About this research
PhD Researcher: Fern Miro Smith, Ngāti Hau, Ngāpuhi, University of Auckland
Primary supervisor: Dr Jade Le Grice, University of Auckland
Project summary:
Despite Māori women undergoing abortion at higher rates than Pākehā (Ministry of Health, 2022), there is a paucity of research that explores Māori experiences of abortion and none that explore the unique pressures, tensions and considerations that taitamawahine (Māori girls, Māori non-binary people) may navigate when deciding whether to have an abortion. How then do taitamawahine in Te Tai Tokerau enact their reproductive autonomy when making decisions to have an abortion? In her research, Fern seeks to answer this question by speaking with Māori experts who work in the broad field of reproductive justice, and Māori women who accessed, or tried to access an abortion in Te Taitokerau when they were a taitamawahine. Here, she hopes to understand how taitamawahine enact, or have their reproductive and bodily autonomy restricted in the context of abortion. There is keen government interest to ensure that taitamawahine have equitable access to abortion services and this research aims to fill this gap. This research will increase our understanding of the sexual and reproductive journeys of taitamawahine to make clear recommendations to improve the provision of abortion healthcare so it’s accessible and culturally relevant to taitamawahine.
This research will increase our understanding of the sexual and reproductive journeys of taitamawahine to make clear recommendations to improve the provision of abortion healthcare so it’s accessible and culturally relevant to taitamawahine.
Kairangahau · Researchers
Dr Jade Le Grice
Ngāi Tupoto, Ngāti Korokoro, Te Pouka, Ngāti Wharara, Te Mahurehure
Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland
Jade Le Grice (Te Rarawa, Ngāpuhi) is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Psychology at the University of Auckland. Her…
Dr Jade Le Grice
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Dr Alayne Mikahere-Hall
Dr Alayne Mikahere-Hall
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Kairangahau · Researchers
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Associate Professor Donna Cormack
Associate Professor Donna Cormack
Dr Donna Cormack (Kai Tahu, Kāti Māmoe) is an Associate Professor at Te Kupenga Hauora Māori, University of Auckland.Donna is course director for the postgraduate papers MAORIHTH 710 Kaupapa Māori Theory, and MAORIHTH 709 Transformative Research for Māori Health, and co-convenes MAORIHTH711 Kaupapa Māori quantitative research. Donna teaches into other undergraduate and postgraduate papers in the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences. She is also an active member of Tōmaiora Research Centre within Te Kupenga Hauora Māori. Her research focuses on racism and other forms of oppression… -
Professor Sarah-Jane Paine
Professor Sarah-Jane Paine
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Professor Papaarangi Reid
Professor Papaarangi Reid
Papaarangi is Tumuaki and Head of Department of Maori Health at the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand. She holds science and medical degrees from the University of Auckland and is a specialist in public health medicine. She has tribal affiliations to Te Rarawa in the Far North of Aotearoa and her research interests include analysing disparities between indigenous and non-indigenous citizens as a means of monitoring government commitment to indigenous rights. -
Professor Ricci Harris
Professor Ricci Harris
Professor Ricci Harris (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Raukawa) is a public health physician and Kaupapa Māori epidemiologist at Te Rōpū Rangahau Hauora a Eru Pōmare.Her research is primarily concerned with upholding Māori rights to health and health equity as ensured by Te Tiriti o Waitangi and in-line with International Indigenous Rights.She draws on Kaupapa Māori Research theory to undertake and develop decolonial approaches to epidemiology that centre Māori and are contextualised within systems of ongoing racism and colonialism. This has included research into the classification of… -
Dr Arama Rata
Dr Arama Rata
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Hana Burgess
Hana Burgess
Hana (Ngäpuhi, Te Roroa, Te Ätihaunui a Päpärangi, Ngäti Tüwharetoa) (she/her) is doing a PhD in Mäori health, with supervision from Donna (Käi Tahu, Käti Mämoe) (she/her) and Papaarangi (Te Rarawa) (she/her)
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