n Commonwealth Youth and Development - Mäori youth (rangatahi) lead positive social change in identifying health issues

Abstract

The authors describe and analyse the way in which the Mäori youth have contributed towards positive social change within a research project that looks at their health. Critical health issues were identified as part of the research project. These include high suicide rates and high rates of pregnancy among young people and form the basis of research aimed at finding positive solutions at both local community and national levels. The article examines the research project that encouraged the voice of rangatahi Mäori (Mäori youth) to be heard by allowing them to mould the shape of the research, which included the way in which the information would be collected, the research methods used and how the youth would be involved in the research process at every stage.