Lay summary
Unborn and newborn Māori babies are five times more likely to be taken into state care than non-Māori babies. This is extremely concerning given traditionally, this period was tapu and a time when māmā and pēpi were nurtured by their female relatives so that they could fall in love with each other. While contemporary whānau Māori continue to value pēpi, there is less knowledge available for māmā about why this first post-natal period is so important for pēpi development.
This kaupapa Māori, mixed methods, joint initiative between Māori psychology and the National Hauora Collective, is to deliver a relationally based program "AHI" to hapū Māori māmā alongside existing support services to enhance health outcomes for both māmā and pēpi.
This project has the potential to then be delivered as a digital tool, nationally alongside a 'tuakana-teina' model to support pēpi Māori remaining in the safe care of their whānau.