Multicultural Nelson Tasman thoughtful keyboard warriors
Ciara Arnot Senior Community Advisor •
At InternetNZ, we work to empower all New Zealanders to use the Internet in a way that keeps them and others safe. We understand that effective responses to the harm people experience are nuanced and numerous. The negative impacts require various interventions from the top-down and the grassroots.
Tauiwi Tautoko call to action
Tauiwi Tautoko is among those things we have had the pleasure of seeing develop and expand. Created by Victoria University academic Dr Emily Beausoleil and campaigning organisation ActionStation, Tauiwi Tautoko (non-Maori in support) is a free training programme that gives people skills to challenge racism online and offline. It enables those less likely to be the targets of racism to use their privilege to intervene. Using evidence-based listening and messaging techniques, a growing network of volunteers can have more caring, thoughtful and informed online interactions.
Multicultural Nelson Tasman responds
In 2022 Multicultural Nelson Tasman responded to this call to action. They used InternetNZ funding to support a group of volunteers from Te Tau Ihu (the top of the South Island) to participate in this highly regarded programme. Volunteers from Whakatu have been able to develop their skills and join other cohorts from around the motu to tackle racism and contribute to a growing online network of allies.
Multicultural Nelson Tasman manager Anna Fyfe said racism isn't going anywhere. When they set out to begin this training, MNT put a call out for thoughtful keyboard warriors. She said "[They] want to know what they can do to help stop racism, and how they can be better allies ... we think that the Tauiwi Tautoko approach is a good place to start".
As the group from MNT progressed through their learning journey, the volunteers developed skills that will serve them well in their personal and professional lives. Each of them will plant the seeds to continue to grow this empathetic approach among their networks. Taking on this role is no easy feat, and volunteers have to work to navigate the delicate waters of uncertainty, ignorance, pride and racism. Subtle shifts in tone and a kind listening-centred approach frequently serve to move an online comments thread to a place of shared values.
Working together, we can help to make the world, and particularly the digital realm, a better, safer space.
If you or your organisation are interested in learning more - check out https://www.tauiwitautoko.com/
InternetNZ
Each year InternetNZ uses profits from the sale of .nz domain names to give out community funding. We provide funding for community-led initiatives that help to create an Internet that benefits all of Aotearoa.
This organisation received funding in 2022.