Research into ‘Māori Fathering’
Funded by the Health Research Council
The four key reasons why the proposed research is important for whānau, hapū, iwi and other Māori communities are as follows:
- The evidence overwhelming demonstrates that father involvement has a major impact on child development outcomes in areas such as mental, emotional, physical and social health and cognitive development
- The impacts of father involvement for children are sustained across the lifecourse, and there are potentially intergenerational influences
- There are wide and enduring ethnic inequalities in health for Māori children in those areas that are directly impacted by father involvement
- Whānau, hapū, iwi and other Māori communities have consistently to the current day, in multiple forums, identified child health and whānau ora as top priorities (Taskforce on Whānau-Centred Initiatives 2010; Māori Child Abuse Summit 2007; Te Pae Roa 2040 Conference 2014). The full achievement of these aspirations relies on the involvement of Māori fathers in parenting their children, to enable positive health outcomes for Māori children across their life course.
Research aim
The aim of the study is to build a knowledge base around Māori father involvement to inform best practice Māori father involvement interventions that will lead directly to improved health outcomes for tamariki Māori throughout their lifecourse.
Engagement, accessibility and responsibility.
Research questions
What is Māori fathering in the context of whānau?
What is the meaning of fatherhood and father involvement for Māori?
How do Māori men understand their role as fathers in relation to Māori child development?
What are the father involvement issues for Māori men from their own perspectives?
What are the barriers and facilitators of father involvement for Māori men?
What constitutes best practice in terms of effective intervention to support Māori father involvement?
Due: December, 2017