A leading Māori health researcher says diabetes continues to have a devastating impact on Māori men and their whānau, warning that without urgent action the health inequities driving the disease will continue to worsen.
Dr Rawiri Keenan, a GP and Associate Professor of Primary Care at the University of Waikato, has spent years examining the disproportionate burden diabetes places on Māori communities and advocating for solutions grounded in equity and kaupapa Māori approaches.
Diabetes remains one of the most significant health challenges facing Māori, contributing to higher rates of heart disease, kidney failure, blindness, amputations and premature death. Māori are diagnosed more frequently and often at younger ages than non-Māori, creating long-term impacts for individuals, whānau and communities.
Dr Keenan says effective solutions already exist, but they must be delivered in ways that reflect Māori realities and aspirations.
Kaupapa Māori health services, whānau-centred models of care, marae-based programmes and community-led initiatives are increasingly recognised as some of the most successful approaches to preventing and managing diabetes. These programmes often combine clinical care with cultural support, strengthening connections to whānau, identity, language and community.
Health advocates say culturally grounded services are more likely to engage Māori men, build trust and support long-term behaviour change than traditional healthcare models alone.
Early intervention is also viewed as critical. Identifying risk factors before diabetes develops can significantly reduce the likelihood of serious complications later in life.
Regular health checks, earlier screening, healthy nutrition programmes, physical activity initiatives and better access to primary healthcare can help identify issues before they become life-threatening. For many Māori communities, however, barriers such as cost, transport, workforce shortages and limited service availability continue to prevent early engagement with healthcare.
Despite the scale of the problem, concerns remain about the level of political attention diabetes receives compared with other major health issues.
Many Māori health leaders argue that diabetes should be treated as a national priority, given its widespread impact and the substantial costs it places on families, communities and the health system.
They point to persistent inequities in funding, access and outcomes as evidence that stronger leadership and long-term investment are needed.
Dr Keenan says addressing diabetes requires more than encouraging individuals to make healthier choices. The disease is closely linked to broader social and economic factors including poverty, housing, food security, education and access to healthcare.
Health experts say meaningful change will require systemic reforms that place equity at the centre of decision-making. These include greater investment in Māori health providers, expanding the Māori health workforce, improving access to preventative care, strengthening primary healthcare services and ensuring Māori communities have a stronger voice in health planning and delivery.
For Māori men, diabetes is not simply a personal health challenge. It is a reflection of wider inequities that continue to shape health outcomes across generations.
As rates of diabetes remain stubbornly high, Māori health leaders are calling for a coordinated national response that combines prevention, early intervention and culturally grounded care to help turn the tide on what many describe as an ongoing pandemic.
