The premature birth of babies is a highly stressful and tense event for whānau. The care of such babies is focused within hospital based Neonatal Intensive Care Units.

This Kaupapa Māori research investigated the experiences of Māori whānau who have had their babies admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Units. The research focused on the kōrero of whānau Māori as a means by which to provide insights into the needs of whānau Māori and their premature babies within the mainstream context of hospital neonatal intensive care units. The research undertook analysis of whānau experiences and provided research-based recommendations to those organisations that provide such services.