New research has highlighted the need for psychology to provide a culturally safe environment for psychologists and psychology trainees in New Zealand.
The study, led by Dr Waikaremoana Waitoki (Ngāti Hako, Ngāti Mahanga), Dr Kyle Tan (Malaysian Chinese) and the Associate Professor Damian Scarf (Pākehā) from the University of Otago, found that 47% of Māori, 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 University of Waikato, says there’s an urgent need in the profession to address the barriers that hinder Māori and other minority groups from participating effectively in psychology training and the workforce.
Dr Waikaremoana Waitoki
“Psychology in New Zealand is facing a crisis – there's a nationwide shortage of psychologists, and the system is under intense scrutiny,” she says.
“The Government has acknowledged the system needs to change, yet systemic issues of racism and bullying continue to affect both practitioners and students.”
The research is part of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment-funded Working to End Racism and Oppression (WERO) project, 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. Māori 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 Māori 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 Māori and other minoritised groups in entering and succeeding in the field.
“This 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,” Dr Waitoki says.
“Our goal is to create a supportive environment where individuals can thrive and feel safe, rather than face trauma years down the line.”
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).
