Yes, this policy is racist, by definition. In an ideal world, all citizens will be treated equally. In an ideal world, there will be no racism, everyone will have the same access and the same healthcare outcomes.

But we don't live in a perfect fucking world, do we? Jesus Christ, can people not understand this? Maori and Pacifica are systemically worse off in health outcomes than Pakeha. Per the report, even when all other factors are accounted for, they are worse off. So what's left? Race.

Let's assume that our goal for our society is the betterment of everyone. If that is the case (and it bloody should be!), then we have two options here. Solve the inequalities in society, or include race as one small metric. Obviously the first option is the best, right? But that takes a long time, and what do we do in the mean time? Let the inequality continue? Let Maori and Pacifica die at higher rates? That seems fucking cruel to me.

So what's left? The policy we have. It's just like having specific scholarships for Maori students. Yes, objectively, it is racist. But the goal is to reduce racism in society as a whole (through the lens of reducing the systemic educational inequality). Once that inequality has been eroded, then the race specific scholarships should go. But in the mean time, because I understand we don't live in a magical fairytale perfect world, I'm more than happy for those who are disadvantaged because of their skin color to get a small helping hand to try and remove some of this disadvantage. I genuinely don't understand why anyone would object to this.