Marginalism, racism and tokenism: A composite narrative of Indigenous Māori dietitian experiences

This study aimed to explore the experiences of Māori dietitians and students in Aotearoa New Zealand, with a focus on how racism, marginalism and tokenism affect their training, workplaces and wellbeing.

A kaupapa Māori community research approach was undertaken in partnership with Te Kāhui Manukura o Kai Ora (Māori Dietitians Association). A focus group was held with Māori dietitians and students in March 2024. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis, guided by kaupapa Māori research principles. Candidate themes were then shared with participants in March 2025, and a dissemination strategy was co-designed to protect anonymity. Composite narratives were then developed to illustrate how individual experiences connect to systemic issues.

Three composite narratives were developed to highlight shared experiences of racism, tokenism and marginalism across the dietetic journey. Participants described culturally unsafe training environments where deficit stereotypes and staff silence placed additional burdens on Māori students. In workplaces, participants observed Māori patients being subject to inequitable care shaped by racialised assumptions, while Māori dietitians often carried the cultural load of being positioned as 'the Māori voice' without adequate support. These pressures contributed to isolation, burnout and challenges to professional identity, belonging and wellbeing.

Systemic racism underpins these experiences, creating culturally unsafe environments and unsustainable cultural loading for Māori dietitians and students. Addressing these issues requires profession-wide action to strengthen cultural safety, support the retention and wellbeing of Māori within dietetics.