Lay summary
Sauna bathing is a traditional activity in Finland that has been used for thousands of years, predominantly for the purpose of pleasure and relaxation (Laukkanen et al, 2015; Laukkanen et al, 2018). Increasingly, sauna bathing is used as a tool to nourish wellbeing in many other countries around the world. When practiced, bathers alternate between sauna and cold-water immersion. There is currently no research specific to Aotearoa sauna bathing, and more specifically, research that depicts sauna bathing alternating with sea immersion and the health benefits within a Māori worldview. In this health delivery activation research, we will conduct a pilot study to explore the holistic health benefits of Finnish-style sauna bathing, within a Māori worldview; this will provide preliminary data to inform a protocol for a larger scale trial.