Kia Kite ai te Ora: A Kaupapa Māori mixed-method study of the impact of COVID-19 on the Ngāti Maniapoto tribe of Aotearoa New Zealand

Māori, the Indigenous people of Aotearoa New Zealand, view health as holistic; ill health, like Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), therefore has implications far beyond physical health. To improve service delivery to Māori, it is essential to understand their perspectives. This article shares findings from the Kia Kitea ai te Ora Life-Changing COVID-19 research project which provides insight into Māori views on COVID-19 infection and Māori experiences of COVID-19-related support services in Aotearoa New Zealand. Specifically the impact of COVID-19 on Ngāti Maniapoto, a Māori iwi (tribe), whose traditional lands are located in the central-west of the North Island of New Zealand. This kaupapa Māori mixed-methods project involved a survey and interviews to gather Indigenous knowledge on the views of tribal members who experienced COVID-19 between March 2021 and March 2023. With a focus on the lived experience narrative of COVID-19 and the associated post-COVID-19 environment. The findings of this research identified and confirmed opportunities for improvement in responses to COVID-19 requiring further investigation. Findings from the participants’ lived experiences also offer opportunities to promote Indigenous-led action concerning health inequities to mitigate the repercussions of the COVID-19 for Indigenous communities.