Study Links Māori Food Insecurity to Colonial Legacy

A groundbreaking study has revealed a direct connection between food insecurity among the Māori population and the enduring impacts of colonisation. Led by Dr. Madeline Shelling from the University of Auckland, the research highlights historical factors rather than individual choices as the primary reasons for food scarcity in Māori communities.

Dr. Shelling, a postdoctoral health researcher of Ngāti Porou descent, conducted in-depth interviews with Māori food experts. The study emphasizes that the loss of land, environmental degradation, and the marginalisation of traditional Māori knowledge have systematically dismantled Māori food systems over generations.

The research was inspired by Dr. Shelling’s experiences visiting her whānau in Te Araroa, where a community proud of its local food sources is still classified as food insecure. She noted, “It came out quite clearly in my PhD that the way we assess food security in Aotearoa does not represent Māori values, traditions, or knowledge.”

Current assessments of food security often hinge on financial resources, reflecting a model that inadequately considers the cultural significance of food access. Dr. Shelling pointed out that in many indigenous cultures, including Māori, acquiring food is not solely dependent on monetary means.

The consequences of food insecurity in Aotearoa, a nation with considerable wealth, manifest as high rates of obesity, diabetes, and other diet-related diseases. Dr. Shelling stated, “Having great access to bad food is a problem faced by indigenous people in settler-colonised countries worldwide.” She advocates for a shift in perspective, arguing that individual choice is frequently a misconception, as many lack the options available to those in more privileged circumstances.

Dr. Shelling elaborated on the systemic challenges faced by Māori, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging colonisation as a critical determinant of food insecurity. She argued that understanding these issues is essential to combatting stigma associated with food choices. “Colonisation has contributed to the inability to choose certain types of food, particularly healthy options,” she explained.

The study identifies four key impacts of colonisation: loss of land, erosion of rangatiratanga (chiefly authority), marginalisation of Māori knowledge, and adverse health outcomes. Dr. Shelling succinctly stated, “It’s hard to get healthy kai when you don’t have healthy whenua that you can access.”

Addressing food insecurity requires action at multiple levels, according to Dr. Shelling. Both policy changes from the government and grassroots efforts by whānau are necessary. She expressed a clear desire for Māori communities to take proactive steps towards improving their food systems. “Māori are trying to do something about it,” she asserted, highlighting that reliance on fast food is not a preferred choice.

Dr. Shelling emphasized the importance of understanding the effects of colonisation on food systems. “If we truly understood how colonisation impacted our food systems, we would not call it playing the victim,” she said. The responsibility to address these issues lies with both tangata whenua (indigenous people) and tangata tiriti (settler populations), necessitating collaborative efforts to create sustainable food environments.

This study not only sheds light on the historical context of food insecurity in Māori communities but also serves as a call to action for policymakers and society at large to recognize and address the systemic barriers that persist today.