Traversing the intersectionality of being fat, Māori, ADHD, takatāpui, and Christian

The intersectionality of being fat, Māori, ADHD, takatāpui, and Christian reveals complex experiences shaped by both colonial and Indigenous frameworks. Drawing on Indigenous Fat Studies, Kaupapa Māori theory, and intersectionality, this paper critiques Western deficit-based narratives that pathologise body size, neurodivergence, gender, and faith. Public health initiatives often medicalize fatness and ADHD, overlooking Māori perspectives that emphasize relational and spiritual well-being. Colonial Christian doctrines have also shaped attitudes toward gender and sexuality, marginalizing takatāpui within both Māori and religious spaces. A Kaupapa Māori approach situates these identities within whakapapa (genealogy) and tikanga (customs), contesting Western frameworks that define difference as pathology. Fatness is acknowledged as culturally significant rather than a medical problem, while ADHD is understood through a strengths-based lens that values diverse ways of thinking and being. Takatāpui identity is affirmed as part of Māori traditions of gender and sexual diversity, countering heteronormative binaries imposed by colonization. Māori Christian communities engage with these intersections in varied ways, with some embracing decolonial theologies that affirm diverse embodiments and identities. Structural transformation is required across health, education, and spirituality to center Māori ways of knowing. Indigenous-led approaches can ensure policies and practices reflect Māori understandings of identity and well-being. Honoring these perspectives affirms self-determination, strengthens cultural continuity, and supports collective resilience within Māori communities.