Lay summary
The aim of the proposed study is to explore the beliefs and understanding of palliative care of Cook Island peoples in New Zealand, from an indigenous Cook Island perspective. The Cook Island people hold knowledge passed down from the tupuna, which supports community-based practices, support the family, and community during palliative and end of life care. Indigenous knowledge of health and wellbeing is at risk of universal models of health and globalisation, and with the rising tides, ways of being may be lost. As the majority of Cook Islanders live outside of the Islands, this knowledge is important for generations of Cook Islanders born outside of the Cook Islands or outside of traditional Cook Island communities. The underlying objectives are to explore traditional models of palliative health, to understand what is important to Cook Island people in New Zealand when receiving palliative services or when caring for a family member