Exploring the experiences of young Māori mothers

Abstract

This thesis explores the lived experiences of three young Māori mothers (aged 16 years old) in Aotearoa, New Zealand, focusing on their strengths, challenges, and resilience. By employing a Kaupapa Māori methodological framework, the research aims to reframe narratives about young Māori mothers towards a strengths-based perspective, advocating for protection and nurturing Māori whakapapa. Using qualitative methods, the study explores the pūrākau (stories) of three young Māori mothers attending a teen parent unit in Waikato. The study highlights how, by living within both individualistic and collective realms, these young mothers actively challenge stigma, assert their worth, and develop unique underlying strengths. The findings, structured around emergent themes from their collective experiences, reveal a dichotomy: these young mothers must navigate the individualistic pressures and high expectations of motherhood while also drawing strength from collective responsibilities upheld within their whānau and supportive community services. Despite facing significant societal stigma and systemic barriers, the mothers demonstrate immense strength. Their resilience is grounded in whānau connections, proactive self-care, and engagement with taiao, wairua, and tino rangatiratanga—processes that also support intergenerational healing. This research underscores the importance of culturally responsive support systems that honour Indigenous knowledge and collective well-being. It offers insights for reorienting policy and practice to empower young Māori mothers, recognising their tino rangatiratanga and transformative agency by embracing their multifaceted realities.