Kia ora and welcome to A Kiwi Perspective. I’m Graham and today we turn our gaze across the Tasman to Australia — a country that carries a heavy burden of history, cultural erasure and the ongoing fight for justice by its First Nations people. While our shared history in the Pacific Ocean has brought similarities between New Zealand and Australia, there is one glaring difference: Australia has never had a treaty with its Indigenous people. And the implications of this absence are felt in every facet of Aboriginal life.

Aotearoa, by contrast, at least has the Treaty of Waitangi — signed in 1840 — which is both a legal and moral foundation for Māori as tangata whenua, the people of the land. This treaty has not been without its flaws, and the relationship it facilitates is still an ongoing negotiation, but it remains a symbol of acknowledgment and a framework for dialogue. Australia, however, has yet to reckon with its past to the same extent. For Aboriginal Australians, their relationship with the state is often defined by silence, dispossession, and the lack of recognition.

Today, we’re diving deep into this issue, looking at the state of Aboriginal affairs through a Kiwi perspective — one that is shaped by both the successes and the ongoing struggles of Māori in New Zealand. I’ll also turn to one of the most eloquent and controversial figures in the debate on Aboriginal affairs: Stan Grant.

Stan Grant is not just a journalist or an academic; he is a voice that is often at the intersection of historical reckoning, cultural identity, and the painful reality of systemic racism. A Wiradjuri man, Grant’s experiences and his reflections have shaped much of the current discourse on Aboriginal rights. He has become one of the most vocal critics of Australia’s treatment of its Indigenous population, and his words demand our attention. His message is not just about remembering the past, but also about confronting the prejudices of the present.

This episode will explore Grant’s thoughts on Aboriginal affairs, dissecting both the societal issues and the possibilities for change, all through the lens of someone living in Aotearoa. We’ll compare the Māori experience with that of Aboriginal Australians, learn from both successes and failures, and reflect on where we go from here.