Lay summary
This will be a research project that is grounded in Kaupapa Māori methodologies, tikanga and equity as an extension of the PhD research of the primary investigator.
A significant gap exists in Aotearoa's equitable assessment of food security, as current strategies are influenced by colonial, capitalist ideologies that focus narrowly on financial access to food. This marginalises Indigenous Māori conceptualisations of food security, which broadly encompass the intersection between hauora, te taiao, and kai. As a result, existing initiatives often fail to address the unique needs of Māori, perpetuating food system inequities and contributing to disproportionate health outcomes. This research aims to develop and cognitively test a Kaupapa Māori household assessment tool that accurately captures Māori food security experiences, providing valuable data for national food security strategies.