Taylor highlights racial insensitivity

coming from a racist perspective. I think they were insensitive and lacked the imagination and empathy to put themselves in the other person’s shoes.

‘‘What to them is a bit of harmless banter is actually confronting for the targets because it tells them they’re seen as being different. Instead of the message being, ‘You’re one of us, mate,’ it is, in effect, ‘You’re one of them’.’’

Taylor noted that former All Black and league star Sonny Bill Williams felt young Ma¯ ori and Pasifika who were held back by a lack of confidence and their personal circumstances, and therefore didn’t fulfil their potential.

‘‘I know from personal experience how true that is,’’ Taylor wrote.

‘‘I’d hope that one of the takeaways from my career is that good cricketers can emerge from a Polynesian background.’’

He admitted cricket gear could be expensive compared to other sports ‘‘which probably puts some Polynesian parents off the game’’.

‘‘But maybe New Zealand Cricket should be putting more resources into the Polynesian community because there must be more where I came from.’’

New Zealand Cricket said initiatives were under way in this area and Taylor, with his experience, was involved in these.

‘‘Ross has been a fantastic player for the Black Caps; his contribution to cricket in New Zealand has been immense,’’ a NZC spokesperson said.

‘‘He currently sits on an NZC working group aimed at improving the game’s engagement with Pasifika communities, and we greatly value his input.’’