Abstract
The case study focuses on research by a team comprising indigenous and non-indigenous researchers using a Māori-centered research approach. The research aimed to identify interventions to reduce inequities in cancer care survival for Māori, the indigenous peoples of Aotearoa New Zealand. Taking a Māori-centered research approach requires that Māori are placed at the center of the research, that Māori lead the research, and that researchers are culturally mindful and focused on generating gains for Māori. A Māori-centered research approach was used to ensure that the research design, implementation, and interpretation were responsive to Māori expectations, ultimately contributing to increasing both Māori knowledge and the knowledge of those who provide cancer care services, and knowledge at the intersection of these knowledge traditions. The case study explores the Māori-centered research approach used to conduct research using 34 semi-structured interviews with Māori and New Zealand Europeans to explore their experience of cancer. The case study examines the particular shaping of the research: including the structure of the research team, the process for recruitment and interview, and the research protocols observed. The analytic process undertaken, which was team-based and informed by an ethnomethodological approach, is then discussed. The case study provides insights for research by and for Māori and potentially for research with other indigenous peoples.