Lay summary
I am an emerging academic employed by the University of Waikato, working out of Te Huataki Waiora School of Health. I am applying for this funding as a means to help me distribute the key findings and messages from my Masters and PhD research, which include that: The nature of combative sport such as rugby and rugby league may actually increase risk-taking behaviours including criminal activity; to ensure our rangatahi are receiving pro-social messages and to negate anti-social messages, parents and whānau should be involved in their children’s sports right up into young adulthood (do not abdicate to coaches when they reach high school); successful young Māori men participated in a balance and variety of leisure activities when they were children.
I am applying for this funding because I wish to disseminate these messages to Sport NZ, Rugby NZ and the Ministry of Youth Development.