I Want to Walk with my Moko
Applying Community Based Participatory
Research in the Creation of a Diabetes
Prevention Documentary with
New Zealand Māori
Alison Farmer, Jeffrey Gage, Ray Kirk
University of Canterbury, NZ
Timothy Edgar
Emerson College, Boston, USA
Overview
• Type 2 diabetes is almost three times more
prevalent in the indigenous people of New Zealand
(Māori) than non-Māori.
• Little is known about their personal understanding
or experience of the disease.
• Need for innovative approaches to health
communication
• Absence of theoretically grounded audio-visual
materials
Aim
• To engage Māori health leaders and community
members in a participatory process to develop a
culturally relevant diabetes prevention
documentary
• CBPR is a partnership approach to research that
equitably involves community members,
practitioners, and academic researchers in all
aspects of the process, enabling all partners to
contribute their expertise and share responsibility
and ownership (Israel, et al., 1998)
Method
Partnership Development
Community Advisory Board
Key Informant Interviews
Focus Groups (Hui)
Co-analysis of data (informed documentary
messages)
• Theoretical approach determined (Collective
efficacy)
• Documentary created
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Strengths
“We’ve never been asked that simple question. What would
you like to see in a film? We don’t get asked about Maori”
• Reflects the cultural values of the participating
community
• Research with a community rather than on a
community
• Acknowledges different ways of knowing
• Documentary is a way for communities to prioritise
their own health issues and for participants to
share their own health narratives
Challenges
• Gaining trust
• Time
• Varying communication styles
• Different world views and need for cultural humility
• Tensions regarding academic and community
expectations