Hoki ki te ūkaipō - whenua and hauora : an exploration of whānau, whenua and restoration for wellbeing : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Māori Knowledge at Massey University, Manawatū, Aotearoa New Zealand

Abstract

This thesis, Hoki ki te ūkaipō – whenua and hauora: an exploration of whānau, whenua and restoration for wellbeing, explores the intergenerational wellbeing of Te Whānau Parata ki Waikanae through engagement with whenua tīpuna (ancestral lands) in the Kapiti region, using a kaupapa Māori, hapū led qualitative methodology. Building on previous iwi-led health research, the study investigates how contemporary expressions of ūkaipō (sites and sources of nurturing and sustenance) and the transmission of kaupapa tuku iho (inherited ancestral values) contribute to whānau flourishing across three generations.

Employing a multi-method design – encompassing interviews, observations, wānanga, and rich ethnographic documentation – the research identifies four core findings, that: reclamation of whenua tipuna provided opportunities to access tikanga and tīpuna wisdom; whānau thrived intergenerationally through engagement with whenua; operating collectively as whānau enhanced the potential for current and future generations; and, mana whenua relationships operate as a system for change.

Findings highlight how reclaiming ancestral land not only supports wellbeing through practical, cultural, and spiritual engagement, but also offers pathways for transformation and mana motuhake (self-determination) at whānau and hapū levels.

The Waipunāhau Framework and associated tohu (symbol) developed in this study provide a locally grounded, strategic evaluative tool for whānau-led transformation, showcasing how contemporary, strengths-based approaches rooted in mātauranga Māori can optimise hauora and support whānau resilience amidst ongoing structural inequities.

The thesis contributes to the mātauranga continuum by documenting an exemplar of flourishing through Indigenous-led restoration, collective action, and ethical research practice grounded in tikanga, offering transferable insights for other Māori and Indigenous communities engaged in similar kaupapa.

The PhD research supported by a Māori Health Research PhD Scholarship received from the Health Research Council of New Zealand, enquired deeper into the notion of hauora being enhanced by being in te taiao (the natural world) and the role that whenua tīpuna has in supporting whānau to flourish.

Located in Waikanae, Kapiti, Aotearoa, the study included three generations of whānau engaged in various activities on their tūranga pito.