Pōwhiri process in mental health research

Area of Science:

• Indigenous Health Research
• Cross-Cultural Psychology
• Community-Based Participatory Research

Background:

• Indigenous peoples globally are committed to developing self-determined health solutions.
• Māori, the indigenous people of Aotearoa (New Zealand), prioritize the Pōwhiri process for engagement and participation in health research.
• The Pōwhiri process is founded on principles of respect and relationality between hosts (tangata whenua) and guests (manuwhiri).

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the Pōwhiri process as a culturally relevant framework for mental health research engagement.
• To highlight the importance of traditional indigenous protocols in contemporary research settings.
• To propose the Pōwhiri process as a potential model for research with other indigenous communities.

Main Methods:

• Descriptive analysis of the Pōwhiri process.
• Examination of its application within the Doctorate of Philosophy program at Auckland University (2010).
• Focus on the relational dynamics inherent in the Pōwhiri protocol.

Main Results:

• The Pōwhiri process facilitates respectful engagement and participation in mental health research.
• It establishes positive relationships between indigenous participants (tangata whenua) and researchers (manuwhiri).
• The described protocols underscore the significance of cultural context in research.

Conclusions:

• The Pōwhiri process offers a valuable model for indigenous engagement in health research.
• Its principles of respect and relationship-building are transferable to diverse indigenous contexts.
• This approach supports indigenous self-determination in research.