How a lifecourse approach can promote long-term health and wellbeing outcomes for Māori

Abstract

Lifecourse studies examine ways to prevent ill-health, by determining how issues develop and when there are good periods in the lifecourse to intervene. For this reason, lifecourse findings and longitudinal data are increasingly being used to inform government policies and practice, regarding for whom, when, and how prevention and intervention programmes are implemented. Māori and Indigenous peoples experience wide and enduring ethnic inequalities across a broad range of outcomes throughout the lifecourse. There has been limited Māori lifecourse research to date. In this paper, we describe current lifecourse approaches being used by Māori researchers and discuss the value of a taking a lifecourse approach for Māori health and wellbeing. We address issues around longitudinal data. In particular, the need for Māori leadership in the collection, analysis, management, and governance of longitudinal data that can be used to inform health and social policy to guide programmes and interventions that support positive Māori outcomes throughout life.