Flight of the Kuaka: Mapping the Physical Healthcare, Legal System, and Social Care Network for Māori with Mental Health and Substance Use Conditions in Aotearoa New Zealand: A Mixed-Methods Meta-Synthesis Using Actor Network Theory

This study developed a schema to illustrate the physical healthcare experiences of Māori (Indigenous Peoples of Aotearoa New Zealand) with mental health and substance use conditions and their whānau (support network). This research conducts a mixed-methods meta-synthesis of nine studies: seven qualitative and two quantitative. Employing Kaupapa Māori methodologies and Actor-Network theory, it centres Māori knowledge to critique settler-colonial power structures of Aotearoa New Zealand’s healthcare system. From the analysis, a network graph mapped the key actors and relationships in these healthcare experiences. Findings identified 28 actors and 175 connections, revealing the complex, cumulative barriers Māori face in accessing quality care. The study highlights systemic disruptions across health, social, and legal systems, emphasising the need for targeted service improvements. By applying actor-network theory, this research identifies priority actors and relationships for future interventions and advocates for culturally responsive models that address structural inequities in healthcare access for Māori.