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The Portrayal of Maori Offenders by the Media A thesis Submitted in partial fulfilment for the degree Of Masters of Social Sciences At The University of Waikato By HEATHER FARR THE UNIVERSITY OF WAIKATO Te Whare Wananga o Waikato 2019 1 Abstract In this study I examine the dominant discourses represented in the print and internet media reporting of offending by Maori. The purpose of which is to analyse the dominant discourse and subject positions associated with offending by Maori. Foucault Discourse Analysis was utilised whereby the data was collected through articles printed in the New Zealand Herald and the Dominion Post. This study suggests that there are multiple and complex factors relating to Maori offending, whereby reporting about Maori offending is presented from a mainstream worldview. 2 Contents page Abstract ............................................................................................................................... 2 Contents page ...................................................................................................................... 3 Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................. 5 Figures and Tables .............................................................................................................. 6 Chapter 1: Introduction ..................................................................................................... 10 Historical overview of Maori lore and law ................................................................... 10 Pre-contact period notions of Maori lore .................................................................. 10 Imposition of a new Colonial Law ............................................................................ 11 1900-1990 ................................................................................................................. 14 The contemporary impact of colonisation on Maori Offending ............................... 17 Contemporary Maori offending statistics ..................................................................... 19 Maori Incarceration ................................................................................................... 19 Community based offending ..................................................................................... 23 Contributing factors to the over-representation of Maori in the criminal justice system ...................................................................................................................................... 27 Socio-economic status of Maori ............................................................................... 27 Health inequalities .................................................................................................... 29 Social determinants of health .................................................................................... 29 Social Determinants of Health and the Maori offender ............................................ 31 Cultural disconnectedness and the Maori Offender .................................................. 33 Mono-cultural systems and institutions that are discriminatory and racist ............... 35 Maori and the media ..................................................................................................... 41 Socially constructed cultural assumptions by the media ........................................... 46 Stereotyping, characterising and profiling of Maori as criminal offenders: Social representations theory ............................................................................................... 54 Summary of literature review ....................................................................................... 57 Structure of thesis ......................................................................................................... 60 Chapter 2: Methodology ................................................................................................... 62 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 62 Research approach ........................................................................................................ 62 Methods ........................................................................................................................ 62 Sample....................................................................................................................... 62 Research Procedure ................................................................................................... 64 3 Categorising the data into sets of information for analysis ....................................... 64 Foucault Discourse Analysis ..................................................................................... 70 Limitations .................................................................................................................... 77 Chapter 3: Dominant Discourses identified in newspaper articles ................................... 79 Punitive Discourse ........................................................................................................ 79 Introducing the Punitive Discourse ........................................................................... 79 Analysing the Punitive Discourse ............................................................................. 80 Summary of the Punitive Discourse .......................................................................... 84 Victim Discourse .......................................................................................................... 85 Introducing the Victim Discourse ............................................................................. 85 Analysing the Victim Discourse ............................................................................... 85 Summary ................................................................................................................... 88 Institutional Discourse .................................................................................................. 88 Introducing the Institutional Discourse ..................................................................... 88 Analysing the Institutional Discourse ....................................................................... 89 Summary ................................................................................................................... 98 Cultural Discourse ........................................................................................................ 98 Introducing the Cultural Discourse ........................................................................... 98 Analysing the Cultural Discourse ............................................................................. 99 Summary ................................................................................................................. 104 The myth of one nation discourse ............................................................................... 105 Introducing the myth of one nation discourse ......................................................... 105 Analysing the myth of one nation ........................................................................... 105 Summary of the myth of one nation ........................................................................ 109 In summary of analysis chapter .................................................................................. 109 Chapter 4: Concluding Comments .................................................................................. 112 Summary of Main findings relative to psychology ..................................................... 112 Future research opportunities ...................................................................................... 117 References ....................................................................................................................... 118 Appendices ...................................................................................................................... 130 4 Acknowledgements My interest in Criminal Psychology and working to understand Maori offenders comes from the passionate work I am privileged to be involved with. I am proud to be a Maori woman working for the Department of Corrections and am continually grateful for the ongoing support I have received to practice from a Kaupapa Maori framework. I am truly grateful for Matua Tame Hemopo who continues to be a thorn in my side, pushing me to continue working in the best interests of Maori. First and foremost, I express grace and gratitude to Io, for being forever