Social injustices have plagued Aotearoa and humanity. A lack of understanding and wanting to understand has created barriers between people. Minds are closed off, refusing any trickle of difference that is presented and deeming it as ‘bad’. Ridderinkoph’s (2004) study discovered that the human brain generally processes differences in  behaviours and opinions as a problem, therefore pushing conformity. Essentially, there is a fear of differences, a fear of what is not understood (pp. 129-140). Conformity can hinder social cohesion because there is ignorance of the importance of diversity and differences within a society and it discourages change (Sunstein, 2019). The unique nature of humanity is extremely significant because it rebels the norm of conformity and drives the idea that everyone has a distinctive take on issues that should be accounted for. We are all different from the way we see the world, how we grew up, our traditions, spiritual beliefs, and so on. There is beauty in our diversities and differences that should be celebrated. A lot of the time, people listen to refute, not to understand (Parrish, n.d). This is what contributes to disparities of social cohesion– closed mindedness which entails a lack of compassion, empathy and understanding. This contributes to harmful stereotypes which ostracises people. Social cohesion refers to the degree of connectedness, trust and sense of concord within communities (Berkman, et al., 2014). Social cohesion is important because it contributes to a wider sense of wellbeing, stability and is vital in creating a society where individual’s feel secure and supported by their community. In creating this environment, the overall progression of a society can be expedited (Ocharo, 2023). For social cohesion to exist within our country, we do not have to assimilate as New Zealand history has forced us, we instead need to have an open mindset and openness to other people’s perspectives. This can enhance inclusivity, diversity and emphasise connections between people because of the belief that people have a right to their own opinion and it doesn’t belittle one’s own (Cherry, 2023). In understanding where people’s opinions derive from, there can be help in persuading people to change their mind into more progressive thinking. The collected progression of Aotearoa society can happen when there is an apprehension of the systemic issues that have culminated in the divisions we see in abundance in Aotearoa. We need to be more than just tokenistic.

New Zealand societies are fragmented and tainted by pervasive injustices. The disparities we see in our society began in the colonial building blocks of our country. The current foundation that our communities and societies stand on were built with unpalatable prejudice, racism and the idea that Western and Victorian cultivations of Aotearoa were superior over Māori worldviews. Yet Māori worldviews were most inclusive, holding men, women and children’s opinions as equal and welcoming of differences in people, opinions and more therefore holding the most direction to social cohesion (“Colonisation and Family Violence”, n.d). The origin of ‘New Zealand’ came with forced assimilation of our indigenous population and clearly divided our country. It created uneven footing for minority groups to stand on in the lines of social inequalities, socio-economics, education, mortality rates, employment opportunities, oppression and access to healthcare (Gluckman, et al., 2021). These are barriers unique to New Zealand because of its bicultural foundations and are challenges that threaten our country’s social cohesion and collective wellbeing. It is integral to understand the origins of these issues and address these disparities in order to break down these walls and create a sense of understanding that diminishes the stereotypes that hinder social cohesion. A commitment to openness and understanding is extremely gravitational because it can encourage change and deduce fragmented communities (Cherry, 2023).  Lack of understanding of Māori disparities has been irrefutably prominent in our country. In society, minds are closed off to accepting that these disparities have a colonial cause. Many people don’t understand why there is so much advocacy for Māori today and why things such as chairs in parliament, scholarships and more exist specifically for Māori people. This is because the history of Aotearoa is a sticky subject that is readily ignored or misunderstood (Walker, 1990).  These issues are not explored in education and will not be understood unless there is a want to understand or it is a lived experience. Māori culture and its harrowing history is not prominent within education systems nor is it representative or reflected. The economic and social disparities that exist in New Zealand are found predominantly in Māori households and can be rooted back to the injustices that cultivated our country (Mahuta, 2011). By attacking on this basis and understanding the mitigated nation of New Zealand, we can diminish the polarised nature of our country. In understanding the most prevalent divide in our societies, walls can be broken down and the feat of social cohesion will be closer to achieving. There needs to be more than tokenistic approaches, there needs to be extensive comprehension of why it is important to understand .

New Zealand’s Social Cohesion Team (2021) reached out to a variety of communities and asked their views on social cohesion and what belonging meant to individuals. A sense of belonging, being supported and understood by others, inclusion, participation, mutual respect, accessibility, equity and recognition were all inclusive to social cohesion. The reports identified barriers as poor socio-economics, discrimination, food insecurity and more. In order for these issues to be addressed, there needs to be open mindedness and understanding of how these issues affect individuals and the lasting effects they have on people. Understanding to the extent it hurts people helps to find the best ways to approach the issues. In nurturing flexibility and responsiveness to diverse cultures and working in a manner that opposes the siloed nature of approaching issues, there can be steps towards diminishing the barriers that prevent social cohesion. Illustrations of the world differ with each person and there needs to be recognition of such. People must be able to see themselves being represented and feel included in our society. This consists of things such as ensuring that there is diversity in media representations and there is understanding of the necessity of such. It facilitates inclusivity and helps individuals feel supported, seen, validated and recognised. Hearing and being empathetic towards diverse stories can help towards building a richer, inclusive understanding of the world. When diversity starts to exist more prominently and equally, there will be more of an equal footing for opportunities because there will be adequate understanding of the hardships faced (Saulo, 2023). True representation can facilitate liberal understanding because it reduces harmful stereotypes and helps people see people for who they are, not their implicit association (Mandi, 2023). This is specifically important for New Zealand because for years, stories of Māori people have been told through a eurocentric lens leading to polarisation, ingenuity and harmful stereotypes that have hindered our social cohesion (Mulholland, 2006).

The “European Union” (2023) conducted research that found participation in cultural events such as sports, arts, music and more fostered social cohesion. Shared experiences through cultural activities binded people from various backgrounds and ages together. Social capital was said to be the glue that holds communities together because they help create trust, tolerance and empathy. This is easily applicable to New Zealand and can be fostered through encouragement for individuals to participate in cultural activities and encouraging meaningful interactions between people of different backgrounds. A sense of belonging can be found within these activities which can be building blocks of achieving social cohesion. The gap between ethnicities, religion, nationality, gender and so on can be bridged because the shared interest of activities have the power to communicate over language barriers. Encouraging members of societies to take an active role in their community refers to civic responsibility. This act is vital in achieving social cohesion because it coexists with a sense that one is contributing to their community. When people take part in activities that come under civic responsibility, they build a sense of belonging and shared purpose (Ocharo, 2023). This involvement propels understanding, cooperation and trust among diverse demographics that will eventually strengthen the fabrics of society.

To strengthen the fabric of society and diminish walls between people is nuanced and multifaceted. Our  societal foundation has been built on prejudice and originated in alienation of people. In order to address these issues, there must be understanding, kindness, empathy and open mindedness. Unity within social groups has been historically depreciated in favour of power over people, which involved ‘majority over minority’ type thinking. This ‘power over people’ mindset has led to the neglect and view of inferiority towards minority groups which exacerbates ostracising and builds up walls between people. Because of the way society has been fundamentally made, majority groups can and do view the minority groups as inferior because of the affluent stance majorities are able to stand on while judging how others haven’t made it to that point. Understanding and compassion are most important in creating a cohesive world because it instigates comprehension of why people are where they are and encourages judgement to be replaced by compassion, empathy and kindness. These array of qualities are crucial in creating a cohesive society because it instigates a want to understand people which has been overlooked throughout history. Our history has valued assimilation and encouraged a disregard of diversity which has notably hindered our social cohesion. Radhakrishan (2021) states that “social cohesion is … [about] celebrating, and welcoming diversity. Our diversity is our strength. To make a real difference, we must work collectively.” Looking through diverse perspectives is requisite in finding neoteric ways to tackle issues. Open ways of thinking means to welcome diverse thinking. By cultivating this, we can instigate appreciation and understanding of different cultures which can help break down stereotypes, therefore walls and achieve social cohesion. There is an emphasis on understanding because to understand people’s perspective is to challenge biassed assumptions and replace them with a clearer comprehension.  Furthermore, the partnership of an open mind and understanding is crucial for social cohesion because it allows individuals to empathise with diverse perspectives, reconcile disparities and find common footing. Approaching conversations with a willingness to understand can break barriers, reduce tokenism and create mutual respect. This creates an environment where people from all walks of life can collaborate, learn from one another and work toward common goals. This ultimately will promote harmony within society and nurture social cohesion.

The struggles of marginalised populations have been notoriously understated and unrepresented throughout history. The polarised beginnings of our country must be addressed and there has to be understanding existing with empathy and kindness. There has to be more than simple tokenistic approaches to achieve the necessity of social cohesion. There has always been a divide in our country from the conception of the bi-cultural foundational society of Māori and non Māori. It is essential to approach these issues with comprehensive understanding of the harrowing nature of colonialism and regard inequalities with compassion, empathy and care. It is important to want to understand people and approach issues with an open mind because it goes further than tokenism and instigates trust and connectedness crucial for social cohesion. Understanding can and will break down barriers within communities. When this happens, people will actually be able to see one another and create depthful relationships that will facilitate progression towards a cohesive society. Being able to see beyond one’s own perspective helps to put our differences aside and cooperate to progress as a society. Moreover, it enables us to appreciate the complexities that shape a person which in turn encourages empathy. Empathy connects people emotionally with experiences of others leading to genuine bonds. It matters to be open minded and aware of the issues that shaped our society because for far too long, we have been a divided nation. Learning how to surpass our differences and find common ground is vital in the progression of our societies.

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