Lay summary
Reducing inequities in health for Māori is an objective of the New Zealand health system. Modelling is a useful tool for estimating the health benefits of interventions to inform decision-making. Unfortunately, modelling methods take little account of health equity, and are almost always focused on a single health intervention. This results in lost opportunities for Māori health and equity. In this Māori-led research we will address these limitations by critically examining modelling methods (drawing on critical race theory and Kaupapa Māori research methods) and redesign them to primarily take account of health equity for Māori. We will focus on cancer screening interventions as an area of high priority for Māori health and inequities. We will build a new model structure that allows combinations of cancer screening interventions to be modelled together and directly compared. This will allow us to advocate for those with the greatest positive impacts on health equity.