In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Long Form Journalist Te Aniwa Hurihanganui explores the harm caused when politicians question Māori values and language.

"For Māori people to see words like Aotearoa or te reo Māori and its use in general to be thrown around so lightly and so harmfully, I think it's dispiriting for a lot of people in that they start to disengage from the debate as well." - Morgan Godfery

Political commentator Morgan Godfery says that to be told your name for your country is wrong can be harmful, as it shows deeply cultural and deeply personal issues that go to the heart of their identity can be up for debate.

With National Party leader Judith Collins demanding the debate on whether the name Aotearoa should be put to a referendum, Māori are again experiencing a heightened level of racist attacks - and the harms are not trivial.

National MP Stuart Smith's suggestion there be a referendum on the use of the name Aotearoa caused division between politicians and New Zealanders alike, and party leader Collins was quick to lend her support to the idea.

Collins has been accused of dog-whistle politics and race-baiting, she's also been praised for standing up to wokeness and voicing New Zealanders' fears. She told RNZ the call for a referendum was not coming from her but - no matter her motivation - she set a wave of harm in motion.

Read more:

National's call for Aotearoa referendum 'absurd' and 'ridiculous'

National Party leader Judith Collins 'very happy' to call the country Aotearoa

National Māori Authority chair Matthew Tukaki received a racist letter at his home, from an unknown sender. He believes it's no coincidence that the letter arrived in the thick of the debate around the name Aotearoa.

"This is politicians who are creating an operating environment that emboldens these racists and this nonsense sort of conversation."

He's not the only one. Law student Phoebe Sullivan was sitting in a study room on her phone, when the racism rolled in and says the debate felt like an attack on her cultural identity, her language, and her people.

RNZ broadcaster Māni Dunlop is used to waves of racist texts whenever a Māori issue hits the headlines. Sometimes she laughs them off, other times it feels personal.

Research suggests that when comments move from debate to racism, the impact is much greater than just hurt feelings, it has a consistent link with health - particularly mental health. …

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details