25PHD03
Doctoral Thesis
Auckland University of Technology (AUT)
Pae Ora
Pātai Whānau
Project commenced: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.
This research aims to amplify the voices and experiences of current and former Māori Lead Maternity Carers (LMC) and to validate Māori ways of being, doing, and knowing. By exploring the experiences of Māori LMCs and understanding what motivates Māori to engage in LMC work, the sustainability of Māori in LMC roles will improve. This research also seeks to identify Māori-led solutions that are well-suited for Māori, enhancing recruitment and retention for Māori midwives. This research has been constructed through a Māori worldview, nestled within mātauranga Māori, and guided by Kaupapa Māori research frameworks to strengthen the approach.
Research Aims:
To speak to 10-15 Māori midwives currently working or who have previously worked as LMCs.
- To capture experiences of Māori Midwives working in LMC practices in Aotearoa.
- To explore what motivates and sustains Māori midwives to work as LMCs.
- To identify themes that increase and/or decrease job satisfaction for Māori LMCs.
To identify opportunities to improve hauora and increase retention and recruitment for Māori LMCs