The impact of Covid-19 on Māori will be under the spotlight in new research that aims to improve future pandemic responses.

Whanganui-based health and environment research institute Te Atawhai o Te Ao will explore Māori experiences of the vaccination rollout, mandates, the passport and the ongoing impacts, including Long Covid.

Institute director Dr Rāwiri Tinirau says the year-long research project aims to show how whānau, communities and the health system responded to the pandemic and vaccine rollout, and provide insights into Long Covid, child immunisation and the pandemic's overall impacts.

The research will be used to inform planning for future pandemic responses.

'It is incredibly important that we produce meaningful, evidence-based Kaupapa Māori results of our experiences of the vaccination rollout to help inform this space moving forward.

'We know that Covid-19 has had a huge impact on our whānau, and our country as a whole. This opportunity allows us to explore what that actually looks like and where we can learn, so we can do better in the future.”

The work is being funded by the Ministry of Health and is one of 23 projects each allocated between $200,000 and $500,000.

There are 75 applicants for the funding, which comes through the Covid-19 health system response and the National Immunisation Programme.

'The overall aim of our project is to generate innovative whānau, hapū and iwi knowledge in health and wellbeing research by exploring the experiences and impacts of the vaccination rollout on whānau, hapū, and iwi Māori,” says Tinirau.

The institute will collaborate with indigenous tertiary provider Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi through its Te Tohu Toi Tangata: Bachelor of Humanities programme.

Lecturers Fiona Wiremu and Dr Billie-Jo Pomare say the programme is delighted to support Te Atawhai o Te Ao.

They say the project aligns with their own research Whanake te Whānau, a study of how Covid experiences have changed Māori traditions, customs and values.

Te Atawhai o Te Ao lead researcher Miriama Cribb says the research team will collect the stories and experiences of whānau Māori and undertake an analysis of the data and national modelling of the vaccination rollout.

'Through interviews, focus groups and surveys with key population groups – rangatahi, hapū, marae, key personnel in the Whanganui and Bay of Plenty DHB regions – we hope to identify systemic and implementation improvements for future vaccination rollouts and provide actionable solutions and insights tailored to our population,” says Cribb.

The project will include comparisons with other Indigenous populations and their experiences.

-Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air