Rangahau | Research
Research updates
The Advances in Māori Measurement symposium was held in-person at Ākau Tangi arena and online via Zoom on Friday the 2nd of August 2024. This symposium was funded by the former Health Promotion Agency (HPA) to support the dissemination of my doctoral research.
Dr Ririwai Fox and I both presented about our doctoral research, and I also introduced everyone to another exciting kaupapa called Te Pikitia a te Whānau.
Below are links to the presentation slides.
Research Interests
I am interested in bringing critical rangatahi perspectives to issues relevant to the health and wellbeing of Māori and other Indigenous groups on both the systemic and individual levels.
My current areas of interest relate to:
Indigenous Psychometrics
Decolonial praxis
Mau Rākau (Māori weaponry arts)
Constitutional transformation
Māori identity
Ecology
Click here to see the list of publications that I have contributed to.
PhD Research
In my doctoral research, I have created a self-report measure of Māori wellbeing. Grounded in both mātauranga Māori and cutting edge psychometrics, this project takes a Kaupapa Māori approach to scale development that utilises both qualitative and quantitative methodologies.
The thesis will be made of three sections:
Model development - Ngaruroro
Scale Development - WeHI
Scale validation - WeHI
The second and third articles are currently in preparation and the thesis is scheduled for completion by late 2025.
The Ngaruroro
Abstract
“Indigenous peoples around the world are revitalising their ancestral beliefs, practices, and languages, including traditional understandings of health and wellbeing. In the Aotearoa (New Zealand) context, a number of ground-breaking Māori health- and wellbeing-related models have emerged, each with their own scope and applications. We sought in our qualitative studies to explore and identify several key sources of wellbeing for Māori individuals. Nine interviews were conducted with members of Māori communities to identify key themes of Māori wellbeing. We performed a Reflexive Thematic Analysis on these data and then conducted a further fifteen interviews to revise, refine, and reposition the previously generated themes. The Ngaruroro model describes wellbeing as the embodied and active process of being well in relation with one’s (1) here tāngata (social and familial ties), (2) te taiao (the environment), and (3) taonga tuku iho (cultural treasures) while doing what one can to make lifestyle choices that are conducive to the health of one’s (4) tinana (body) and (5) wairua (spirit) while cultivating a balanced (6) ngākau (inner-system), fulfilling (7) matea (core needs) and exercising your (8) mana (authority). These themes illustrate that Māori wellbeing is dynamic, interconnected, and holistic.”
The article was published online and can be found here.
The Ngaruroro model was illustrated by the talented @theworkshoptahlia
The Wellbeing Hononga Index
The Wellbeing Hononga Index (WeHI) is a psychometric tool designed to measure the self-reported wellbeing of Māori individuals.
This instruction manual has been created so that the tool can be used while the scale development and scale validation journal articles are in the process of being published.
The WeHI has been psychometrically validated using;
Mokken Scale Analysis (MSA)
Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA)
Multi-Group Confirmatory Factor Analysis (MGCFA)
Multidimensional Item response Theory (MIRT)
Descriptive Multidimensional Item response Theory Analysis (DMIRT)
Tests of convergent validity (SWLS & WHO-5)
The instruction manual contains details related to;
Disclaimers & Tikanga
Whakapapa | Genealogy
Development
Response Scale
Using and scoring the WeHI
Example use
List of long-form items
List of short-form items
If you are interested in adapting the WeHI for use with another cultural group or demographic, please reach out so we can support you to ensure the mana of the tool remains intact.
