Māori Health

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Current projects

Current Projects

Ngā Pā Harakeke o Ngati Porou.
Exploring the perceptions, understandings and practice of the concepts of whānau and whānau ora. Tai Walker is undertaking her PhD studies on Whakahokia mai te whānau ki te whānau: an exploration of the evolution of the concept of whānau. Key informant interviews, focus groups with the government and non-government sector and with members of Ngati Porou form the basis for this research. Tai has finished much of her field work and is currently writing up her findings.

Funding:  Health Research Council of New Zealand / Foundation for Research, Science and Technology, Social Policy Evaluation and Research Committee (SPEaR), VUW, Health Services Research Centre.
 HSRC Researcher: Tai Walker.

Refocusing successful interventions for Māori Deaf/hearing-impaired children and their whānau.
Kirsten Smiler’s PhD research explores the concept of a successful intervention for Māori Deaf/hearing-impaired children from the perspective of Māori Deaf/hearing-impaired people and their whānau over a three-year period. Case studies will explore the experiences and expectations of Māori whānau and their Deaf/hearing-impaired children in terms of the intervention process. Māori Deaf adults with educational roles will also be interviewed to gain their personal and professional perspectives on successful outcomes and effective support to whānau of Māori Deaf children. The research commenced in late 2006. Kirsten was on parental leave during 2008 and will resume her research in 2009.

Funding:  Health Research Council of New Zealand.
HSRC Researcher: Kirsten Smiler.

The significance of culture in mental health understandings.
Drawing on findings from her doctoral research, Lynne Pere’s postdoctoral research investigates the influence of culture on the meanings that Indigenous peoples with experience of mental illness impart to their illness, and the implications of this for mental health service delivery and policy. The qualitative study involves face-to-face, in-depth ‘kōrero’ with Indigenous peoples with experience of mental illness, and Indigenous mental health experts, from tribal regions and mental health services within New Zealand, Australia and Canada.

Funding: Health Research Council of New Zealand. HSRC Researcher: Lynne Pere