Abstract
Tuhinga whakarāpopoto (Abstract):
Background: Māori cultural values such as manaakitanga, kotahitanga, whakawhanaungatanga, and aroha have a significant role in influencing eating behaviours and perceptions around kai. Furthermore, activities based around kai such as sharing kai with whānau or gathering kai can have a significant influence on Māori perceptions of hauora and wellbeing. Māori have a disproportionality high representation within New Zealand rugby union. However, current sports nutrition guidelines are based off the needs of European athletes, without consideration of the cultural influences on eating behaviours. There is currently no research specifically focused on the Māori rugby players voice, experiences, and perceptions related to kai, and nutrition advice.
Objective: To explore Māori club rugby players personal experiences and perceptions around kai and nutrition advice, the effectiveness of this advice, and their preferences including suggestions for future nutrition advice.
Methods: A Kaupapa Māori approach guided the development and implementation of this research. Participants were recruited by word of mouth (via email or text) through friends and whānau. Kanohi ki te kanohi (face to face) uiuinga (interviews) were held with three male participants, from Ōtepoti, who played rugby currently or had played in the previous season. Semi-structured, open-ended questions were utilized to encourage in-depth responses. Uiuinga focused on three main areas: their backgrounds and upbringing and how this influenced their eating behaviours and perceptions around kai, their past experiences with nutrition advice, and suggestions to improve nutrition advice for sports performance provided to Māori rugby players in the future.
Results: Findings from this research identified three themes firstly ‘Connection to Māori culture’ which demonstrated how participants connection to Māori culture influenced food choices, and their views and values around kai. Secondly ‘Past nutrition-related learning experiences and influences’ which highlighted the significant role wāhine had in shaping the participants perceptions around food, role modelling eating behaviours, and teaching cooking skills. Another key finding within this theme was that previous nutrition advice provided from nutrition professionals had been largely ineffective and unimplemented by players. The final theme ‘Moemoea’ (dream or vision) highlighted that future interactions between rugby players and nutrition professionals would be improved if nutrition professionals had a better understanding of Māori culture, and prioritized whakawhanaungatanaga (building a relationship and connections)(1).
Conclusions: The results from this research indicate several factors forconsideration when developing sports nutritional resources or counselling of young Māori rugby players. That nutrition professionals need to upskill to gain an understanding of Māori culture, values and life experiences, and to include these within nutritional guidelines for sports performance aimed at Māori rugby players.
Keywords: Māori, Perspectives, Experiences, Nutrition, Dietitian, Health, Rugby
1 Nutrition professionals (refers to either Dietitians or Nutritionists)