Rangahau | Research
Learn about the background to the research project & resource creation
Research method
Our study explored issues arising for rangatahi Māori who are becoming sexual beings by engaging interviews with rangatahi Māori, kaimahi, and kaumātua. We were interested in how these issues were shaped by social assumptions about gender, sexuality and racism. We were also interested in possible solutions and positive representations of Māori sexuality through mātauranga Māori.
Research team
Our study supported Māori & allied postgraduate students in psychology to learn about Kaupapa Māori research, qualitative methods, and sensitive research. Our students contributed to the data collection, analysis and dissemination of the project findings.
Research values
Our study required a high degree of sensitivity, engaging with a complex and challenging research topic. We enacted our values in our engagements and interactions with one another, with our communities, and in the presentation of our research findings.
Kaupapa Māori
Kaupapa Māori sexual violence specialists hold knowledge to support survivors and whānau to restore and heal from sexual violence. These knowledges are crucial in supporting rangatahi, whānau and communities to prevent sexual violence.
This project continues the work of kaupapa Māori sexual violence specialist practitioners and researchers.
In Aotearoa New Zealand:
50%
of wāhine Māori experience sexual violence, this is nearly twice as often as other women
25%
of young Māori women have experienced sexual violence by the age of 18
25%
of tāne Māori experience sexual violence, compared to about 17% for other men in Aotearoa
68%
of Takatāpui bisexual people experience sexual violence
57%
of Takatāpui lesbian or gay people people experience sexual violence
55%
of Takatāpui nonbinary people experience sexual violence
50%
of Takatāpui trans men experience sexual violence
33%
of Takatāpui trans women experience sexual violence
Research rationale | Take rangahau
Indigenous communities experience disproportionately high rates of sexual violence
Indigenous communities experience disproportionately high rates of sexual violence. The harms of colonisation across generations are often missing from conversations about our national identity and are not well understood in how they shape Māori experiences of sexual violence.