Rangatahi Tū Rangatira: innovative health promotion in Aotearoa New Zealand

Abstract

Rangatahi Tū Rangatira (R2R) is a national health promotion programme in Aotearoa New Zealand which aims to promote cultural and physical wellbeing for rangatahi (young people) and their whānau (family). Grounded in tikanga Māori, the programme focuses on total wellbeing, leadership and cultural awareness providing rangatahi opportunities to increase their participation in physical activity and cultural knowledge through ngā taonga tākaro (Māori ancestral games). This paper focuses on an evaluation of this innovative health promotion programme focussing on the delivery of R2R by a local iwi provider in a rural area. Kanohi ki te kanohi (face-to-face) interviews and focus groups were used to collect data from a range of stakeholders including rangatahi, whānau, programme developers, and collaborating community organizations. A whānau ora (holistic) framework incorporating five core outcomes and key indicators specific to the programme was developed to assess the impact of delivery. Results demonstrated that rangatahi and their whānau were living healthier lifestyles through being more physically active; had gained an increased desire to succeed in their education and extra curriculum activities; and felt more connected to their community and te ao Māori. This demonstrates the importance of incorporating cultural elements to support improved lifestyle changes for rangatahi and their whānau and the connection between enhanced cultural identity and good health.

Young people’s advisory groups in health research: scoping review and mapping of practices

“…The corresponding authors of all 27 studies were contacted; 21 authors replied. From these, 15 of the 21 studies confirmed they included a YPAG [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27] ; the remaining 6 either did not use a YPAG (n=3) [28][29][30] or had YPAG members who were all aged over 18 years (n=3). 31,32,33 For the six studies where authors did not respond, we assumed a YPAG was used based on information provided in the paper.…”

Children's mental health promotion: The need for intersectorial and interprofessional collaboration

“…Aotearoa is a bicultural nation with a commitment to achieving equitable health and education outcomes for all, particularly for Māori, the Indigenous people of Aotearoa (Kenzie‐Jones, 2019; Nikolakis et al, 2019). Connections between ethnicity, education and health are well documented, (Durie, 2011; Severinsen & Reweti, 2019), despite this, the standard approach to mental ill‐health is built on western political, social and cultural systems that inadequately acknowledge relationships, meaning, values, beliefs and cultural practices that are critically important to Māori (Rangihuna et al, 2018). Acknowledgment of the potential for cultural mismatch, when importing an initiative from overseas, was acknowledged in the context of different break‐time expectations between schools in the US and Aotearoa as well as customs and practices specific to Māori culture that were important to acknowledge and embed in any initiative delivered in the Aotearoa context.…”