More than 2500 people have signed an open letter calling for the University of Waikato to eliminate structural racism and protect the jobs and careers of the academics who raised the issue publicly.
Last month internationally acclaimed academic Linda Tuhiwai Smith, Professor of indigenous education at Waikato, was one of six staff who wrote a 13-page letter alerting the Ministry of Education to their concerns.
The allegations included Maori expertise being ignored, tokenism, lower pay for Maori staff and no meaningful commitment to the Treaty of Waitangi.
After initially disputing the allegations, the university announced last week that an independent review has been commissioned.
Joanna Kidman is a Professor of Maori Education at Victoria University and one of the authors of the letter in support of the "Waikato Six".
