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National | Auckland

Respective reports delve into wellbeing of urban Māori

Wai-Research today launched two important publications that look into Māori child wellbeing and the widening gaps in Māori Mental Health.

Wai-Research is responsible for a research programme that supports Te Whānau o Waipareira. The priority for the research programme is to drive innovation that empowers whānau to prosper.

The two research reports that Sir Mason Durie will be launching in his new position are titled 'He Puāwaitanga o Ngā Tamāriki: West Auckland Whānau talk about Child Wellbeing' and 'Kaupapa Māori models of Psychological Therapy and Mental Health Services'.

'He Puāwaitanga o Ngā Tamāriki: West Auckland Whānau talk about child wellbeing' is a research partnership between Wai Research and Dr Tim Jelleyman, a paediatrician specialising in community child health for the Waitemata District Health Board.

The aim of this research is to hear the voices of West Auckland Māori parents, grandparents, and caregivers to get insight of what child wellbeing means to them. This research report an analysis of these stories, and identifies broad themes that were articulated by West Auckland families.

The research highlights the importance of finding meaningful ways for the community to participate in conversations around improving child wellbeing, so that targeted and specific strategies based on the actual needs and realities of urban Māori communities, rather than generic Government priorities, are achieved.

'Kaupapa Māori models of Psychological Therapy and Mental Health Services' focuses on identifying gaps in the current knowledge around the frameworks and application of kaupapa Māori based psychological therapy.

The rationale for the report is based on the high incidence of poor mental health outcomes among Māori and low rates of service utilisation.

The research also focused on the current lack of understanding of whether current services are, in fact, providing culturally appropriate care, and if so, what this looks like. Even less investigated are the specific needs of urban Māori, and how the current existing literature might inform the development of appropriate mental health strategies and services by a health and social service provider such as Te Whānau o Waipareira.

It has also been announced that Emeritus Professor Sir Mason Durie as Pou (Patron) of the research unit.

Sir Mason Durie has been instrumental in the development of best outcomes for Māori families throughout his career, and especially through his contribution to Whānau Ora.

With his substantial knowledge of Māori health research, Sir Mason has been instrumental in guiding and advising Wai Research since its inception in 2014. Te Whānau O Waipareira are honoured to utilise this opportunity of the publication launch to officially acknowledge Sir Mason in the newly founded position of Pou.