E Hine: Young Māori mothers talk about welfare benefits

Abstract

AbstractE Hine was a longitudinal qualitative Kaupapa Māori (by Māori, for Māori) research study involving 44 young Māori women who were first interviewed in 2012‐2013 and followed through their pregnancies and until their babies were 2 years old. The present analysis of the E Hine database examines the young women's experiences of accessing welfare benefits through Work and Income. Welfare benefits were not the central focus of the E Hine study, but often came up in conversations with the young women and their whānau (family). As a result, E Hine offers those considering ways to improve welfare benefit policy and service delivery a frank account of how young Māori mothers and their whānau see and experience the system. Four themes arose from participants' talk: what being on the benefit was like, their positive and negative impressions of Work and Income, and how they took control of their situation. In common with other recent qualitative studies, the findings suggest potential to improve the experience of the welfare benefit system by providing support within the context of culturally‐responsive, caring, trust relationships that help unlock the potential of young Māori parents.