Pae Ora

Awardee: Josephine Davis (Ngā Puhi me Ngāti Whatua Orakei), The University of Auckland

The Awardee will undertake the Whakaaweawe Impact and Transformation Grant titled Māori nurse practitioners: Kaupapa Māori workforce development realising equity.

The Māori nurse practitioner (NP) workforce can transform health outcomes for whānau Māori and local hapori (communities) by delivering comprehensive and meaningful primary healthcare services. Currently, no national framework or policy supports the development of Māori registered nurses (RNs) to become NPs, perpetuating nursing workforce inequities.

Awardee: Waimarie Onekawa (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga, Ngāti Rongomaiwahine), Auckland University of Technology

In Aotearoa, Lead Maternity Care (LMC) Midwives provide most healthcare services for pregnant people. LMCs provide on-call services 24/7 and face long, unpredictable workdays. They often sacrifice time with their whānau to maintain their work lives. All midwives face challenges, but Māori face many additional obstacles. This research seeks to interview 10-15 Māori LMCs (current or former) to understand their motivations for working as LMCs and what keeps them in these roles.

Awardee: Cynthia Otene (Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa), Auckland University of Technology

Māori have higher rates of diabetes Amputations than non-Māori. The Rangahau will utilise Kaupapa Māori methodology to explore experiences of Māori, who have had a lower limb amputation due to diabetes.

The Rangahau uses wānanga to kōrero to participants about the experiences of Podiatry foot screening provided by podiatrists before they received an amputation. The study will allow whānau who have received an amputation a chance to share their story around their experiences of the Podiatry screening they received before they had an amputation.

Kia tōnui te reo Māori: Prosperous whānau, prosperous reo Māori, examines the

conditions that support the growth, use, and intergenerational transmission of te reo Māori across whānau and communities in Aotearoa. The project focuses on four interconnected areas: te reo o te kāinga-Māori language use in the home, the role of social and community relationships, effective language acquisition processes, and the development of practical resources to support reo Māori revitalisation.

Preliminary findings highlight that te reo o te kāinga, me te reo o te hapori is strongly influenced by a combination of factors. These include supportive whānau environments, access to Kaupapa-Māori education (an aspect highly limited in some hapori), strong social networks where te reo is normalised (including kaupapa that bring whānau with shared interests together), and opportunities to use the language in meaningful, low-pressure contexts. Our research also reinforces the importance of addressing broader structural conditions, such as economic stability, time availability, and experiences of racism, all of which continue to have an impact on prospective reo learners, active learners, and users of te reo.

Our early findings indicate that te reo tuku iho is most possible when whānau are supported not only with language learning tools, but also with strategies that strengthen relationships, reduce anxiety, and create sustainable language practices in everyday life. We also note the importance of friendships in helping to sustain te reo across contexts.

Since the arrival of visitors to Aotearoa, Māori have always been quick to assess and adapt language, technology and information. Contemporary society brings new languages, technology and information instantly to our fingertips. New pressures and demands can be a consequence of readily accessible knowledge. For all its advances, there are also disadvantages. For rangatahi, those with addictions and Māori whānau connections and wellbeing can be negatively affected.

This programme of research investigates examples of Māori approaches to social wellbeing. Through a series of research activities undertaken by the research team, a case study will emerge reflective of collaborative interactions with key stakeholder organisations. Utilising qualitative methods such as key informant, wānanga, hui, photo elicitation and go along interviews, the research is primed to capitalise on the collaborative relationships to affect national policy and regional service delivery.

This internship was a literature review evaluating the available academic research pertaining to the role of wairua in whare tangata ora. It responds to the serious deficit of academic outputs in this area and contributes to the rationale on why it is needed.