Tautoko Network – Ethnic, former refugee and migrant researchers
Register for our upcoming session
After the progress made at the March session about our branding and visibility, we are keen to keep the momentum going.
Therefore for our May session, we will include time for:
- making connections and informal kōrero
- consolidation of the graphics and colour palate
- discussion about the name of the Network
- potential activities for the year including potential capacity building and community topic areas, local area meet-ups and regular updates.
Join us for our first Tautoko session for 2026 and connect with other researchers, former refugees, and migrant peers who are passionate about research with, by and for ethnically diverse communities.
This session will have time for:
- making connections and informal kōrero
- discussing draft ideas for stronger Tautoko Network branding, visibility, and promotion to increase our reach
- exploring ideas raised through the Nov 2025 review such as local area meet-ups, and how we can share news and updates within the Network.
Tautoko sessions are held two-monthly with attendance open to both Network and non-Network researchers and allies. They provide a dynamic informal unrecorded space that fosters a collective sense of shared purpose. We celebrate all forms of community-led knowledge-making, whether it’s community-based mahi and mātauranga, or based within organisations, the public service, or academia.
We are excited by the feedback we received and look forward to evolving this space together in 2026!
Bev and Eve
In this session we shared whakaaro and kōrero (thoughts and discussion) about the modernising of the Census – strengths, challenges and opportunities – and responses to the call for submissions by StatsNZ regarding its proposed content and data collection approach. The new admin-data-first census model has three elements: Use of administrative data, a new annual sample survey (Census Attribute Survey), and tailored solutions.
The aim of this awheawhe was to identify key/common features that could be included in a submission about the StatsNZ Modernising the census approach and how it could meet the needs of ethnically diverse communities. Following this awheawhe – we sound boarded the outcomes of the session with experts in this space to evolve the template paragraphs. The outcomes of this mahi were then shared as a resource for submission makers and also contributed to the submissions that were made on behalf of the Network and Community Research.
Resources
StatsNZ information session slides: Census Customer Information session – Public consultation
StatsNZ paper on quality of ethnicity data in the experimental administrative population census:https://www.stats.govt.nz/research/quality-of-ethnicity-data-in-the-experimental-administrative-pop…
StatsNZ experimental administrative population census output: https://www.stats.govt.nz/experimental/experimental-administrative-population-census/
PIE commentary by Len Cook – https://www.auckland.ac.nz/assets/business/about-the-business-school/about/PIE%20commentary%202025-2%20Len%20Cook%20final.pdf
What is the Ethnic, former refugee and migrant researcher Tautoko network?
This network is for researchers, former refugees, and migrant peers who are passionate about research by and for ethnic communities and how it can be used to support collective action and positive change. It is hosted by Community Research (Aotearoa).
The network is a dynamic member-driven space for connection that fosters a collective sense of purpose with opportunities to share, learn, explore, create and collaborate. It aims to uphold the mana of diverse ethnic community research and knowledge and its crucial importance to effectively address inequities and fulfil the aims and aspirations of ethnic, refugee and migrant communities in Aotearoa.
It is a space to:
– celebrate all forms of community-led knowledge-making, whether it’s community-based mahi and mātauranga, or based within organisations, the public service, academia or elsewhere
– recognise and value our diverse lived experiences
– privilege the voices of those who are heard less often (including former refugee and ethnic migrant voices)
– acknowledge the distinction and context differences between forced and voluntary migration.
All Network members are required to adhere to the Tikanga Whanaungatanga – Our Community Code which reflects our commitment to fostering a respectful, inclusive, safe, informal and collaborative space for all members.
You can join the network here.
Kia kaha, kia māia, kia manawanui
Be strong, be brave, be steadfast in our collective pursuit of knowledge and understanding.
What is an ethnic, former refugee, and migrant researcher online Tautoko session?
Tautoko sessions:
– are an informal unrecorded safe space for connection, sharing and kōrero
– are held two-monthly with attendance open to both Network and non-Network researchers and allies
– are guided by and contributed to by Tautoko session participants
– prioritise informal kōrero and connection for some sessions and more formal specific topic focused kōrero for others.
Tautoko sessions are promoted in the monthly Community Research e-news publication Ngā Kete and in updates sent out to Network members.
These sessions were first piloted in 2023 with the format evolved jointly with Tautoko session participants in 2024 with confirmation to retain as an on-going activity in 2025.