Leave Your Big Boots at the Door: Pākehā confronting racism against Māori

Lorraine McLeod’s Leave Your Big Boots at the Door: Pākehā Confronting Racism Against Māori is a compelling and necessary work that brings together the voices of 17 Pākehā who have actively confronted racism in Aotearoa. Through a collection of memoirs, interviews, and essays, the contributors—from professions as diverse as education, health, law, and social services—share their personal journeys towards recognising and challenging institutional and societal racism. The book serves as both a historical account and a call to action, urging readers to examine their own biases and the systemic inequities that continue to shape the nation.

The strength of this collection lies in its immediacy and the authenticity of its contributors. Figures such as Andrew Judd, Richard Shaw, and Dr Anne Milne provide sobering reflections on their experiences with racism—both within institutions and in their personal lives. They document the resistance and hostility they have encountered, from professional dismissals to outright personal abuse, reinforcing the entrenched nature of racism in New Zealand society. At the same time, their narratives offer hope, advocating for Māori self-determination and structural change.

McLeod has crafted a work that does not merely expose injustice but also offers tangible ways forward. By foregrounding Pākehā voices in the discussion, the book challenges non-Māori to take responsibility for their role in dismantling racism. Leave Your Big Boots at the Door is a vital and timely contribution to New Zealand’s ongoing conversation about race, history, and equity.