Doctoral Projects

Sarika Rona (Sarika Rona), Massey University

This research will use Kaupapa Māori approaches to bring forward narratives of learning from the candidate's whānau, hapū, and iwi. It is important that specific whānau, hapū, and iwi narratives have a place in the literature, where they are documented to “tell their story” and avoid generalising Māori experiences.

What is shared and captured through these pūrākau will enable mokopuna in the future to have choice and another avenue through which to connect, learn, and gain insight into the learning embodied in the everyday lives of their tūpuna.

The research will explore and document the relationships, values, conceptualisations, and practices of learning, including the intergenerational aspects of learning and knowledge-sharing. It will also consider how we can continue to capture and learn from these experiences now and into the future.

Joanna Hikaka (Ngāruahine), University of Auckland

The aim of my research was to develop a pharmacist-facilitated medicines review intervention for Māori older adults in Waitematā DHB. Literature reviews undertaken as part of the thesis showed that older Māori do not have the same opportunity to access or to benefit from medicines and pharmacist services as older non-Māori in Aotearoa.  Interviews with key stakeholders, including older Māori, were undertaken and findings from these were used to develop a medicines review intervention, delivered by a Māori pharmacist. 

A kaupapa Māori theoretical framework was applied to the research. The intervention was structured around the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and was tested in a feasibility study. The intervention was acceptable to participants who valued the increase in medicines knowledge and control of their health journey. The acknowledged the pharmacist as having clinical expertise and an advocacy role and expressed that the by Māori, for Māori model of care was important.This research sets a foundation for understanding equitable medicines access for older Māori and presents a pro-equity health intervention aimed to support the achievement of Māori health equity.

Cain Kerehoma (Raukawa, Muaupoko, Porourangi), Massey University

This research will explore this new conceptual framework underpinned by matauranga Maori, which is characterised as generous, regenerative and generational. The 'Aroha Economy' is a system underpinned by the connectedness and interdependence of all living things. It locates economy, people and community within the context of collective prosperity, ecmystems of reciprocal relationships and environmental pre-eminence.

Pita Shelford (Te Rararawa, Ngāpuhi), University of Waikato

My research is connected to an Ageing Well National Science Challenge funded project: Kaumatua mana motuhake (KMM): Kaumfltua managing life-transitions through tuakana-teinalpeer education (tuakana-teina pair conversations), which sought to address the mana motuhake of kaumatua within an urban, kaumatua governed and lead, community-based organisation: Rauawaawa Kaumatua Charitable Trust.

Georgia, McCarty (Waikati Tainui, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa), University of Otago

Understanding the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) preferences of rangatahi Maaori and adapting or creating a specific HRQoL measure will contribute knowledge, help improve the efficiency of health funding decision-making and reduce health disparities for Maaori. This study is utilising qualitative methods underpinned by kaupapa Maaori principles to conduct a scoping review of the advantages and disadvantages of existing youth HRQoL measures for rangatahi Maaori. These findings will be used to investigate the acceptability and feasibility of existing youth HRQoL measures through waananga and think aloud sessions with rangatahi Maaori and their whaanau. Findings will be analysed, synthesised and interpreted and will be disseminated in a variety of ways.

Kapua O’Connor (Ngāti Kurī), The University of Auckland

Ahikā was a well-established tikanga that described the occupation of lands by hapū, conveyed through them being present on their land to stoke their fires. In conjunction with whakapapa connection to the land, the tikanga of ahikā conferred mana on hapū, as the following whakataukī demonstrates:

Ka wera hoki i te ahi, e mana ana anō

While the fire burns, the mana is effective

Ahikā provided the principle that in order to maintain mana, hapū needed to continuously occupy their lands. Ahiteretere described the flickering fires of hapū who had been away for any time longer than normal seasonal absence. Ahimātaotao described the rapidly cooling, or extinguished fires of hapū who had been way for a long time, measured in generations.