This project asks whether there are lessons to be had found in both the Māori Covid-19 response to date and the growing body of evidence that papakāinga living has benefits beyond the physical home that could inform a wider response to prepare whānau for current and future infectious disease threats and ultimately support ongoing socio-cultural connection and thus everyday good mental health?

Sustaining physical and mental health will become all the more important given the ongoing concern around the longer term impact of the inevitable recession and the disproportionate affect this will have on Māori (Kukutai, Moewaka Barnes, McCreanor and Mcintosh, 2020).