Navigation: Process of building relationships with kaumātua (Māori leaders)

Abstract

In the article the authors depict relations in sociocultural navigation by Māori researchers conducting research embedded in mutual trust; rather than instrumental navigation in linear time. A longitudinal study of Māori and non Māori men and women ageing successfully was planned; this feasibility stage tested whether engaging with kōroua/older Māori men and kuia/older Māori women was possible. We document the process undertaken with Ngā Pae o te Maramatanga New Zealand's Indigenous Centre of Research Excellence (hosted by the University of Auckland) to involve Māori people in the research, engaging with kōroua and kuia aged 75 to 79 years old, developing focus groups to discuss questions specific to te reo Māori me ngā tikanga/Maori language and culture, and building research capacity in Māori tribal and primary health organisations in the Bay of Plenty. In addition, engaging with Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori/ Māori Language Commission to translate the questions; recruiting the RopuKaitiaki o Ngā Tikanga Māori/Protectors of Principles of Conduct in Māori Research, and naming the study will be discussed. The involvement of the kaumātua/older Māori people has been fundamental in laying the foundation of the Life and Living in Advanced Age: A Cohort Study in New Zealand (LiLACS NZ), Te Puāwaitanga o Ngā Tapuwae Kia Ora Tonu to study a group of Māori aged 80 to 90 years old.