Latest news with #non-Māori
Scoop
3 days ago
- Health
- Scoop
Study Finds Māori, Pacific Communities Can Reshape Media Narratives
Article – RNZ The success of Brown Buttabean Motivation shows how initiatives can use media stereotypes to create their own narrative. , Māori News Journalist A new study shows Māori and Pasifika community initiatives can use media stereotypes to create their own narrative. The University of Auckland study, 'Taking the mic: Māori and Pacific voices in the media' examined the success of Brown Buttabean Motivation (BBM), New Zealand's largest community-based fitness and well-being organisation throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the study's lead author Dr Sandra Smith, senior marketing lecturer at the University of Auckland, over time, and especially during lockdowns, BBM became 'much more than just a bootcamp and how to eat healthy'. 'It became an extension of whānau and a safe space where support could be provided to members in need. This finding echoes the notion that Māori and Pacific people are likely to seek help from family and community rather than from formal health providers,' she said. Structural inequities and media framing Outlined in the report, Māori and Pacific peoples in Aotearoa face entrenched socio-economic and health gaps, including lower life expectancy and higher obesity rates. 'Māori have experienced socio-economic deprivation because of colonisation and racism, manifesting in their significantly reduced life expectancy compared to non-Māori. Similarly, Pacific people also experience socio-economic and health inequities,' the study said. 'These health inequities were exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, requiring a consideration of the changing experiences and requirements of diverse communities.' Smith said these disparities can be worsened by mainstream media that frame health as an individual's responsibility, rather than a societal one. 'Media narratives can shape how others view Māori and Pacific people and how Māori and Pacific people view themselves,' Smith said, noting past decades of biased coverage. 'So, we were interested in whether the media was actually reflecting the community in an accurate way, in a truthful way, or in a biased way.' BBM's community, Māori and Pacific led innovation Using the kaupapa Māori framework, Te Whare Tapa Whā and Pacific framework Fonofale, the researchers analysed 102 media articles and interviews (27 before Covid-19, 75 during) via computer-assisted tools and member checks with BBM. They tracked shifts in top media themes, such as Letele, people, weight, life and boxing, food, health, lockdown, children, and community support. 'Covid-19 created different issues for the community. BBM adapted… New themes such as food, lockdown and children are reflective of this adaptation,' Smith said. 'It became more than just a bootcamp, but a community [and] a whānau.' The study found that as gyms shut due to lockdown restrictions, BBM's strong social-media presence which let it livestream workouts, share health information and organise food parcels – became a safe space for whānau. 'That's where they reach out to each other. That's how they perhaps coped when people were being locked down, losing their jobs, not knowing where their next healthy meal was coming from. That was a place where people obviously used those channels to connect.' Smith said from previous research in the health space, specific communities – including Māori and Pacific – will respond better to their own people when it comes to disseminating important information or getting advice. 'They're a lot more trusting of people within their own community. So, I think BBM then became a very important conduit for perhaps some of the health messaging helping people to navigate through some of the confusions around the time of the pandemic.' Despite some lingering stereotypes, media coverage of BBM was 'reasonably friendly… and reasonably accurate', the researchers found. 'It's good to see that the media was reasonably friendly towards this community and was reasonably accurate. It wasn't perfect, but that was one of the key findings,' Smith said. Creating your own narrative Letele's ability to co-create his own media narrative was a stand out finding, Smith said. 'Dave's own celebrity status… he was quite proactive and quite good at co-creating the narrative with the media rather than just having the media telling his story.' Smith hopes this study will inspire other community-based groups to pick up the mic and tell their own stories. 'I saw that Dave was very proactive in actually reaching out to the media, ensuring that the community's story was told accurately… I think communities can take a more proactive stance,' she said. 'Not necessarily waiting for mainstream media to create your narrative, but using the media channels that they're using themselves to tell their story.' She said this specific study is a great way of learning about how Māori and Pacific people benefited from having a community like BBM. 'I think we can all take something out of this story.' The paper is published in the Pacific Health dialogue – a journal dedicated to health issues in the Pacific region – and is connected to a larger post-doctoral research project led by co-author, Dr Fa'asisila Savila (Pacific Health) and funded by the Health Research Council.
Scoop
4 days ago
- Health
- Scoop
Study Finds Māori, Pacific Communities Can Reshape Media Narratives
A new study shows Māori and Pasifika community initiatives can use media stereotypes to create their own narrative. The University of Auckland study, 'Taking the mic: Māori and Pacific voices in the media' examined the success of Brown Buttabean Motivation (BBM), New Zealand's largest community-based fitness and well-being organisation throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the study's lead author Dr Sandra Smith, senior marketing lecturer at the University of Auckland, over time, and especially during lockdowns, BBM became 'much more than just a bootcamp and how to eat healthy'. 'It became an extension of whānau and a safe space where support could be provided to members in need. This finding echoes the notion that Māori and Pacific people are likely to seek help from family and community rather than from formal health providers,' she said. Structural inequities and media framing Outlined in the report, Māori and Pacific peoples in Aotearoa face entrenched socio-economic and health gaps, including lower life expectancy and higher obesity rates. 'Māori have experienced socio-economic deprivation because of colonisation and racism, manifesting in their significantly reduced life expectancy compared to non-Māori. Similarly, Pacific people also experience socio-economic and health inequities,' the study said. 'These health inequities were exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, requiring a consideration of the changing experiences and requirements of diverse communities.' Smith said these disparities can be worsened by mainstream media that frame health as an individual's responsibility, rather than a societal one. 'Media narratives can shape how others view Māori and Pacific people and how Māori and Pacific people view themselves,' Smith said, noting past decades of biased coverage. 'So, we were interested in whether the media was actually reflecting the community in an accurate way, in a truthful way, or in a biased way.' BBM's community, Māori and Pacific led innovation Using the kaupapa Māori framework, Te Whare Tapa Whā and Pacific framework Fonofale, the researchers analysed 102 media articles and interviews (27 before Covid-19, 75 during) via computer-assisted tools and member checks with BBM. They tracked shifts in top media themes, such as Letele, people, weight, life and boxing, food, health, lockdown, children, and community support. 'Covid-19 created different issues for the community. BBM adapted… New themes such as food, lockdown and children are reflective of this adaptation,' Smith said. 'It became more than just a bootcamp, but a community [and] a whānau.' The study found that as gyms shut due to lockdown restrictions, BBM's strong social-media presence which let it livestream workouts, share health information and organise food parcels – became a safe space for whānau. 'That's where they reach out to each other. That's how they perhaps coped when people were being locked down, losing their jobs, not knowing where their next healthy meal was coming from. That was a place where people obviously used those channels to connect.' Smith said from previous research in the health space, specific communities – including Māori and Pacific – will respond better to their own people when it comes to disseminating important information or getting advice. 'They're a lot more trusting of people within their own community. So, I think BBM then became a very important conduit for perhaps some of the health messaging helping people to navigate through some of the confusions around the time of the pandemic.' Despite some lingering stereotypes, media coverage of BBM was 'reasonably friendly… and reasonably accurate', the researchers found. 'It's good to see that the media was reasonably friendly towards this community and was reasonably accurate. It wasn't perfect, but that was one of the key findings,' Smith said. Creating your own narrative Letele's ability to co-create his own media narrative was a stand out finding, Smith said. 'Dave's own celebrity status… he was quite proactive and quite good at co-creating the narrative with the media rather than just having the media telling his story.' Smith hopes this study will inspire other community-based groups to pick up the mic and tell their own stories. 'I saw that Dave was very proactive in actually reaching out to the media, ensuring that the community's story was told accurately… I think communities can take a more proactive stance,' she said. 'Not necessarily waiting for mainstream media to create your narrative, but using the media channels that they're using themselves to tell their story.' She said this specific study is a great way of learning about how Māori and Pacific people benefited from having a community like BBM. 'I think we can all take something out of this story.' The paper is published in the Pacific Health dialogue – a journal dedicated to health issues in the Pacific region – and is connected to a larger post-doctoral research project led by co-author, Dr Fa'asisila Savila (Pacific Health) and funded by the Health Research Council.
Scoop
4 days ago
- Health
- Scoop
Study Finds Māori, Pacific Communities Can Reshape Media Narratives
A new study shows Māori and Pasifika community initiatives can use media stereotypes to create their own narrative. The University of Auckland study, 'Taking the mic: Māori and Pacific voices in the media' examined the success of Brown Buttabean Motivation (BBM), New Zealand's largest community-based fitness and well-being organisation throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the study's lead author Dr Sandra Smith, senior marketing lecturer at the University of Auckland, over time, and especially during lockdowns, BBM became "much more than just a bootcamp and how to eat healthy". "It became an extension of whānau and a safe space where support could be provided to members in need. This finding echoes the notion that Māori and Pacific people are likely to seek help from family and community rather than from formal health providers," she said. Structural inequities and media framing Outlined in the report, Māori and Pacific peoples in Aotearoa face entrenched socio-economic and health gaps, including lower life expectancy and higher obesity rates. "Māori have experienced socio-economic deprivation because of colonisation and racism, manifesting in their significantly reduced life expectancy compared to non-Māori. Similarly, Pacific people also experience socio-economic and health inequities," the study said. "These health inequities were exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, requiring a consideration of the changing experiences and requirements of diverse communities." Smith said these disparities can be worsened by mainstream media that frame health as an individual's responsibility, rather than a societal one. "Media narratives can shape how others view Māori and Pacific people and how Māori and Pacific people view themselves," Smith said, noting past decades of biased coverage. "So, we were interested in whether the media was actually reflecting the community in an accurate way, in a truthful way, or in a biased way." BBM's community, Māori and Pacific led innovation Using the kaupapa Māori framework, Te Whare Tapa Whā and Pacific framework Fonofale, the researchers analysed 102 media articles and interviews (27 before Covid-19, 75 during) via computer-assisted tools and member checks with BBM. They tracked shifts in top media themes, such as Letele, people, weight, life and boxing, food, health, lockdown, children, and community support. "Covid-19 created different issues for the community. BBM adapted… New themes such as food, lockdown and children are reflective of this adaptation," Smith said. "It became more than just a bootcamp, but a community [and] a whānau." The study found that as gyms shut due to lockdown restrictions, BBM's strong social-media presence which let it livestream workouts, share health information and organise food parcels - became a safe space for whānau. "That's where they reach out to each other. That's how they perhaps coped when people were being locked down, losing their jobs, not knowing where their next healthy meal was coming from. That was a place where people obviously used those channels to connect." Smith said from previous research in the health space, specific communities - including Māori and Pacific - will respond better to their own people when it comes to disseminating important information or getting advice. "They're a lot more trusting of people within their own community. So, I think BBM then became a very important conduit for perhaps some of the health messaging helping people to navigate through some of the confusions around the time of the pandemic." Despite some lingering stereotypes, media coverage of BBM was "reasonably friendly… and reasonably accurate", the researchers found. "It's good to see that the media was reasonably friendly towards this community and was reasonably accurate. It wasn't perfect, but that was one of the key findings," Smith said. Creating your own narrative Letele's ability to co-create his own media narrative was a stand out finding, Smith said. "Dave's own celebrity status… he was quite proactive and quite good at co-creating the narrative with the media rather than just having the media telling his story." Smith hopes this study will inspire other community-based groups to pick up the mic and tell their own stories. "I saw that Dave was very proactive in actually reaching out to the media, ensuring that the community's story was told accurately... I think communities can take a more proactive stance," she said. "Not necessarily waiting for mainstream media to create your narrative, but using the media channels that they're using themselves to tell their story." She said this specific study is a great way of learning about how Māori and Pacific people benefited from having a community like BBM. "I think we can all take something out of this story." The paper is published in the Pacific Health dialogue - a journal dedicated to health issues in the Pacific region - and is connected to a larger post-doctoral research project led by co-author, Dr Fa'asisila Savila (Pacific Health) and funded by the Health Research Council.
1News
25-05-2025
- Business
- 1News
Māori leaders give disappointed reaction to 'yeah-nah' Budget
Dubbed the 'yeah-nah Budget' for Māori by members of the Opposition, the Government's announcement yesterday has attracted strong criticism over the cuts made to Māori-focused initiatives and pay equity claims. While Māori education received a boost of $54 million in operational funding and an additional $50 million in capital funding to support Māori learner success, and $14 million has been allocated to Māori Wardens, Pasifika Wardens, and the Māori Women's Welfare League, there was little else to show. But Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka told TVNZ's Te Karere that the Budget reflects the Government's focus on growing the economy, and investing in health, education and law and order. When asked what targeted Māori spending existed in the Budget, he pointed to the Māori Wardens and Māori Women's Welfare League. 'Heoi anō ko te nuinga o ngā putea me te mātotorutanga o ngā putea ka whakapaua ki ngā mahi hauora, ki ngā mahi mātauranga, ērā momo āhuatanga. Mā tēnā hoki e taea ai te kī kua ora tātou ngā iwi Māori me ngā iwi katoa.' ("However, most of the money has gone to health and education, those kinds of things. In that way you can say Māori and non-Māori benefit.") Finance Minister Nicola Willis yesterday fielded a question on funding for Māori initiatives and rejected the characterisation by a reporter that $750 million was stripped from Māori initiatives to put into the general pool of funds. "This is a Budget that is good for Māori because this is a Gudget that has seen job creation, income growth, more opportunities for Māori," Willis said. "What you see in this budget are specific initiatives that will specifically benefit Māori including more than $700 million for Māori health services; including a major education package targeted at Māori learners; including funding for the Māori Women's Welfare League, for Māori Wardens; and including funding for the Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust." Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust will receive $4.1 million over four years to help with ICT costs, administration and develop data capability. Willis said funding that was previously ring-fenced for Māori housing will now go into a "flexible housing fund" which she expects will lead to Māori-led housing development to deliver for whānau Māori. Labour Party's Māori development spokesperson Willie Jackson said the Government has slashed funding to more Māori programmes in this year's Budget. 'In Budget 2024 more than $300 million was cut from Māori-specific initiatives – Te Arawhiti, The Māori Health Authority, and Māori TV. Budget 2025 cuts even deeper with around $750 million cut from Māori housing, Māori economic funds, Māori education and programmes like Māori trades training.' He said the Government has turned its back on the Māori-Crown relationship. Speaking ahead of the Budget announcement, Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer said Māori should not be surprised to see the Budget match what "we've already seen" from the Government. 'There's going to be nothing that is going to recognise Te Tiriti, that is going to uphold the rights and interests of us as tangata whenua, that is going to address the inequities that are created because of the breaches of Te Tiriti.' Green MP Teanau Tuiono slammed the Government for taking money from pay equity claims to fund tax cuts. 'Me kaha ki te tiro ki te katoa o te horopaki o tēnei kāwanatanga, rātou e kaha te hoatu ngā pūtea ki wiwi ki wawa engari wareware katoa rātou ki ngā ringa raupā, ngā ringawera, ngā kaimahi.' ("You need to take everything into account when it comes to this Government, they are quick to divvy out funds all over the place but completely forget about the hardworking frontline workers.") Tāmaki Makaurau MP Takutai Tarsh Kemp questioned why more money was going into Defence when there was a cost-of-living crisis where whānau can't afford basic necessities. "This to us is a 'budget Budget', a 'yeah-nah Budget', there's nothing in it for us as Māori," she said. The Māori Development Minister defended the Budget against critics, saying they were delivering on their election promises. The national body for kura kaupapa Māori, Te Rūnanga Nui o Ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori o Aotearoa, said it was concerned and disappointed with the Government's Budget announcement saying it ignores the longstanding and well-documented underfunding of kura kaupapa Māori. Rāwiri Wright, co-chair of Te Rūnanga Nui, said the $50 million in capital funding tagged to upgrade buildings was not a genuine solution. "It's yet another example of the Crown's ongoing failure to prioritise kura kaupapa Māori.' The group said there were close to 40 kura kaupapa Māori that remain on the Minister of Education's property backlog list, and dividing the "limited funding" across all Māori-medium settings, which included Māori immersion units in mainstream schools, will leave kura with "next to nothing". 'We are being kept in the dark," said Wright. "There is no clear breakdown of how this funding will be allocated, no equity in the process, and certainly no commitment to a genuine Treaty-based partnership. Meanwhile, our whānau continue to send their tamariki to kura that are falling apart." Te Rūnanga Nui are calling for an investment plan of $1.25 billion over five years dedicated to property development.
The Spinoff
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The Spinoff
Who pays when the budget cuts?
Underinvesting in early parenthood isn't saving money, it's just shifting the burden to justice, health and education systems down the line, writes E Tipu e Rea CEO Zoe Aroha Witika-Hawke. As Budget 2025 is unveiled this week, we expect fiscal responsibility and tightening public spending to dominate headlines. But for many of the mātua taiohi we walk alongside at E Tipu e Rea Whānau Services, living with less isn't new. They're already budgeting down to the last cent, already going without so their pēpi can eat, already stretching themselves mentally and emotionally just to get through the day. The idea that this budget will ask even more of them, while offering less, should concern us all. At E Tipu e Rea, we support hapū māmā and mātua taiohi – young parents – navigating hapūtanga (pregnancy) and early parenthood with wraparound support across housing, education, employment, midwifery, cultural wānanga, and Well Child Tamariki Ora (WCTO). We work with hundreds of whānau, Māori and non-Māori, across Tāmaki Makaurau, as our values as Ngāti Pāoa are to care for all whānau like they are our own. We're an iwi service grounded in the belief that whānau thrive when they are recognised for their mana and supported in culturally safe, affirming environments. Investment in the first 2,000 days – conception through to their fifth huritau – is one of the smartest and most impactful decisions any government can make. We are pleased to see that the Social Investment Agency has allocated $20 million for initiatives that strengthen parenting in the first 2,000 days of a child's life, reducing harm and setting children up for better long-term outcomes, and we hope that this focus continues in future years. Our tūpuna knew that it is in those early days that brain development is most sensitive to care, connection and stress. That's why we work early and intensively with whānau, wrapping support around young parents to build stability, connection and confidence. When we invest in those 2,000 days, we prevent harm, reduce system costs long term, and build thriving future generations. Young parents are already at the edge In the past year, we've seen an unprecedented rise in mental distress among young Māori māmā and pāpā in our service. Our referrals team would tell you that almost every call includes disclosures about anxiety, depression or trauma. Many are parenting or navigating hapūtanga under immense pressure – surviving under benefit rules that punish more than support, and juggling unstable housing and income. The fear of not knowing where your next meal comes from – especially when it means not being able to feed tamariki – creates stress that doesn't show up in fiscal forecasts but is deeply visible in our clinics, caseloads and communities. These pressures aren't just hard – they're dangerous. One young māmā told us just last week that the pressure she faces trying to navigate the welfare system has pushed her to the brink. Suicide remains the leading cause of death for pregnant women and new mothers in Aotearoa. That's not only a health system failure – that's a cross-sector failure. We all saw the report last week that placed Aotearoa last out of 36 countries for child and youth mental wellbeing, with the highest youth suicide rate in the developed world. These statistics are not numbers for us. They show up in the faces and lives of the young whānau we serve every day. We are concerned that under the goal of 'efficiency' or 'targeting', this budget will pull back investment in exactly the areas where it is most needed. If we reduce funding for youth mental health, community housing, maternal wellbeing and kaupapa Māori services, the long-term social and health cost will be profound. When we underinvest in early parenthood and the first 2,000 days, we don't save money – we just shift the burden to justice, health and education systems down the line. What we'd prioritise If Budget 2025 wanted to improve outcomes and reduce future strain on services, it would address access to safe, stable housing for young whānau so they can parent without fear of eviction or overcrowding; culturally grounded mental health support, delivered in ways that affirm identity, recognise mana and give whānau safe spaces to heal; itegrated wraparound support, recognising that housing, income, parenting, education and health are connected and can't be siloed. We've seen time and again that mātua taiohi do best when they're recognised as whole people – with whakapapa, dreams, leadership abilities and love for their tamariki. Their aspirations are not radical. They want to raise their tamariki in warm homes, build strong relationships, be proud of who they are and contribute to their communities. But they need systems that don't work against them. The real question social services like ours are asking this week is: who pays when the budget cuts? We know the answer. It's our young whānau. It's the next generation. When support disappears, the cost is borne not by the system, but by the 19-year-old māmā in emergency housing or the young pāpā trying to enrol in training while finding mahi to support his whānau. These are not acceptable trade-offs. If we want to support those already working hard, let's invest in our hapū māmā and mātua taiohi – our future generations. The return on investment is not just economic, it's intergenerational. Oranga whānau, oranga mokopuna.
