Lay summary
To help eliminate inequity in health outcomes for Māori we need a more holistic and culturally responsive health system. The aim of this research is to determine the wider health needs of two priority groups: 1) Māori mothers and 2) Māori with chronic disease. We will use a co-design methodology to firstly understand the health concerns of the two groups and then develop culturally appropriate supportive care needs assessment tools for use by Waikato Health Board staff. We will then trial the assessment tools on our target groups of new Māori mothers and Māori patients with chronic diseases before then co-designing interventions to reduce the known health inequities. This research will impact at many levels including DHB management, staff, community-based agencies as well as patients and whānau. It will also provide a framework for the Ministry of Health, other DHBs and other agencies in tackling the health equity gap.