Lay summary
This project is based on the single hypothesis that Māori wellbeing can be enhanced by establishing and nurturing connections or experiences with taonga tuku iho. It is framed around the notion that connections to tribal taonga and whare whakairo imbued with tribal knowledge can inspire wellbeing and that these experiences can be nurtured in order to promote a more comprehensive and culturally resonant approach to Māori health development. These experiences are likely to reside within the “taha wairua” domain and will offer valuable insight into how the spiritual aspects of Māori health can be nurtured and promoted. To this end, a single research question is proposed:
“To what extent can connections to tribal taonga contribute to enhanced Māori Wellbeing?”