Moanaroa Pacific Research Network

Permanent link for this collectionhttp://hdl.handle.net/10292/21419

The Moanaroa Pacific Research Network is dedicated to realising Pacific research aspirations that centre Indigenous Pacific knowledge systems, research methodologies and practices shaped with and of direct benefit to Pacific communities.

Browse

Now showing 1 - 20 of 89

Longitudinal and Life Course Research: Pacific Birth Cohort Study
(Living Places Publishing, 2026-03-06) Tautolo, El-Shadan; Iusitini, Leon
This chapter focuses on longitudinal and lifecourse research in Aotearoa New Zealand. Our brief unpacking of the Pacific Islands Families Study as a longitudinal and lifecourse research takes into consideration today’s context. A longitudinal lifecourse approach recognises the significant developmental factors across childhood, adolescence, and adulthood that affect Pacific health and wellbeing outcomes. The Pacific Islands Families Study utilises this understanding to support Pacific families to be successful and lead fulfilling and productive lives in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Associations Between Body Mass Index and Body Composition Among Pacific Adolescents in Aotearoa New Zealand
(Nature Portfolio, 2026-05-21) Dai, Yajun; Howe, Anna S; Iusitini, Leon; Tautolo, El-Shadan; Whitcombe-Dobbs, Sarah; Mohammed, Jalal; Schlüter, Philip J
BMI and BMI z-scores are widely used to classify adolescent overweight and obesity (OWOB), but they do not distinguish fat from fat-free mass and may misclassify adiposity. This study aimed to examine how BMI and BMI z-scores relate to body composition among Pacific adolescents in Aotearoa New Zealand (A-NZ). Cross-sectional data from an A-NZ Pacific birth cohort were analysed, assessing body size, body composition, and demographics in 871 adolescents (median age 14.2 years). Body composition was estimated using conventional and vector bioelectrical impedance analysis. Sex-stratified analytical comparisons included fractional polynomial regression of BMI z-scores with fat mass index (FMI) and fat-free mass index (FFMI), Hattori plots, and vector analysis parameters. From BMI z-scores, OWOB was defined in 337 (80.3%) females and 342 (75.8%) males. BMI z-scores fitted FFMI well, but important nonlinear patterns emerged between BMI z-scores and FMI. At any given BMI, Pacific adolescents displayed wide variation in FMI and FFMI combinations, with greater variability among males than females. Mean vector length shortened progressively with increasing body size. Phase angle increased from normal weight to overweight but plateaued from overweight to obesity. BMI-defined OWOB inadequately captured adiposity in this population.
Exploring the Potential of Low-Barrier AI Tools for Culturally Responsive STEM Learning: Early Māori and Pacific Learner Insights
(MDPI AG, 2026-05-21) Williams, Toiroa; Nguyen, Minh; Ka'ai, Tania; Vallayil, Manju; Tukimata, Nogiata; Smith-Henderson, Tania
Recent advances in large language models (LLMs) have enabled new forms of software creation through natural-language interaction. However, many AI-assisted coding tools continue to assume familiarity with development environments, programming workflows, and technical conventions, which may limit accessibility for early-stage learners and communities historically underrepresented in digital participation. This challenge is particularly relevant in Aotearoa New Zealand, where Māori and Pacific peoples remain underrepresented across STEM and technology pathways. This paper introduces TechTahi, a browser-based, syntax-free AI-assisted platform designed to support low-barrier digital creation through natural-language prompts and immediate in-browser previews. The study had two aims: to describe the design rationale and workflow of TechTahi and to explore early learner perceptions following initial use of the platform. An exploratory pilot design was employed. Five participants completed a post-use survey after hands-on interaction with TechTahi. Responses were analysed descriptively, with open-ended feedback reviewed for recurring themes. Findings suggested generally positive perceptions of accessibility and ease of use, particularly the ability to create working applications without prior coding knowledge. Participants also identified opportunities for culturally relevant features, including language support and locally meaningful design elements, alongside areas for improvement such as clearer onboarding guidance and reduced information density. These preliminary findings suggest that syntax-free, culturally responsive AI creation tools may offer promising pathways for widening participation in digital learning. Further research with larger and more diverse samples is needed to evaluate longer-term educational impact.
Social Frailty in the Context of Healthy Ageing in Aotearoa New Zealand
(Wiley, 2026-04-17) Teh, Ruth; Rolleston, Anna; Tautolo, El-Shadan; Leaumoana, Tulua; Miskelly, Philippa; Korohina, Erina; Campbell, Karen; Harwood, Matire; Wong Soon, Hoy Neng; Henning, Marcus A
For many older adults, maintaining optimal physical and cognitive function is more important than longevity. To optimise functional ability for older adults, developing a comprehensive understanding of the intersection of different determinants of healthy ageing from the perspectives of a group of diverse older persons is essential. The current research aimed to explore the essence of social frailty within the context of healthy ageing. We conducted seven focus groups consisting of 43 older Māori, Pacific people aged 55+ and non‐Māori/non‐Pacific people aged 65+, who are part of the culturally diverse landscape of Aotearoa New Zealand, to explore what social frailty meant to this cohort. The interviews were audio‐recorded, and the data analysed using an inductive thematic analysis approach. Four themes emerged from the data with cultural backgrounds embedded within the intricate nexus of these: (1) physical and cognitive health, (2) mindset, (3) resources and (4) connections. Declining physical or cognitive health can impact an individual’s confidence and motivation to maintain social connections, potentially leading to loneliness and isolation. Mindset, influenced by belief systems and cultural backgrounds, plays a pivotal role in activating (e.g., competency) and accessing (e.g., healthcare services) resources for physical and mental health and fostering social connections. The theme ‘Connections’ extends beyond family, friends and community to include aspects of whakapapa (genealogy) and spirituality. These findings informed the development of a social frailty framework that best characterises Aotearoa New Zealand. This research, conducted through interviews with older adults residing in the community, has enriched our understanding of social frailty. The cultural context lens is important because it reveals differences, both obvious and nuanced, in how people from diverse cultural backgrounds view social frailty. These insights extend a Euro‐centric perspective of social frailty by acknowledging the role culture plays within the context of healthy ageing.
Life Course Trajectories for Young Pasifika in Aotearoa: Protocol for the 25-year Follow-up of the Pacific Islands Families Study Cohort
(JMIR Publications, 2025-11-10) Tautolo, El-Shadan; Bakir-Demir, Tugce; Jalili-Moghaddam, Shabnam; Savila, Faasisila; Kokaua, Jesse; Schluter, Philip J; Ofe-Grant, Maulupeivao Betty; Rush, Elaine; Mohammed, Jalal; Vaka, Sione; Tiatia-Siau, Jemaima; Cammock, Radilaite; Te Ao, Braden; Fa'alili-Fidow, Jacinta; Fifita, 'Ilaisaane ME; Manuela, Sam; Iusitini, Leon
BACKGROUND: From birth, many young Pacific people in Aotearoa New Zealand experience a disproportionately high burden of psychological distress, metabolic disease, and socioeconomic disparities within education and employment which contribute to significant health inequalities. Further research is needed to understand the drivers influencing these outcomes. OBJECTIVE: This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the quantitative component of the Pacific Island Families Study: Ala mo Tupulaga Pasifika Aotearoa (PIF:ATP; Life Course Trajectories for Young Pasifika in Aotearoa), the latest follow-up of the longitudinal PIF birth cohort study, which uses a mixed-methods approach. METHODS: The PIF Study is a multidisciplinary longitudinal study that tracks the health and development of 1398 Pacific children born in 2000 at Middlemore Hospital, South Auckland, Aotearoa, New Zealand. Data collection has occurred at 10 time points from infancy through young adulthood, with this PIF:ATP assessment phase occurring at ages 25-26 years, which aims to reach at least 750 cohort members. The assessments will take place at participants' homes or at Auckland University of Technology for those residing in Auckland. Data collection will be conducted across multiple sites, including Auckland, Wellington, Hamilton, and Whangārei in Aotearoa New Zealand, as well as Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne in Australia. Physical measurements such as weight, height, waist and hip circumferences, grip strength, body fat mass and muscle mass, blood pressure and pulse, glucose and lipid screening, and skin carotenoid concentration will be undertaken. In addition, self-reported data will be collected on psychological well-being (eg, depression, anxiety, and family functioning), nutritional and metabolic well-being (eg, food intake and physical activity), and economic well-being (eg, educational attainment, employment status, and job occupation and industry). RESULTS: Data collection is scheduled to commence in June 2025 and conclude by December 2026. The first set of results and analysis is expected to be published from December 2027 onward. Reporting of all results will comply with the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: This paper presents the protocol for the 25-year follow-up of the first Pacific longitudinal cohort study, which will comprehensively examine psychological, nutritional, metabolic, and economic well-being of Pacific young adults. With 25 years of longitudinal data and extensive expertise in life course research, this protocol outlines the design, methodology, and scope of the quantitative component of the PIF:ATP research program. This phase is uniquely positioned to address key issues identified by Pacific communities and generate evidence to inform meaningful interventions and guide policy development while providing robust, contemporary, high-quality empirical evidence.
Vā Atoa and the Ever-Moving-Present in the Samoan Cosmogony Solo o le Vā
(ANU Press, 2026-04-07) Refiti, Albert
[From Chapter 1] The Samoan cosmogony is consistent in the direction of how matter unfolds in the universe. As this chapter aims to show, life unfolds between two states: mavae, the divaricating process of creation, and tōfiga, folding together and keeping things in order. A spatial exposition and diagrammatic outline of the cosmogony reveals the cosmic emplacement of the human, the emanation and spatial qualities of mana, and the genealogy of matter connected to Papa.
‘The plurality of hoa’: Tā-vā and Moana Thought in the Work of Hūfanga-He-Ako-Moe-Lotu ‘Ōkusitino Māhina, An Interview
(ANU Press, 2026-04-07) Māhina, Hūfanga-He-Ako-Moe-Lotu Ōkusitino; Refiti, Albert
[From introduction to Chapter 4] Hūfanga-He-Ako-Moe-Lotu ‘Ōkusitino Māhina was an associate investigator for the ‘Vā Moana: Space and Relationality in Pacific Thought and Identity’ project and is a foundational proponent of tā-vā, with much of his life’s work leading to the development of Tā-Vā Theory and Philosophy of Reality. As a longstanding collaborator with Vā Moana—Pacific Spaces, Māhina, in this conversation or talatalanoa, continues a decades-long discussion on vā and tā-vā with Albert L. Refiti. In what follows, Māhina shares his experiences as a student at ʻAtenisi Institute, with the late Futa Helu, and the emergence of his own ideas on vā. He sees vā not only as a system that structures relationships, but also as an integral part of artistic endeavours in Moana societies that incorporate the rhythmic beating and marking of time. Hūfanga’s PhD thesis, which became the first theory of history from an Indigenous Moana perspective, promoted the notion of an Indigenous Tongan history as Talaēfonua.
Tōmua Introduction: Vā, Wā, and the Spaces in Between
(ANU Press, 2026-04) Lopesi, Lana; Engels-Schwarzpaul, Anna Christina; Parr, Emily; Walker, Arielle; Lythberg, Billie; Refiti, Albert
Oceania’s Crucible Effect, Moana Cosmopolitans, and the Reinvention of Vā
(ANU Press, 2026-04) Engels-Schwarzpaul, Anna Christina; Refiti, Albert
[From Publisher's description of the book] Vā may be a small word, but it carries expansive meaning. Rooted in Indigenous Pacific knowledges—Samoan vā, Tongan tā-vā, Māori and Hawaiian wā—this concept of relational space binds people, ancestors and cosmologies across time and place. Since the late 1990s, vā has become a powerful framework in academic and cultural contexts, energising conversations across Oceania and beyond. As the world grapples with the rise of hyper-individualism, vā offers an urgent and restorative alternative: one that centres connection, responsibility and collective belonging. This rich collection of individually and collaboratively authored chapters explores how vā, wā, and related Indigenous concepts are lived, theorised and practised today. Drawing from diverse disciplines and grounded in specific cultural contexts, these contributions deepen our understanding of relationality, space and place across the Moana. The AUT Vā Moana Research Centre is dedicated to exploring spatial concepts through Moananui (Pacific) thought. Established in 2012 by Albert L. Refiti and A.-Chr. Engels-Schwarzpaul at Auckland University of Technology’s School of Art and Design, Vā Moana brings together a vibrant international network of scholars. Their work reimagines how space is understood and experienced, both in contemporary and customary Pacific contexts.
School Absenteeism is an Early Indicator of Suicidality in Young People: A Retrospective Longitudinal Matched Case-Control Study Using New Zealand Integrated Data Infrastructure
(Elsevier BV, 2026-03-27) Zeng, Irene Suilan; Foster, Mandie; Garrett, Nick; Jones, Kelly; Cosmos, Dorothy; Ka'ai, Tania; Ng, Lillian
Objective School absenteeism, associated with social isolation and loneliness, may signal hidden risks that increase the likelihood of suicidal ideation and behaviors. Few studies have explored longitudinal associations between school absenteeism and suicidality. This study sought to examine longitudinal associations between school absenteeism (a potential early marker) and suicidality to identify other risk and protective factors of students and schools for suicide prevention. Study design Retrospective longitudinal matched case-control study. Methods We used the New Zealand Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI) database to integrate mental health outcomes with educational data. Based on clinical International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes and descriptions, we identified 3042 cases from 562,455 students (school year 6–13) enrolled in the education system in 2018, who had a subsequent hospital admission due to suicidality (2019–2021). Cases were matched using a 1:4 ratio with 12,168 control students by sex, school year-level, and ethnicity. Results School absenteeism was significantly associated with subsequent suicidality (adjusted odds ratio (aOR: 2.21, 95% CI 2.02–2.41). Other significant factors included students' post-school activities and previous suicidality; the school's region (secondary/minor urban schools vs. main urban), decile (a socio-economic index), and availability of Māori language learning (level C/D & above vs. not available). Conclusions School absenteeism is an early indicator of suicidality. Combined with other identified student and school factors, a risk stratification strategy for suicide prevention may be established to provide timely early prevention strategies for schools and students at high risk.
The Criticality of Pacific Education – The Search for a Transformative Disciplinary Space
(Wiley, 2026-03-29) Ualesi, Toleafoa Yvonne; Cunningham, Emma; Matapo, Fa’alogo Jacoba; Fa’avae, David Taufui Mikato; Iosefo, Fetaui; Allen, Jean M Uasike; Fa’aea, Aiono Manu; Baice, Tim
This paper is a collective talatalanoa by early to senior career education researchers and scholars seeking to make sense of Pacific education and its trajectory as a critical and transformative sphere within the broader context of education and education research within Aotearoa New Zealand (Aotearoa NZ). The critical stance towards the education of diverse Pacific communities is well established in Aotearoa NZ and reflects ongoing settler‐colonial negotiations within postcolonial schooling contexts. Our collaborative and ongoing conversational narratives through talatalanoa captures the potentiality of a Pacific Indigenous modality or form of communicative expression and articulation. The impact of engaging a critical discipline provides visibility and disruption, enabling the deconstruction and re‐calibration of understanding centred in Indigenous Pacific concepts and frameworks enabling shifts to occur that are agentic and transformative within initial teacher education (ITE), classroom pedagogy and policymaking and implementation in Aotearoa NZ. As Moana scholars in Aotearoa NZ, we argue for Pacific education as critical transformative disciplinary work through the lens of transindigeneity and offer implications for practice, research and policy.
Scoping the Vape Retail Environment and Retailers' Responses to Vape Control Measures in Selected Auckland Suburbs With Different Levels of Socio-Economic Deprivation
(Pasifika Medical Association Group, 2026-02-13) van der Sanden, Robin; Wilkins, Chris; Rychert, Marta; Ball, Jude; Hoek, Janet; Truman, Penelope; Kira, Geoff; Tautolo, El-Shadan
AIMS: Emerging research suggests exposure to vape stores and their proximity to schools play a role in vaping initiation among adolescents. In New Zealand, regulatory changes enacted that restrict sales of flavoured vape products to specialist vape retailers (SVRs) have led to growth in "store-within-a-store" (SWAS) SVRs in or beside convenience stores to circumvent restrictions. This paper assesses the number and type of SVR retailers, including SWAS, and their proximity to educational institutes (primary, secondary and tertiary) and marae across Auckland suburbs with different socio-economic deprivation levels. METHODS: Google Maps data and tools were used to assess SVR "type" and distance from schools, marae and other SVRs in selected Auckland suburbs. One hundred and sixty SVRs were examined across 14 suburbs. RESULTS: The median number of SVRs per suburb was 9.5. Forty-four percent of SVRs were SWAS. SWAS density increased with socio-economic deprivation, with high-deprivation suburbs containing a median of 8.5 SWAS compared with 2.0 in low-deprivation suburbs. Half of the SVRs (56%) were located within 300m of at least one educational institute. CONCLUSION: SWAS density in Auckland increased with neighbourhood socio-economic deprivation. SWAS retailers likely contribute to greater exposure to vape retail and products among adolescents in these areas.
Risk Factors for Depression in Pacific Adolescents in New Zealand: A Network Analysis
(Elsevier, 2022-05-19) Gossage, Lisa; Narayanan, Ajit; Dipnall, Joanna; Iusitini, Leon; Sumich, Alexander; Berk, Michael; Wrapson, Wendy; Tautolo, El-Shadan; Siegert, Richard
Background: Network analysis provides opportunities to gain a greater understanding of the complex interplay of risk factors for depression and heterogeneous symptom presentations. This study used network analysis to discover risk factors associated with both depression severity and depression symptoms amongst Pacific adolescents in New Zealand. Methods: Mixed graphical models with regularization were fitted to data from a community sample of New Zealand born, Pacific adolescents, (n = 561; 51% male; Mean age (SD) = 17 (0.35)) and associations between a wide range of potentially explanatory variables and depression severity and depression symptoms investigated. The associations identified were then tested for reliability, using resampling techniques and sensitivity analysis. Results: In the networks, the explanatory variables associated with both depression severity and depression symptoms were those related to quality of the relationships with mother or friends, school connectedness, and self-assessed weight, but the symptoms they were associated with varied substantially. In the depression severity networks, impulsivity appeared to be a bridging node connecting depression severity with delinquency and negative peer influence. Limitations: The data were analysed cross-sectionally, so causal inferences about the directions of relationships could not be inferred and most of the data were self-reported. Conclusions: The results illustrate the varied way that adolescent depression can manifest itself in terms of symptoms and suggest specific items on the depression inventory that might be suitable targets for prevention strategies and interventions, based on the risk factor - depression symptom profiles of individuals or groups.
Tofiga: Place and Belonging in Samoan Architecture
(The German Association for Social and Cultural Anthropology and The Berlin Society for Anthropology, Ethnology and Prehistory, 2025-09-22) Refiti, Albert; Engels-Schwarzpaul, Anna Christina
The Samoan world opens with the notion of nu‘u tofi, in which every person is assigned a place or position that resonates with culture, polity, citizenship and governance. Tofi (or tofiga) places Samoans according to their ancestral connections within the order of the Samoan world, as ‘the reference point of political action and motivation’ (Tui Atua) – for instance, matai (chiefs) sitting in front of the pou (posts) of the fale (house).
Self-Efficacy Perceptions of Tongan Students and Their Teachers Within Year 11 Business Studies
(Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2025-01-22) Hausia, Ella’peta Fifita; Matapo, Jacoba; Gaffney, Janet S
A growing number of Pasifika students are pursuing Business Studies at Secondary school. However, indigenous knowledge and epistemologies are not prominent in Business Studies. We discuss a qualitative decolonising study that explores the concept of self-efficacy in Business Studies from a Tongan perspective. We provide insights into the perceptions of Tongan student’s self-efficacy and their Business Studies teachers. Teachers’ views aligned with Western notions of self-efficacy, which conflict with Tongan perceptions, precisely the collective nature of Tongan self-efficacy. Key findings from teacher interviews and Talanoa with students provided an understanding of Pasifika students in general and experiences specific to Tongan students. Three main themes are highlighted: (a) key values for Tongan students, such as relationships, family, and identity; (b) students’ learning experiences across different contexts; and (c) framings of self-efficacy. This study’s implications for curriculum suggest how teachers can learn from and incorporate Tongan students’ values and identities, enhancing their engagement and performance in Business Studies. Extending this research to include the knowledge and understanding of Tongan families, community leaders, curriculum specialists, Business Studies educators, and researchers would create a transformational space for student engagement. Bringing together shared expert knowledge in the future would require more time for effective and meaningful Talanoa as a collective.
Community Wellbeing and Lived Experiences During Urban Redevelopment in New Zealand: Te Hotonga Hapori – Connecting Communities Qualitative Study Protocol
(Public Library of Science (PLoS), 2025-10-03) Hinckson, Erica; Ivory, Vivienne; McPhee, Julia; Somerville Ryan, Megan; Chaudhury, Moushumi; Mackay, Lisa; Refiti, Albert; King, Abby C; Ka'ai, Tania; Duncan, Scott
Cities around the world are growing rapidly, and the demand for housing is subsequently increasing. Many governments have initiated large-scale redevelopment projects to address the problem but planning and implementation can significantly impact the wellbeing of residents. Evidence has shown that people-centred urban planning and redevelopment, including walkable areas, natural environments, and appealing public spaces, can enhance physical, mental, and social wellbeing. The impact of these designs on wellbeing is complex, and without community involvement, there is a risk that redevelopment may not meet the wellbeing needs of the residents. Community Wellbeing and Lived Experiences study is part of Te Hotonga Hapori - Connecting Communities research programme which aims to provide the evidence to improve liveability and wellbeing in neighbourhoods that are undergoing redevelopment. It seeks to empower communities by involving them directly in the redevelopment process. Guided by the culturally informed Te Hotonga Hapori Engagement Framework it comprises 5 components: i) Active relationship building; ii) Historical/cultural realities; iii) Community aspirations; iv) Building bridges; and v) Activation of neighbourhood urban and natural environments. Data collection will be undertaken using the Community Science Aotearoa process that is contextually specific to communities in New Zealand and adapted from the Our Voice Citizen Science Research method. Residents using Te Hotonga Hapori app will collect photos and narratives and share information about their lived experiences during the redevelopment using a six-step process of Engage, Discover, Discuss, Advocate, Change and Re-engage. Descriptive statistics will be produced in relation to the number and typology of photos and narratives collected. Qualitative thematic analysis will be used for narrative data obtained from downloaded app data, and community and group sessions. Braun and Clarke's Thematic Analysis Framework will guide researchers through an iterative process and themes will be developed using the Attride-Stirling Thematic Networks Analytic Tool.
Colonial Harm in New Packaging: Indigenous Critiques of the Tobacco Industry's ‘Harm Reduction’ Rhetoric
(Oxford University Press (OUP), 2025-07-29) Maddox, Raglan; Heris, Christina; Waa, Andrew ; Teddy, Lani; Upton, Penney ; Henderson, Patricia Nez ; Kornacki, Chase ; Rodriguez, Joseph Rodriguez ; Lee, Juliet; Tautolo, El-Shadan; Martinez, Sydney; Bradbrook, Shane Kawenata ; Kennedy, Michelle
Over the last 75 years, we have learned that commercial tobacco use causes widespread disease and death. However, the commercial Tobacco and Nicotine Industry continues to promote, market, and sell tobacco and nicotine products to protect and expand profit. This reflects their legal obligation to act in shareholders’ best interests. While the Tobacco and Nicotine Industry heavily promotes alternative products such as electronic cigarettes and nicotine pouches, for now, these represent a relatively small share of profits compared with combustible cigarette sales. The continued reliance on and expansion of these markets generates addiction, dependence, and a range of harms. These actions represent a modern manifestation of colonization—reproducing control and exploitation that affects people at all levels, particularly Indigenous peoples, whose lands, knowledges, and well-being have long been commodified and targeted. The Tobacco and Nicotine Industry and their collaborators employ misleading strategies, including co-opting terms like ‘harm reduction’ and making vague promises about a ‘smoke-free’ or ‘noncombustible’ future. These tactics distract from the continued promotion and sale of harmful products under the guise of public health and harm reduction. This narrative reframes structural and commercial determinants of health as matters of individual choice and enables the continued production of Tobacco and Nicotine Industry–driven harms. Everyone has the right to health, and it is crucial to have effective tobacco control and resistance programs and policies. Governments have a duty to protect people's health by preventing the creation of new generations addicted to people-harming products. Given the ongoing and disproportionate impact of tobacco and nicotine-related disease and death—particularly for Indigenous peoples—there is an urgent need for structural change to eradicate these harms and dismantle colonial and commercial systems that sustain them.
Ethical Publishing in ‘Indigenous’ Contexts
(BMJ Publishing Group, 2023-02-13) Maddox, Raglan; Drummond, Ali; Kennedy, Michelle; Martinez, Sydney A; Waa, Andrew; Nez Henderson, Patricia; Clark, Hershel; Upton, Penney; Lee, Juliet P; Hardy, Billie-Jo; Tautolo, El-Shadan; Bradbrook, Shane; Calma, Tom; Whop, Lisa J
Ethical publishing practices are vital to tobacco control research practice, particularly research involving Indigenous (Indigenous peoples: For the purposes of this Special Communication, we use the term Indigenous people(s) to include self-identified individuals and communities who frequently have historical continuity with precolonial/presettler societies; are strongly linked to the land on which they or their societies reside; and often maintain their own distinct language(s), belief and social-political systems, economies and sciences. The authors humbly acknowledge, respect and value that Indigenous peoples are diverse and constitute many nations, cultures and language groups. Many Indigenous peoples also exist as governments in treaty relations with settler-colonial societies, and all Indigenous peoples have inherent rights under international law. The language and terminology used should reflect the local context(s) and could include, but are not limited to, terms such as Aboriginal, Bagumani, Cherokee, First Peoples, First Nations, Inuit, Iwaidja, Kungarakan, Lakota, Māori, Mѐtis, American Indian, Navajo, Wagadagam, Wiradjuri, Yurok, etc) people. These practices can minimise, correct and address biases that tend to privilege Euro-Western perspectives. Ethical publishing practices can minimise and address harms, such as appropriation and misuse of knowledges; strengthen mechanisms of accountability to Indigenous peoples and communities; ensure that tobacco control research is beneficial and meaningful to Indigenous peoples and communities; and support Indigenous agency, sovereignty and self-determination. To ensure ethical practice in tobacco control, the research methodology and methods must incorporate tangible mechanisms to include and engage those Indigenous peoples that the research concerns, affects and impacts.Tobacco Control is currently missing an ethical research and evaluation publishing protocol to help uphold ethical practice. The supporters of this Special Communication call on Tobacco Control to adopt publication practice that explicitly upholds ethical research and evaluation practices, particularly in Indigenous contexts. We encourage researchers, editors, peer reviewers, funding bodies and those publishing in Tobacco Control to reflect on their conduct and decision-making when working, developing and undertaking research and evaluation of relevance to Indigenous peoples.Tobacco Control and other publishers, funding bodies, institutions and research teams have a fundamental role in ensuring that the right peoples are doing the right work in the right way. We call for Tobacco Control to recognise, value and support ethical principles, processes and practices that underpin high-quality, culturally safe and priority-driven research, evaluation and science that will move us to a future that is commercial tobacco and nicotine free.
The Development, Implementation and/or Sustainability of Age‐Friendly Cities and Communities Programmes: Findings From an Umbrella Review
(Wiley, 2025-06-12) Neville, S; Napier, Sara; Montayre, J; Silulu, M; Tautolo, El-Shadan
Aim To examine the evidence from systematic reviews on the development, implementation, and/or sustainability of age-friendly cities and communities programmes. Design This review was informed by the Joanna Briggs Institute umbrella review methodology. Methods Critical appraisal, data extraction, and synthesis were carried out according to the Joanna Briggs protocol for undertaking umbrella reviews. Data Sources An extensive CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsychINFO, PubMed and Scopus search was conducted for literature published from January 2007 to July 2024. Finalised search terms included ‘age-friendly’, ‘age-friendly cities and communities’ ‘systematic review’, meta-analysis', ‘integrative review’, ‘narrative review’, ‘scoping review’, ‘rapid review’ and ‘scientometric review’ in combination with index terms were utilised to locate relevant literature. Results Ten reviews were included comprising 4 scoping reviews, 1 interpretive review, 1 integrative review, 2 systematic reviews, 1 rapid review and 1 structured literature review. Synthesised findings were presented under the categories of ‘Development’; ‘Implementation’; and ‘Sustainability’. Conclusion The findings are relevant to policy, practice and research. Longitudinal and evaluation research is needed to determine the long-term sustainability of AFCC programmes. More evidence is required on the success of programmes in marginalised communities and low to middle-income countries. Designing appropriate environments for ageing in place has far-reaching implications for the health and well-being of communities, especially our oldest citizens. This is particularly salient in this time of unprecedented population ageing. Nurses must have an in-depth understanding of the broader determinants of health, including ensuring environments are fit for purpose and meet the needs of older communities. Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care Understanding the importance of ensuring our cities and communities are age-friendly will positively influence the health and social care provided by nurses to older adults. Reporting Method The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyse checklist were used to report the screening process. Patient or Public Contribution There was no patient or public contribution to this umbrella review. Trial Registration The PROSPERO registration number: CRD42023413096 (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=413096)
Making Relations: Re-imagining AI Through Crafted and Embodied Knowledge Systems in Moana Oceania
(SAGE Publications, 2025-05-19) Lythberg, Billie; Wolfgramm, Rachel Maunganui; Refiti, Albert; Blackwell, Alan
This paper addresses the problems of data colonialism from a standpoint that not only challenges the legitimacy of colonial economics but also the epistemological legitimacy of data as a raw material from which knowledge and knowledge systems might be generated. Our reflexive investigation centres on knowledge systems of Aotearoa-New Zealand and the wider Moana Oceania through embodied traditions of wānanga and talanoa. As we explain, these offer a critical alternative to Western scholarly practices and allow us to attend to unremarked principles that underlie the sociotechnical knowledge infrastructure of a hegemonic global academy. Meeting Māori and Pasifika scholars, elders and master craftspeople within their own discourse traditions allows us to reopen categories of investigation beyond the already problematic consequences that can so clearly be seen in continued colonial capitalism and the neo-colonial data economy.

Browse

Recent Submissions