title: Māori whānau experiences of a neonatal intensive care unit: Waikato hospital

authors: Thompson, Keri

subjects: Maori whanau narratives

abstract: This thesis topic emerged from my personal experience of having a premature baby in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Waikato hospital.  My whānau and I felt like aliens; culturally inept, and totally alone during our time in the NICU.  It was not until I spoke to other Māori mothers that I realised our stories were similar.   

I sought to understand how other Māori whānau members made sense of their own experiences, how they coped/adjusted to the experience of having a premature baby in an NICU and at home, and the sources of support they utilised. This study did not seek to delineate parents' experiences but attempted to allow whānau members to share their stories and explore their experiences of having a premature or special-care baby in an NICU.

The event of childbirth and the placing of a natural event into a pathological illness model through necessity has repercussions for the ways in which women experience and make sense of the event.  Knowing this, six whānau stories were collected comprising of four individual interviews with the mothers and two whānau hui (focus groups).  My use of a narrative methodology and kaupapa Māori approach enabled all the participants the opportunity to share their stories on how they make sense of their own experiences without the frame of pathological illness. 

The findings present each whānau story autonomously, to highlight the key events that   occur once the birth of a premature/special-care infant is admitted into an NICU. The participants' narratives followed their transitions through an NICU and return home. The narrative analysis and discussion confirmed that this research had been successful in creating a space for the mothers and their whānau members to share their stories.  The discussion combined their narratives to reveal that the effective coping strategies did not remove the sources of stress but rather lessened the impact of the stresses.  In situations where sources of stress were unable to be removed or reduced, participants perceptions of ineffective coping translated into narratives of negative perceptions of the NICU, and birthing experience. 

The importance of positive relationships within an NICU, and in particular, the role of the nurse as a key facilitator, highlighted that efficacious communication resulted in positive experiences for Māori whānau.  Whānau support was identified as one of the most important coping strategies for mothers in the NICU.  Those participants who were encouraged to maintain connections with whānau members reported more positive experiences overall.

Three levels of implications were identified in this research. Firstly, that the participants'narratives provided a range of coping strategies for future Māori parents and their whānau who enter an NICU.  Secondly, there are implications for NICU policy, and best practice particularly when supporting Māori in an NICU environment.  Lastly, the narratives provided meaningful insights that contribute to gaps in local, national, and international literature.  Overall, I realised that just like me, these mothers, and other whānau members, constructed narratives that are meaningful accounts to be shared with others.

text: Māori whānau experiences of a neonatal intensive care unit: Waikato hospital This thesis topic emerged from my personal experience of having a premature baby in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Waikato hospital.  My whānau and I felt like aliens; culturally inept, and totally alone during our time in the NICU.  It was not until I spoke to other Māori mothers that I realised our stories were similar.   

I sought to understand how other Māori whānau members made sense of their own experiences, how they coped/adjusted to the experience of having a premature baby in an NICU and at home, and the sources of support they utilised. This study did not seek to delineate parents' experiences but attempted to allow whānau members to share their stories and explore their experiences of having a premature or special-care baby in an NICU.

The event of childbirth and the placing of a natural event into a pathological illness model through necessity has repercussions for the ways in which women experience and make sense of the event.  Knowing this, six whānau stories were collected comprising of four individual interviews with the mothers and two whānau hui (focus groups).  My use of a narrative methodology and kaupapa Māori approach enabled all the participants the opportunity to share their stories on how they make sense of their own experiences without the frame of pathological illness. 

The findings present each whānau story autonomously, to highlight the key events that   occur once the birth of a premature/special-care infant is admitted into an NICU. The participants' narratives followed their transitions through an NICU and return home. The narrative analysis and discussion confirmed that this research had been successful in creating a space for the mothers and their whānau members to share their stories.  The discussion combined their narratives to reveal that the effective coping strategies did not remove the sources of stress but rather lessened the impact of the stresses.  In situations where sources of stress were unable to be removed or reduced, participants perceptions of ineffective coping translated into narratives of negative perceptions of the NICU, and birthing experience. 

The importance of positive relationships within an NICU, and in particular, the role of the nurse as a key facilitator, highlighted that efficacious communication resulted in positive experiences for Māori whānau.  Whānau support was identified as one of the most important coping strategies for mothers in the NICU.  Those participants who were encouraged to maintain connections with whānau members reported more positive experiences overall.

Three levels of implications were identified in this research. Firstly, that the participants'narratives provided a range of coping strategies for future Māori parents and their whānau who enter an NICU.  Secondly, there are implications for NICU policy, and best practice particularly when supporting Māori in an NICU environment.  Lastly, the narratives provided meaningful insights that contribute to gaps in local, national, and international literature.  Overall, I realised that just like me, these mothers, and other whānau members, constructed narratives that are meaningful accounts to be shared with others.

year: 2009

title: My tūpuna were houseless once too: Aspirations of ‘home’ for rangatahi Māori in transitional housing

authors: Manuirirangi, Kayla

abstract: This research explores the concept of ‘home' for rangatahi Māori experiencing housing insecurity and residing within a transitional housing service in Kirikiriroa, Hamilton. Conducted in partnership with Kirikiriroa Family Services Trust (KFST), a kaupapa Māori community housing provider, this study aimed to identify rangatahi perceptions of ‘home’ and aspirations of 'home’ to contribute towards strategies for better housing supports and brighter rangatahi futures. A cohort of seven rangatahi Māori participants were involved in this study (all who identified as female; aged 15-19 years old). At the time of this study, rangatahi participants were residing in Kirikiriroa, experiencing housing insecurity and were living within a transitional house provided by KFST, either with whānau or independently. Guided by Kaupapa Māori methodology, there were a mixture of qualitative methods used to capture rangatahi voices, including Whakawhanaungatanga, Sticky Notes Brainstorms, Rangatahi Wānanga and Thematic Analysis. Through this data analysis process, a visual mind map was generated to draw out the key findings from the three main research areas: rangatahi aspirations for home; the current realities of home; and how to build a bridge to a better future. Key findings from this research conclude that: (1) Rangatahi need strength-based support; (2) Rangatahi need a permanent and stable place to call ‘home’; (3) Rangatahi need supportive adults in their life who they can trust; (4) Rangatahi need encouragement to realise their aspirations; (5) Rangatahi opinions matter; (6) Rangatahi experience contradictions; and, the need to (7) Prioritise intervention over punishment. For policy and decision-makers, these findings suggest that rangatahi Māori voices should be included in urban design process and that more Māori solutions should be utilised within this urban context. For researchers, the study highlights the importance of advancing Māori housing aspirations and deepening understandings of ‘home’ for rangatahi Māori living independent of their whānau.

text: My tūpuna were houseless once too: Aspirations of ‘home’ for rangatahi Māori in transitional housing This research explores the concept of ‘home' for rangatahi Māori experiencing housing insecurity and residing within a transitional housing service in Kirikiriroa, Hamilton. Conducted in partnership with Kirikiriroa Family Services Trust (KFST), a kaupapa Māori community housing provider, this study aimed to identify rangatahi perceptions of ‘home’ and aspirations of 'home’ to contribute towards strategies for better housing supports and brighter rangatahi futures. A cohort of seven rangatahi Māori participants were involved in this study (all who identified as female; aged 15-19 years old). At the time of this study, rangatahi participants were residing in Kirikiriroa, experiencing housing insecurity and were living within a transitional house provided by KFST, either with whānau or independently. Guided by Kaupapa Māori methodology, there were a mixture of qualitative methods used to capture rangatahi voices, including Whakawhanaungatanga, Sticky Notes Brainstorms, Rangatahi Wānanga and Thematic Analysis. Through this data analysis process, a visual mind map was generated to draw out the key findings from the three main research areas: rangatahi aspirations for home; the current realities of home; and how to build a bridge to a better future. Key findings from this research conclude that: (1) Rangatahi need strength-based support; (2) Rangatahi need a permanent and stable place to call ‘home’; (3) Rangatahi need supportive adults in their life who they can trust; (4) Rangatahi need encouragement to realise their aspirations; (5) Rangatahi opinions matter; (6) Rangatahi experience contradictions; and, the need to (7) Prioritise intervention over punishment. For policy and decision-makers, these findings suggest that rangatahi Māori voices should be included in urban design process and that more Māori solutions should be utilised within this urban context. For researchers, the study highlights the importance of advancing Māori housing aspirations and deepening understandings of ‘home’ for rangatahi Māori living independent of their whānau.

year: 2025

title: The Price of Pain: Studying Strategies Used by Women with Chronic Pain Disability to Sustain Worker Identity

authors: Ferry-Parker, Charlotte

subjects: Disability

abstract: Chronic pain is pain that persists longer than would be expected for healing to occur. It is an invisible disability for 20% of people worldwide, affecting a higher percentage of women than men. It is defined as an invisible disability because it has no immediate physical expression. In the workplace, employers, supervisors and colleagues may not know that work needs to be reconfigured to enable a person with chronic pain to function effectively. This thesis investigates how women with invisible pain disability are able to be successful at work. The research questions as set out in Chapter One are: What is the experience of women in chronic pain who are involved in paid work? How does suffering chronic pain force women to relate to their ‘space’ differently in the workplace? What kind of strategies are put in place to enable women to thrive in the workplace?
Chapter One sets out the initial qualitative research design. Its main elements were solicited photo diaries and qualitative semi-structured interviews. Five participants were recruited. However, after three months none of them had completed any diary entries. Chapter Two outlines the modified research methodology that was then developed. A variety of ways of interviewing and questioning participants was used and additional participants were recruited. Information was collected from seven women. 
Reflections on participants’ responses led to the discovery of the significance of the role of identity in their lives. Two of the significant identities for the women in this project were those of worker and of a person in chronic pain. Chapter Three includes a discussion of how participants manage the clash between these by prioritising their identity as worker over their pain identity. 
In Chapter Four, seven strategies are identified as the main methods used by participants to maintain their worker identity in the face of their chronic pain. These have been identified through thematic analysis of what the participants reported. The strategies are: modifying the work space, managing their workload, establishing and maintaining positive relationships with employers, developing supportive relationships with colleagues and family, receiving and asking for help when required, disassociating themselves from pain, and managing life outside of work. 
The conclusion, Chapter Five, summarises the project’s findings about the salience of worker identity and how strategies are used by women to maintain their worker identity. It also includes the methodological insight that the failure of participants to complete solicited diaries arose out of the disruption to identity salience caused by having to focus on their chronic pain disability.

text: The Price of Pain: Studying Strategies Used by Women with Chronic Pain Disability to Sustain Worker Identity Chronic pain is pain that persists longer than would be expected for healing to occur. It is an invisible disability for 20% of people worldwide, affecting a higher percentage of women than men. It is defined as an invisible disability because it has no immediate physical expression. In the workplace, employers, supervisors and colleagues may not know that work needs to be reconfigured to enable a person with chronic pain to function effectively. This thesis investigates how women with invisible pain disability are able to be successful at work. The research questions as set out in Chapter One are: What is the experience of women in chronic pain who are involved in paid work? How does suffering chronic pain force women to relate to their ‘space’ differently in the workplace? What kind of strategies are put in place to enable women to thrive in the workplace?
Chapter One sets out the initial qualitative research design. Its main elements were solicited photo diaries and qualitative semi-structured interviews. Five participants were recruited. However, after three months none of them had completed any diary entries. Chapter Two outlines the modified research methodology that was then developed. A variety of ways of interviewing and questioning participants was used and additional participants were recruited. Information was collected from seven women. 
Reflections on participants’ responses led to the discovery of the significance of the role of identity in their lives. Two of the significant identities for the women in this project were those of worker and of a person in chronic pain. Chapter Three includes a discussion of how participants manage the clash between these by prioritising their identity as worker over their pain identity. 
In Chapter Four, seven strategies are identified as the main methods used by participants to maintain their worker identity in the face of their chronic pain. These have been identified through thematic analysis of what the participants reported. The strategies are: modifying the work space, managing their workload, establishing and maintaining positive relationships with employers, developing supportive relationships with colleagues and family, receiving and asking for help when required, disassociating themselves from pain, and managing life outside of work. 
The conclusion, Chapter Five, summarises the project’s findings about the salience of worker identity and how strategies are used by women to maintain their worker identity. It also includes the methodological insight that the failure of participants to complete solicited diaries arose out of the disruption to identity salience caused by having to focus on their chronic pain disability.

year: 2017