CHALLENGING RACISM IN AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND
Marise Lant is a Māori leader, lobbyist, indigenous rights protector, founder of 250 Years of Colonisation – the Aftermath, leading the protest and burning of the Union Jack in opposition and response to the arrival of the replica of Endeavour to Gisborne on 8 October 2019, previous chairperson of the Tairāwhiti District Māori Womens Welfare League, current representative on the Tairāwhiti District Māori Council and supporter of the Tairāwhiti Multicultural Council.
Marise has also been involved with taking the charge on the Māori land rights Te Ture Whenua Māori Land Act reforms to the Waitangi Tribunal (WAI2478), battling Māori customary rights as a claimant on the Takutai Moana Act (Foreshore and Seabed) in the High Court, advocating alongside community groups on issues about suicide, methamphetamine and incarceration of Māori and contributing to the empowering of Māori voices in the conversation on criminal justice and incarceration.