Māori Health, Wellbeing, and Disability in Aotearoa New Zealand: A National Survey

Tristram R. Ingham (), Bernadette Huatau Jones, Meredith A. Perry, Andrew Sporle, Tom Elliott, Paula Toko King, Gabrielle Baker, Barry Milne, Tori Diamond and Linda Waimarie Nikora
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Tristram R. Ingham: Department of Medicine, University of Otago Wellington, Wellington 6021, New Zealand
Bernadette Huatau Jones: Department of Medicine, University of Otago Wellington, Wellington 6021, New Zealand
Meredith A. Perry: School of Physiotherapy, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
Andrew Sporle: Department of Statistics, University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Tom Elliott: Department of Statistics, University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Paula Toko King: Te Rōpū Rangahau Hauora a Eru Pōmare, Department of Public Health, University of Otago Wellington, Wellington 6021, New Zealand
Gabrielle Baker: Baker Consulting Ltd., Wellington 6011, New Zealand
Barry Milne: COMPASS Research Centre, University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Tori Diamond: iNZight Analytics Ltd., Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Linda Waimarie Nikora: Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga, University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 6, 1-31

Abstract: Māori, the Indigenous people of Aotearoa New Zealand, experience wide-ranging inequities compared with non-Māori. This survey aimed to explore the holistic health, wellbeing, and disability experiences of New Zealand’s Indigenous Māori population from a Māori worldview, addressing gaps in culturally relevant data often overlooked by standard health surveys. A robust cross-sectional survey was conducted with 7359 participants of Māori descent using Kaupapa Māori Research principles. Data were analysed using the Te Pae Māhutonga framework, a Māori health promotion model. Participants demonstrated strong cultural identity, with 32.3% understanding spoken Māori fairly well and 97.3% defining a broad non-nuclear concept of whānau (family). While over half reported high life satisfaction, 58.4% experienced discrimination, mainly based on ethnicity and appearance. Access to healthcare revealed that 32.6% were unable to contact a general practitioner due to cost. Socioeconomic challenges were prevalent; nearly a quarter borrowed from family or friends to meet daily living costs, and over a third economized on fresh produce to save money. This study reveals significant gaps in mainstream health data and demonstrates that a culturally aligned, methodological approach is feasible and crucial for informing policies that address the needs and rights of Māori, as guaranteed under Te Tiriti o Waitangi. These results could inform global, indigenous research addressing culturally relevant health, wellbeing and disability inequities.

Keywords: indigenous health; Māori wellbeing; health disparities; Māori worldview; health inequities; cultural identity; disability and health; intersectionality in health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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