Supporting community-based, non-clinical workers to build meaningful and culturally safe relationships with Māori and Pacific people with type 2 diabetes has the potential to improve health outcomes, according to a qualitative study underpinned by the Tangata Hourua research framework. Focus groups with dietitians, community health workers and kai manaaki were held in South Auckland to gather information, and thematic analysis of transcripts was used to identify key themes. Themes common across all groups were whakawhanaungatanga (actively building relationships), cultural safety (mana enhancing) and cultural alignment to role. When compared with dietitians, kai manaaki and community health workers both strongly associated a multidisciplinary approach to experiences of feeling un/valued in their roles. All groups generally agreed that their roles required good relationships and understanding of the people they were working with.
