Congratulations to Aria Graham, a postgraduate Nursing lecturer at EIT who has just completed her doctoral study Tika Tonu—Young Māori mothers’ experiences of wellbeing surrounding the birth of their first tamaiti (child). Her thesis through the Graduate School of Nursing Midwifery and Health, Victoria University, explored ‘ the stories of young Māori mothers living their experiences, from their perspective and contextual realities’ through kaupapa Māori methodology.

Aria explains, “Through past research, namely quantitative studies, young Māori mothers (ngā māmā) have been analysed, compared and thus determined to be deficient, problematic and undesired. To unearth the impetus and accuracy of this powerful view, I wanted to find out what are young Māori mothers’ experiences of wellbeing in becoming mothers?; what makes a difference to their wellbeing experiences surrounding the birth of their first child?; and what are we as nurses, health professionals, society and a nation overlooking in supporting their wellbeing?”

Within the context of contemporary Aotearoa, young Māori mothers face significant challenges, but Aria’s research has identified important sources of stability guidance and empowerment. These insights will help the design and delivery of initiatives to enhance social cultural and spiritual responsiveness towards meeting young Māori mothers’ needs, especially as mainstream services struggle to be compatible and engage young Māori mothers, who then find themselves marginalised, disconnected and isolated.

Ka mau te wehi Aria!