Lay summary
Pregnancy is recognised as a time of critical importance for development of baby with implications for life-course and intergenerational wellbeing. The role of fathers can be side-lined and seen as a bonus but not central to the wellbeing of mother and baby. On one hand tāne learn that they have little or no role as men within hapūtanga and birthing and, on the other, they learn they are absent and irresponsible parents. This project will provide practical knowledge about the roles that tāne had and can have. By gathering experiences and stories from tāne Māori, speaking to experts in hapūtanga and the roles of tāne and working in collaborative ways with multiple stakeholders, the project team will identify actions and work to implement change. Because hapūtanga is a critical time, positive experiences and connections can strengthen whānau beyond pregnancy and birth.