Te Tauihu Iwi And Māori Health Providers Launch Covid-19 Research Project

Iwi and Māori health providers in the top of the South have launched a research project to better understand the voices of Māori and their experiences throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Te Tauihu Covid-19 Research Project is part of the Te Tauihu Covid Māori Action Plan 2022, which aims to reduce inequities for Māori in the local Covid-19 response.

All Māori across the rohe are being called on to take part in the study.

“Iwi and Māori health providers, along with Te Whatu Ora – Nelson Marlborough have been working together since the start of the pandemic to help reduce inequities in the response, with a more formal grouping established at the end of last year,” says Dr Lorraine Eade, Pouwhakahaere Rauemi (operations manager) for Te Kotahi o Te Tauihu Trust, a collaboration of the eight iwi of Te Tauihu.

“That resulted in the action plan. But despite our best efforts, and despite the really strong partnerships we have developed along the way with our local health authorities, we know that inequities still exist. There are gaps and we need to identify exactly where those are from a whānau point of view.”

Dr Eade says the purpose of the research can be summed up in three words: “To do better.”

Dr Melissa Cragg is the research project lead. Based in Wairau, she has dedicated the past two decades to achieving better health outcomes for Māori. She has held a range of health sector roles, including Senior Project Manager – Mental Health Directorate, Ministry of Health, Kaiwhakahaere Kaupapa at the former Nelson Marlborough District Health Board, Te Kaihautu at Poutini Waiora and is a member of Hei Ahuru Mowai, the National Māori Cancer Leadership Board.

She says when it comes to health inequity, the voice of whānau Māori is integral to finding solutions. She is therefore encouraging as many of the 18,000-strong Te Tauihu Māori population as possible to take part.

“A study such as this is a snapshot in time and is reliant on those whānau who choose to take part. That’s why it is important for a wide range of whānau to share their experiences with us, so we have as full a picture as possible.”

Dr Cragg says there are no fixed ideas in terms of themes that might emerge. While there are known challenges, she says there will also be many stories of whānau resilience.

“We know from informal conversations with whānau to date what some of the challenges have been but anticipate the breadth of this will become more apparent once we speak with a wider range of whānau across Marlborough, Nelson and Tasman.

“Challenges can cover a full range of things, like financial impacts through lost income or reduced hours at work, and the flow on from that; mental health impacts, including for those who have never experienced any form of mental health distress before. Then there’s the conflicting views within whānau regarding vaccination as well as access to services and support. These could all be part of the many experiences that are shared through this project.”

The project will be underpinned by kaupapa Māori methodologies and will therefore centre on whānau voices and experiences. Research will involve a conversation with a research assistant, either by phone, Zoom, or in person. There is also an option to answer questions using an online form.

“The kanohi ki te kanohi (face to face) approach allows whānau to share in a safe, non-judgemental space. For many, it will be the first time they have been asked to share their experiences and many find it very powerful and therapeutic.

And from a research point of view, it also has great benefits: “You cannot get any truer than whānau experience.”

Whānau Māori resident in Te Tauihu o Te Waka-a-Māui (Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough) who want to take part in the Te Tauihu Covid-19 Research Project can register with Dr Melissa Cragg by emailing melissa.cragg@xtra.co.nz. Or, for more information, see the Te Kotahi o Te Tauihu Trust website.

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