AlterNative An International Journal of Indigenous Peoples· 2026Q1
Whakarongo ki te reo o te Whānau: Māmā Māori Experiences and the Reimagining of Well Child Health Services in Aotearoa New Zealand
- 0citations
- Q1SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
Māmā Māori experienced judgement and cultural dismissal from Well Child Tamariki Ora (WCTO) services, yet also found instances of mana-enhancing care, highlighting a need to embed Māori ways of knowing into service design.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Key points
- Māmā Māori faced judgement and cultural dismissal within Well Child Tamariki Ora (WCTO) services.
- Instances of mana-enhancing care, focused on listening and relational support, were also reported.
- Māori parenting knowledge was often marginalised within the Western biomedical framework of WCTO.
- Māmā Māori demonstrated discernment, strength, and commitment to their babies' wellbeing.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Early childhood support services shape infant health outcomes and conditions, enabling māmā (mother) and whānau (extended family) to flourish. In Aotearoa New Zealand, Well Child Tamariki Ora (WCTO) services operate within a health system shaped by colonial governance and Western biomedical norms, where Māori parenting knowledge has been marginalised. This article explores māmā Māori experiences of WCTO services. Drawing on 65 kōrero from Wāhi Kōrero, a story-sharing platform, we undertook qualitative kaupapa Māori analysis of responses to the prompt ‘Kōrero I wish I could’ve had with the Well Child nurse’. Findings highlight cultural and structural challenges, including judgement, cultural dismissal, and limited recognition of Māori parenting knowledge. Kōrero also reveal examples of mana-enhancing care grounded in listening, affirmation, and relational support. Rather than positioning māmā as disengaged or deficient, findings reveal discernment, strength, and commitment to pēpi wellbeing. Transformation requires embedding Māori ways of knowing and caring within service design and delivery.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. AlterNative An International Journal of Indigenous Peoples, 2026 · DOI ↗
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Field: Health
HealthSocial Sciences