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Research and Media Hub
Sharing knowledge, impact, and stories from The Meke Foundation
Patu™: Fighting fit, fighting fat! The Hinu Wero approach
Abstract
The PATU™ Aotearoa Hinu Wero (Fat Challenge) is a group exercise initiative that promotes physical activity and focuses on fat loss in order to reduce obesity in Māori. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the pilot nine-week Hinu Wero (August–October 2014) involving 66 participants (males n = 26, females n = 40, ages 17–63 years) using a mixed-methods approach. Pre-and post-Hinu Wero anthropometric data revealed whether changes in body fat percentage, body mass index, and weight occurred. Mean reductions in all these measurements were observed....
Patu™ Meke Meter: Use in the Classroom
Abstract
Patu™ Aotearoa (Patu™) is a social enterprise that is dedicated to the holistic health and wellbeing of local communities. Developed in consultation with the Patu™ whānau, the Meke Meter is an indigenous, image-based, holistic self-reflection tool that has minimal text, designed to capture an individual’s perception of their wellbeing. This pilot study extended the use of the Meke Meter into the tertiary education setting and began to explore the applications of the Meke Meter as both a culturally appropriate self-reflection tool for students and an educator assessment and/or evaluation tool. Throughout 2017, the Meke Meter was used by students enrolled in the one-semester Certificate in Health and Fitness (CHF) programme delivered on the Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT) Hawke’s Bay campus.....
The PATU© initiative as cultural praxis: Constructing tools to appropriately evaluate health and fitness programmes developed by and for Māori.
Abstract
A patu is a weapon used by Māori warriors to attack and hit their enemies and to protect their whānau. PATU© is a group exercise initiative that attacks physical inactivity and sedentary behaviours associated with obesity by weaving high intense fitness (HIT) and healthy lifestyle education, with te reo (Māori language) me ōna tikanga Māori. The 2011/12 New Zealand Health Survey (Ministry of Health, 2012a,b) highlighted persistent health inequities for New Zealand Māori. One in five Māori children (17%) and two in five Māori adults (44%) are obese. These rates are about twice as high as the rate for non-Māori children and adults respectively. Likewise, Māori adults were found to be about 2.1 times as likely to have been diagnosed with diabetes as non-Māori.
The PATU© initiative as cultural praxis: Constructing tools to appropriately evaluate health and fitness programmes developed by and for Māori.
Abstract
A patu is a weapon used by Māori warriors to attack and hit their enemies and to protect their whānau. PATU© is a group exercise initiative that attacks physical inactivity and sedentary behaviours associated with obesity by weaving high intense fitness (HIT) and healthy lifestyle education, with te reo (Māori language) me ōna tikanga Māori. The 2011/12 New Zealand Health Survey (Ministry of Health, 2012a,b) highlighted persistent health inequities for New Zealand Māori. One in five Māori children (17%) and two in five Māori adults (44%) are obese. These rates are about twice as high as the rate for non-Māori children and adults respectively. Likewise, Māori adults were found to be about 2.1 times as likely to have been diagnosed with diabetes as non-Māori.
Enhancing Rangatahi Wellbeing in Secondary Education Through Implementation of the Meke Meter™
Abstract
Adolescent wellbeing is crucial, yet secondary schools face challenges in effectively addressing it. The Meke Meter™, an indigenous self-reflection tool, shows promise in promoting wellbeing, but its application in secondary schools remains unexplored. This study investigates the suitability and efficacy of the Meke Meter™ in capturing the self-evaluated wellbeing of rangatahi (adolescents) in Aotearoa New Zealand secondary schools. A qualitative multiple case study design was employed, involving two case studies: one in a mainstream co-educational school using the paper-based Meke Meter™, and another in an alternative education program using the online version.
The Meke Meter™: Exploring the wellbeing and quality of life of New Zealanders during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020
Abstract
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) originated from Wuhan, China in 2019. The pandemic has had a significant impact on the world today. While the national 2020 lockdown in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) was successful from a disease containment perspective, its impact on the wellbeing of individuals must be explored. The aim of this study was to explore the quality of life (QoL) and wellbeing of New Zealanders during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 using the online Meke Meter™ app. The Meke Meter™ is a subjective hauora (holistic health and wellbeing) self-assessment tool developed in consultation with indigenous communities. As part of the research, participants were also asked about the usefulness of the Meke Meter™ and whether they intended to continue using it.
COVID-19 equity response case study: the MEKE initiative in Maraenui, Aotearoa New Zealand
Abstract
The MEKE (Move, Engage, Konnect, Evolve) Initiative is a pro-equity intervention developed by Māori (Indigenous people of New Zealand) for Māori that promotes positive community wellbeing through unity. A case study approach and appreciative inquiry were used to gather the perceptions of the MEKE Initiative from community members through interviews, focus groups, and feedback forms. The findings highlight the importance of multi-organisational partnerships in creating a responsive community-centred initiative to engage people in group fitness activities. Other outcomes included the growth of emerging Indigenous researchers, positive media engagement, the academic engagement and success of community participants, the exploration of sustainable funding models, and the connection with other community initiatives. The study highlights the significance of community engagement and collaboration in driving positive change and enhancing the overall hauora (health and wellbeing) of the Maraenui community in Napier, Hawke’s Bay, Aotearoa New Zealand.
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