This qualitative investigation explored the experiences of 6 Māori and Pasifika public health leaders with extensive experience on health policymaking advisory committees. In semi-structured interviews, the respondents reported a lack of appreciation by these committees for the knowledge and interests offered by these leaders. They described experiences of racism and tokenistic engagement in the meetings, where some struggled to be considered seriously, have a voice and make an impact. The respondents felt that their inputs were marginalised. These findings underscore how inequalities in the New Zealand health system are also present in advisory committees.
