Digital Taboo: A Qualitative Study on Pacific Male Experiences of and Attitudes to Pornography in Aotearoa New Zealand
Date
Authors
Kito, Bale
Erickson, Simon
Kennedy, Rebekah
Treharne, Gareth
Rodda, Simone
Fehoko, Edmond
Supervisor
Item type
Journal Article
Degree name
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Wiley
Abstract
Pornography use among young Pacific males in New Zealand remains an under‐explored and culturally sensitive issue. This qualitative article explores how Pacific men view and experience porn use, with a focus on how their cultural values and spiritual beliefs influence those experiences. Employing the Talanoa research method, we conducted six kava‐based focus groups with 50 Pacific males (18–30 years), fostering relational spaces for open dialogue grounded in Pacific worldviews. Thematic analysis identified three major themes amongst young Pacific adults. The themes identified include: (i) deep‐rooted taboos that reinforce silence and shame, (ii) the quiet acceptance of addictive behaviours within peer networks, and (iii) tension between digital identities and traditional responsibilities. Findings underscore the urgent need for culturally responsive sexual‐health education and intergenerational conversations to support Pacific youth wellbeing. By centring Pacific voices, this research fills a critical gap and informs community‐led strategies addressing pornography use.Description
Keywords
4203 Health Services and Systems, 42 Health Sciences, 44 Human Society, Clinical Research, Generic health relevance, 3 Good Health and Well Being
Source
Kōtuitui: New Zealand Journal of Social Sciences Online, ISSN: 1177-083X (Print); 1177-083X (Online), Wiley, 21(1). doi: 10.1002/kot2.70017
Publisher's version
Rights statement
© 2026 The Author(s). Kōtuitui: New Zealand Journal of Social Sciences Online published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Royal Society of New Zealand Te Apārangi. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.