Connecting health and place through age-friendly builtenvironments to reduce experiences of loneliness (mokemoke) for Māori
A qualitative study has highlighted ontological approaches to aging-in-place for Indigenous peoples, as a strategy to decrease experiences of loneliness. Twenty residents of an urban papakāinga (a modern Māori age-friendly housing village) were interviewed for the study. Identified characteristics that enabled housing spaces to facilitate connection included haporitanga (opportunities for community and socialisation), āhurutanga (comfortable, safe spaces for movement and mobility focusing on the natural world), ūkaipōtanga (sense of sustenance and belonging), and tangihanga (culturally appropriate end of-life and afterlife care customs).
With growing interest from the World Health Organization, linking social isolation with heart disease, depression and early deaths, I think this research provides an important take on loneliness from an Indigenous perspective. There is real potential to inform community planning around culture, nature and collective which we should all take notice of.
Reference: Health Place. 2026;98:103620.
New Zealand paediatric respiratory stock-take survey
A survey of health practitioners across New Zealand has highlighted inadequate staffing and provision of services for paediatric respiratory care. Responses (n =23) were obtained from 17 hospitals, of which only three (located in main centres) employed respiratory- and sleep-specialist senior medical officers. Paediatricians with an interest in respiratory care were evenly distributed, with low numbers reported in the Northern region, Wellington and Canterbury. Senior nurse staffing was generally consistent across the country, except in the Northern region. However, allied health staffing was inconsistent, with many districts in the Te Manawa Taki region reporting little or no respiratory physiotherapy staff. More than half of all districts across the country had limited or no access to videofluoroscopic swallow studies, as well as poor access to chest computed tomography scanning under general anaesthesia.
Respiratory conditions are leading causes for hospitalisations and time off school for tamariki Māori, and so these results are concerning. With the move to more localised health service decision making, such as workforce development and coordination, I hope we see improvements as soon as possible.
Reference: N Z Med J. 2026;139(1632):114-119.
The co-creation of eating and wellbeing guidelines with rangatahi (young people) in Aotearoa New Zealand
Rangatahi Māori have successfully co-created a set of eating and wellbeing guidelines for New Zealand young people, known as the Manaora Rangatahi Guidelines. Wānanga were held at a marae in Hawke’s Bay, with feedback presentations at four local secondary schools. A total of 17 rangatahi worked alongside Māori and non-Māori experts to create 10 eating and 10 wellbeing guideline messages, and 94 students provided feedback via surveys. The guidelines addressed contemporary issues such as sustainable eating, ultra-processed foods, social dimensions of eating and physical activity, screen time and cyberbullying. Respect, rights and responsibilities were emphasised. Several of the guideline messages incorporated the concepts of mauri (life force).
I love these two studies because rangatahi were not treated as participants but as genuine partners. The success of the social media campaign – with almost 1.5 million impressions – shows that Indigenous youth-led approaches are successful – we just need to trust them to lead it.
Reference: Public Health Nutr. 2026;29(1):e87
Gastric cancer survival (in)equity from 2002 to 2021: examining demographic and clinical characteristics among Māori and non-Māori
While gastric cancer mortality risk is still higher for Māori compared with non Māori, this disparity has reduced in recent years, according to a registry study. Records for 1452 Māori and 6402 non-Māori diagnosed with gastric cancer were obtained from the New Zealand Cancer Registry, and linked with mortality data from Statistics New Zealand. Ethnic inequity in gastric cancer mortality was apparent over the period 2002 to 2017, but was smaller in more recent periods, particularly 1-year age-standardised mortality. The mortality difference for Māori compared with non-Māori was most pronounced for those aged 45-64 years.
Getting H. pylori testing and treatment right is so important for Māori and Pacific peoples who have higher rates of both H. pylori infection and associated gastric cancer. International research now shows that H. pylori is the single greatest modifiable risk factor for gastric cancer and may carry a greater population-level risk than inherited stomach cancer gene syndromes. Together, these papers demonstrate that inequities in testing, access to treatment, and early intervention are not just issues of infection management, but major contributors to preventable cancer inequities, reinforcing the importance of Māori-led approaches.
Reference: N Z Med J. 2026;139(1632):44-70.
Journey towards piloting Helicobacter pyloriscreen-and-treat to address health inequitie sin Aotearoa New Zealand
A paper reviewing H. pylori infection, sequelae and testing in New Zealand has suggested there is an urgent need to introduce a Māori-led, screen-and-treat pilot for the infection. The prevalence of H. pylori is higher in Māori and Pacific peoples compared with Europeans, but they are less likely to be tested for the infection. They are also more likely to be hospitalised for peptic ulcer and to develop gastric cancer than Europeans.
Getting H. pylori testing and treatment right is so important for Māori and Pacific peoples who have higher rates of both H. pylori infection and associated gastric cancer. International research now shows that H. pylori is the single greatest modifiable risk factor for gastric cancer and may carry a greater population-level risk than inherited stomach cancer gene syndromes. Together, these papers demonstrate that inequities in testing, access to treatment, and early intervention are not just issues of infection management, but major contributors to preventable cancer inequities, reinforcing the
importance of Māori-led approaches.
Reference: Helicobacter. 2026;31(2):e70123.
Participant experiences of the Knee Care for Arthritis through Pharmacy Service (KneeCAPS)
The experiences of individuals involved in the community pharmacist-led KneeCAPS trial were captured in a cross-sectional, qualitative study. After screening for knee osteoarthritis, intervention arm participants were offered explanations, support with goal setting and referral for exercise, dietary support, and/or medication review. A total of 23 intervention arm participants (11 Māori, 12 non-Māori) were interviewed after completing
the trial. Two main themes were identified: 1) perceptions of value in receiving goal orientated, empowering and collaborative care that led to sustained behaviour changes, with Māori participants also reporting holistic and culturally responsive care; and 2) unclear processes or missed opportunities in service delivery, unmet expectations, and disruptions in care due to complexities outside of KneeCAPS.
Great to finally include research about osteoarthritis and Māori here! Also love that the study moves beyond documenting the inequities to exploring Māori-led solutions.
Reference: Osteoarthr Cartil Open. 2026;8(2):100759.
Declining incidence of atrial fibrillation-associated ischemic stroke in Auckland, New Zealand
An analysis of Auckland Regional Community Stroke study data found that although the incidence of atrial fibrillation-associated ischaemic stroke decreased for the year ended August 2021 compared with the year ended February 2012, persistent ethnic inequities remained. The overall crude incidence decreased from 49.0 to 32.7 per 100,000 population across the two time periods. When incidence was analysed by ethnicity, temporal reductions were evident for Europeans, but not for Māori or Pacific peoples. Dispensing of oral anticoagulants increased over the two time periods in all ethnic groups.
An important reminder that a ‘one size fits all’ solution in health can widen disparities. As the authors note, to achieve equity we need interventions for those with the greatest disease burden so that they experience the greatest gains.
Reference: J Am Heart Assoc. 2026;15(5):e045260.
Uptake and early outcomes of a meal replacement intervention in an ethnically diverse adult population living with obesity and significant comorbidity
A meal replacement intervention delivered in a specialist service achieved clinically meaningful weight loss and improved metabolic and psychological outcomes in a predominantly Māori and Pacific population of adults with obesity and significant comorbidities. Participants (n = 128) had been declined bariatric surgery, were young adults with type 2 diabetes, or had been deferred from a corneal transplant because of their weight. Participants received a 12-week, meal replacement low energy diet, with adjunctive obesity medications available under pre-specified criteria. At baseline, mean body weight was 145.0 kg, body mass index was 49.9 kg/m2, and 73% of participants were receiving treatment for type 2 diabetes (mean glycosylated haemoglobin [HbA1c] 67.6 mmol/mol). Overall, 72% of participants completed the intervention, and achieved a mean weight loss of 10.9 kg. Among those with diabetes, 67% completed the intervention, with 33% achieving an HbA1c <50 mmol/mol on no diabetes medication. Mean psychological and quality of life scores improved.
Great to see another resource for weight loss in our kete – along with Green prescriptions, new medicines (and hopefully some of them funded in the next 12 months) and surgery. I understand work is being undertaken to help whānau choose the best option for them, based on both clinical and life factors. Watch this space!
Reference: Diabetes Obes Metab. 2026;28(5):3924-3932.
The use of blood biomarkers in lung cancer screening in Aotearoa New Zealand: a cross-sectional survey of Māori perspectives and preferences
A cross-sectional survey of Māori found that participants generally supported using blood samples in lung cancer screening, but there were some regional differences. Survey participants were potential lung cancer “screenees” and their whānau from Te Tai Tokerau and Tāmaki Makaurau. Overall, most participants (83.7% screenees; 81.4%
whānau) were at least “comfortable” donating blood, although participants from Te Tai Tokerau were less comfortable than those from Tāmaki Makaurau. Clear information about blood use, protecting the health of future generations, and being able to consent to specific uses were identified as key priorities for using blood samples in lung cancer screening.
From Te Tai Tokerau myself, I was both fascinated and unfortunately not surprised with the regional differences described here – they reflect longstanding issues in access, trust and negative experiences with the health system in Te Norta. However, peoples’ rights to the best healthcare and outcomes, particularly given higher lung cancer rates and deaths, mean that further work to address these issues is necessary.
Reference: N Z Med J. 2026;139(1633):76-92.
