This article explores the use of an intersecting methodology termed Te Kupenga as a philosophical approach to gathering, interpreting, and storing mātauranga wahine. The research aimed to understand the ways of being and doing of physically active wāhine Māori and relate them to characteristics of atua wāhine. A kupenga is a type of open weave net used for fishing or gathering food. In this research, it represents the weaving together of three approaches: Whakapapa, Mana Wahine theory, and physical activity.

This article focuses on the rates of Māori participation in national diabetes prevention programmes. The paper finds that Māori cultural approaches, such as whanaungatanga through kanohi-ki-te-kanohi contact in the Te Wai o Rona: DPS GRx programme, may result in enhanced and increased physical activity and healthy food consumption for Māori identified as most at risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus.