Understanding contemporary Māori demographic birth patterns

Moana Rarere (Rongomaiwahine, Nga.ti Kahungunu ki Wairoa/ki Heretaun a, Tiihoe, N ati Whare, Te O okorehe), Waikato University

My doctorate critically reviews Maori birth patterns in demography. Since the late 1970s Maori births have gradually converged to levels similar to Pakeha. However, important differences persist. Most notably, wahine Maori birth their babies earlier, and over a longer period of time. This doctoral study asks: What are the key factors that have sustained Maori fertility patterns? While I account for demographic and economic factors, my primary focus is on understanding the potential influence of cultural identity, which has received little attention in demographic studies. 

Analysing birth trends is a core undertaking in demography, and in cases that focus on Maori/Indigenous fertility, most have been conducted by Pakeha/non-Indigenous demographers who naturally draw on Eurocentric frameworks to interpret these trends. Studies have hardly ever included Maori perspectives for understanding the way in which birth trends have unfolded over time. I draw on Mana Wahine to frame this study, and to critically review the way in which Maori fertility has been understood. Thus, the objectives of this research are to:

• challenge the way in which Maori fertility has been studied in demography
• include wahine Maori perspectives about their own fertility experiences
• contribute to Maori demography using kaupapa Maori frameworks