Lay summary
Mental health challenges and inequities, a lack of adequate assessment tools and the resulting inability to accurately identify successful solutions continues to be a significant issue for Māori communities in Aotearoa New Zealand. The aim of our research project is to co-create and test a novel Māori mental wellbeing measure, led by the community of Papatūānuku Kōkiri Marae. We will work towards the revival of mental wellbeing from a Mātauranga Māori perspective to develop a tool that is relevant to Māori worldviews and apply Kaupapa Māori research approaches. A central part of our project is to increase community research capability and self-determination. A community-led and inspired novel Māori mental wellbeing measurement tool has the unique potential to close a major gap in research and practice, to foster better and more accurate assessment when working with whānau Māori, to create more equitable and sustainable solutions for Māori health and wellbeing.