Mass media news practices distort social and health policy development, particularly two media discourses common in White settler societies, primarily Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States. The first discourse masks the dominant culture, ensuring it is not readily recognised as a culture, naturalising the dominant values, practices and institutions, and rendering their cultural foundations invisible. The second discourse represents indigenous

peoples and minority ethnic groups as ‘raced’ – portrayed in ways that marginalise their culture and disparage them as peoples. The paper focuses on the implications for New Zealand nurses and their ability to practise in a culturally safe manner.