This article explores how Tongans honour anga faka- Tonga, balancing cultural obligations to their fāmili, kolo, siasi and fonua with their own financial well- being. Utilising the Kakala framework and drawing on narratives gathered from talanoa with 13 Aotearoa New Zealand- based Tongans between 20 and 60 years of age, three key themes were identified: (1) financial decisions were driven by Tongan values and Christian beliefs, (2) cultural and religious expectations and practices both promote and demote well- being, and (3) an overall sense of well- being can be achieved by balancing personal finances with religious and cultural obligations.

For many Māori, it is the presence of their kin that transforms a dwelling into a home. However, when that dwelling needs repairs, it can compromise health and wellbeing and be a barrier to homemaking. Two Kaupapa Māori qualitative studies in Hawke’s Bay interviewed 24 whānau members living in 18 whānau-owned houses about the impact of government-funded critical house repairs. Thematic analysis highlighted that critical repairs were primarily needed as a result of financial hardship. Most participants were positive about the repair work done by Māori tradespeople.

To better understand the low and declining trends in active transport, there is a clarion call for town planners to develop sensitivity and sensibility towards the cultural backgrounds, realities and priorities of Māori. This will be important in producing more sustainable, healthy and equitable neighbourhoods. This paper outlines the results of a narrative literature review and consultation on tamariki Māori and travelling to kura. Tamariki Māori face barriers to active transport similar to those of other children, including a lack of access to suitable urban infrastructure, but these are exacerbated for tamariki Māori by historical issues.

Full issue containing 14 great articles, written by authors and scholars in their chosen field of mahi (work)

In 2020, New Zealand Māori made up 6.8% of postgraduate students at the University of Otago (Sizemore, 2020). These students are supported by the author in her role as Māori Postgraduate Support Adviser (hereafter “the Adviser”). During the country’s first COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, the Adviser used Facebook—specifically the University of Otago’s page for Māori postgraduate students—to communicate with this cohort. She adapted the kaupapa Te Whare Tapa Whā (Durie, 1985) into a communication tool, and its success is evaluated in this article by tracking engagement online and through autoethnographic analysis by the Adviser.

This article reports on the second stage of the three-year Marsden-funded research project “Languaculture within Te Ao Māori: Learning from Infants, Whānau and Communities”, undertaken with Māori hapū in Aotearoa New Zealand. It presents the voices of kaumātua and whānau from the hapū speaking on their worldviews, values, experiences and practices related to naming tamariki. Their narratives of experiences provide insights into motivations, influences and understandings concerned with naming practices from traditional pre-European to contemporary times.

Systemic inequity and homelessness among Māori in New Zealand is explored, highlighting the disproportionate impact of poverty, overcrowding and homelessness on this population. This paper examines the historical context of colonisation and societal changes contributing to the housing strain and homelessness faced by Māori. The research study conducted by an Indigenous navigation service using secondary analysis and the Te Whare Tapa Whā framework revealed insights from 60 Māori participants. Emphasising the Indigenous context, including the Treaty of Waitangi, the paper explores Māori well-being, cultural values and the importance of marae.

Situated within a mainstream primary school in inner-city Auckland, Te Akā Pūkaea accommodates two Māori-medium education pathways: Te Awahou (bilingual) and Te Uru Karaka (total immersion). Te Akā Pūkaea is now in its fifth year of working as a flexible learning space (FLS). With the increasing presence of FLSs in the school landscapes of Aotearoa New Zealand, researchers have begun to explore the significance of spatial design on classroom teaching and learning. The vast majority of this research has been undertaken in English-medium schools, and the participation of Māori voices in the discussion of FLSs over the last 20 years has been minimal at best.

Supporting equitable healthcare outcomes in Aotearoa New Zealand requires urgent attention. Several models of Māori health and wellbeing introduce elements and strategies that may be central to adjustment to chronic illness. This article conducts a literature review of Māori health and wellbeing models and best practice guidelines to identify what Māori see as central to illness adjustment and determine practical strategies to inform better practice in the context of chronic illness. Two overarching themes were identified as central to the adjustment process: dimensions of health and wellbeing, and whanaungatanga.

This article describes how the creation of a “Hā habit”—a breathwork practice that is inspired by the whakapapa of the Hā—can alleviate the debilitating effects of trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and generalised anxiety. The article first conducts a literature review that examines the definitions and contributing factors of these disorders and their psychological and physical symptoms. An analysis of Aotearoa New Zealand mental health statistics is then carried out, which is followed by a description of breathwork and its benefits.