University brings a Māori perspective to the multifaceted issues surrounding homelessness; Harry Fatu Toleafoa who works with Mangere Pasifika communities in his position at the Community Law Centre there; and Max Rashbrooke who has written or edited several books on the increasing gap in wealth and incomes in New Zealand. The Panel contributions are due to be published online shortly.

Alongside the public events, the Month offered several more in-depth training workshops for Law School staff and students respectively. Workshop topics included Affirmative Action; Unconscious Bias; and inclusiveness for LGBTIQ and especially Trans students. The student group Women in Law is to be congratulated on a range of further events for students. These ranged from a book launch for Feminist Judgements of Aotearoa (featuring several law school Professors), to workshops on activism and advocacy run by groups such as Shakti and RAW (Reclaim Another Woman), as well as by Green MP Chloe Swarbrick and senior barrister Marie Dyhrberg QC. Regular messaging for students for the duration of the Month also included “Did you know” e-screens prepared by Women in Law to showcase the achievements of notable women, Māori and Pasifika New Zealanders.

Aside from Women in Law, the Associate Dean Equity Hanna Wilberg was assisted by the faculty’s Equity Group, Te Tai Haruru and FOLAU Pasifika; especially Anna Hood, Treasa Dunworth, Dylan Asafo, Natalie Coates, Fleur Te Aho, Amokura Kawharu and Claire Charters, alongside professional staff especially Hayley Nicholson, Sandra Shaw and Ana Samoylova.