This research was undertaken over a 3-month period in 2011 by Māori dietetic students with Māori supervision. Analysis of observational and discussion data was guided by Kaupapa Māori methodology. The 4 Māori households (18 individuals) in this investigation each contributed over 40 hours of data. The analysis identified 4 key themes around the experience of food insecurity in the household. All households had experienced income-related food insecurity and this was expressed by the theme ‘Overcoming socioeconomic hardship’; this insecurity was felt most keenly by the low-income family. In all households, food insecurity had short‐ and long-term impacts on hauora (well‐being). Whānau described strategies they had developed to reduce the severity of food insecurity: themes were identified around the sharing of food, gardening for food, and teaching food and nutrition skills. Thematic analysis of the texts used by the household members expressed Māori values and/or hauora influences, encompassing manaakitanga (sharing food/hospitality), whanaungatanga (family relationships) and kaitiakitanga (caring for the environment).
