We are an independent project team who has come together for the first time in 2020. Project team members are Wellington-based researcher Bev Hong, artist Bruce Mahalski (art direction - promotional posters), Professor Bernard Guerin (University of South Australia) with expertise in anti-racism research and approaches, Auckland-based public health researcher and evaluator Grace Wong and Brittany Young who is in her fourth and final year studying Communications and Visual Design.

During the COVID19 Level 4 lockdown in April this year, Bruce came up with the idea of a national poster competition. He raised it with Bev who brought together the project team and developed the idea as a positive community and research-based anti-racism initiative in consultation with the team.

In addition to the core team, the original artworks to promote this competition were created by Veronica Brett working with Bruce. Veronica is a tattooist based in Dunedin. She is also a very gifted cartoonist whose first collection of cartoons, an epic 80 page book called 'Lucid Change' is being published in November. Isaac Leniston-Hong provided valuable technical support for the development of the website.

Project Team bios

Professor Bernard Guerin

The key thing for stopping racist beliefs is to find ways to directly change the social relationships the person has with those shaping and maintaining these racist beliefs.

Bernard is Professor of Psychology at the University of South Australia. He trained at the Universities of Adelaide (Ph.D.) and Queensland (Postdoctoral) and taught at James Cook University (1987-1989) and the University of Waikato (NZ) for fifteen years (1990-2005). He has published 12 books, including a new trilogy. His research is focused on working alongside communities, in partnership with Indigenous Australian, Māori, Somali refugee, and migrant communities. His broader goal is to integrate social and community psychology with behaviour analysis and the other social sciences into an interdisciplinary framework that can be used for practical analysis and intervention.

Bev Hong

The more that we recognise, respect and embrace our diversity, the better placed we are for our future.

Bev is a wellbeing researcher. Her interests include the role of arts and culture in society, sense of belonging, and bridging across diverse perspectives. She is a co-founder and director at Kōtātā Insight Limited and recently began as a Senior Associate at the Institute of Governance and Policy Studies (IGPS), Victoria University of Wellington. She is fourth generation New Zealand Chinese.

Bruce Mahalski

I have a lot of friends of Chinese descent and it makes me very sad to think of them not feeling safe here in Aotearoa. 

Bruce is a Dunedin artist, known for his illustration, street murals, and sculpture incorporating animal bones. He is founder and director of the Dunedin Museum of Natural Mystery, a private museum of natural history, ethnographic objects and cultural artefacts. He is also a lifelong pacifist and environmental advocate. 

Dr Grace Wong

I joined this project because I support advocacy that showcases solutions.

Grace is 4th generation New Zealand-born Chinese and lives in Auckland. She lectures nurses about primary health care. She has published research and evaluations about Asian health in New Zealand and nurses and smoking cessation.  

Brittany Young

I was upset seeing other people of Chinese descent feeling unsafe on social media and felt that it was important to try to do something about it.

Brittany is in her fourth and final year of study to complete her Bachelor with honours in Visual Communication Design at Massey University. She lives in Wellington, is a 3.5 generation Chinese Kiwi and is an active member of the Wellington Chinese Sports and Cultural Centre.