“He Poutama Whaiora: Takatāpui Journeys to Wellbeing in Gendered Spaces, is an ongoing PhD project that explores the post-natal experiences of gender non-conforming Māori parents. Through this project, Morgan Tupaea has been collating and curating a collection of mātauranga that can be utilised as an evidence base to inform inclusive, culturally responsive perinatal care. Previously, AMAT funding supported the development of a manuscript for publication from this thesis that spoke to whanaungatanga and the significance of mana wāhine, mana takatāpui, and mana tamaiti in the context of perinatal care. With the support of AMAT, Morgan was able to expand and diversify the wānanga that helped inform nuance and depth within this manuscript.
This thesis utilises an autoethnographic approach to research, drawing on critical reflexivity and robust theoretical grounding. This process requires emotional processing and protected space to engage in challenging analysis. Recently, the complex medical needs of Morgan’s child have changed the context of this research and created new barriers to circumvent. With the assistance of AMAT, Morgan has gained the opportunity to pay for a respite break and appropriate care provisions for their child which will open up greater space to finish this analytical work, and complete the crafting of a collection of resources that aim to inform inclusive perinatal care, and provide direct knowledge and tangible practices for mātua takatāpui to provide autonomy and choice in supporting their well-being.”
