A new report is calling for significant improvements to the way stroke and gout are prevented, treated and managed for Māori, after whānau across the Wellington region shared their experiences of navigating long-term health conditions and the barriers they continue to face.
The report, WHĀNAU VOICE: Whānau Māori Experiences of Stroke and Gout Across the Wellington Rohe, has been launched by the Āti Awa Toa Hauora Partnership Board in collaboration with Stroke Aotearoa and Arthritis NZ Mateponapona Aotearoa.
It is the third and final publication in the Partnership Board’s Puanga–Matariki Insights Series 2026, bringing together the lived experiences of whānau Māori from Pōneke, Porirua, Kāpiti and Te Awakairangi to better understand what support is needed for those living with stroke and gout.
The findings are based on an online survey conducted over six weeks earlier this year and highlight ongoing inequities affecting Māori, while identifying opportunities to strengthen prevention, improve access to care and deliver better long-term health outcomes.
The report emphasises that listening to whānau must be more than a consultation exercise. Instead, it argues that lived experience should directly influence future planning, investment and the design of health services so they better reflect the needs of Māori communities.
The partnership between iwi, national health organisations and community providers has also exposed systemic gaps that continue to affect people recovering from stroke or managing chronic conditions such as gout and arthritis.
The organisations involved say the findings demonstrate the importance of working collectively to create equitable health pathways that support both individuals and their wider whānau, recognising that long-term conditions often affect entire families rather than just the person receiving treatment.
The report also highlights the value of genuine partnerships between iwi and the health sector, showing how shared leadership and whānau-centred approaches can lead to more effective and culturally responsive services.
By placing whānau voices at the centre of the research, the project aims to ensure future health policy is shaped by the lived realities of Māori rather than assumptions about what communities need.
As the final report in the Puanga–Matariki Insights Series, the publication reinforces the importance of using Matariki as a time not only for reflection but also for action, with participating organisations committed to turning the insights into practical improvements that deliver healthier futures for Māori across the Wellington rohe.
The full report is available through the Āti Awa Toa Hauora Partnership Board website.
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