Powhiri process in mental health research

Within the health research context, indigenous people globally have a commitment to provide their own solutions. Maori, the indigenous people of Aotearoa (New Zealand) value the traditional Powhiri process of engagement and participation in mental health research. The practices and protocols within the Powhiri process (use in the Doctorate of Philosophy (2010) and Auckland University) are premised on the notion of respect and positive relationships between the tangata whenua (hosts or research participants) and manuwhiri (guests or researchers). This paper briefly describes the Powhiri process, which may be a model applicable to research with other indigenous cultures.