In Poipoia te kākano kia puawai:Family structure, change and the wellbeing of tamariki Māori, the authors used data from the NZ Longitudinal Census (2001, 2006 and 2013) and Growing Up in New Zealand study to explore changes in family structure in the first four and a half years of life (a critical period of development in children’s lives); and potential links with cognitive development, socio-emotional outcomes, and cultural connectedness.
The authors of the study, (from Roy McKenzie Centre for the study of Families and Children and the National Institute of Demograhic and Economic Analysis), say it suggests the value of researching and differentiating the links to family and child wellbeing experienced by tamariki Māori, since there are potentially unique dimensions of wellbeing that are more important to Māori which may be overlooked when we do not create Māori-led and Māori-centred policy.