2025/07/22 by Samu, Kathleen Forrest, van der Veer, Anita, Ruhe, Troy +3
#Big data #Cultural research #Integrated Data Infrastructure #Mental health #New Zealand Health Survey #Pacific #Tivaivai
paper · doi:10.26021/15926
This paper discusses a Cook Islands Tivaivai Taorei research framework from an interdisciplinary, cross-institutional team (UoA, UoO) developed for use in a big data project. The project was funded by the Better Start National Science Challenge and utilised New Zealand Health Survey data within the Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI) to assess the mental health of Pacific peoples living in Aotearoa New Zealand. The aim of this paper is to describe the process of developing the Tivaivai Taorei framework to construct a culturally relevant and nuanced method for quantitative assessment. Through araꞌara and iriꞌiri kāpua (discussion and networking), we explored the process required for a meaningful undertaking of a quantitative study of mental wellbeing in Pacific adults and describe those findings in a way congruent to Pacific lived realities, understandings, and methods of storytelling. To assess the framework’s applicability, the application to the quantitative methods and interpretation of findings are outlined. Although Tivaivai Taorei is specifically a Cook Islands metaphor, this study demonstrates its applicability across a pan-Pacific (and perhaps extended) context.