Marginalising Māori Parents: Internship Report

Author: Elizabeth Jurisich Strickett. Supervisors: Associate Professor Helen Moewaka Barnes and Dr Tim McCreanor. This report was written while undertaking a Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga internship with Whāriki, SHORE and Whāriki Research Centre, Massey University. The review topic of marginalising Māori parents arose out of a report on rangatahi and sexual coercion, which included an examination of gender roles, Māori concepts around sexuality and parenting (Moewaka Barnes, 2010). A current Whāriki project, scoping Māori influences on babies in utero and in the early days with implications for the life course, also highlighted concerns around antenatal health services for Māori in general and for young Māori parents in particular.