Food and nutrition are fundamental determinants of health and wellbeing, and dietetic care is an important component of obesity prevention and management. Yet access to meaningful and effective dietetic care remains inequitable in Aotearoa New Zealand, particularly for Māori and those living in underserved communities. While efforts to improve culturally responsive care have grown internationally, much attention has focused on individual practitioner competencies rather than the professional frameworks that shape dietetic practice.
This presentation draws together insights from a programme of research exploring patient experiences while waiting for dietetic care and receiving dietetic care, alongside research exploring the relationship between Māori foodways and wellbeing. Across these diverse studies, a consistent message emerged: people want to be seen, heard, and understood within the context of their whānau, culture, values, and everyday realities.
Participants described uncertainty and anxiety while waiting for care, and many reported that dietetic encounters did not adequately reflect what mattered most to them. Our work also highlighted that kai carries cultural, relational, and historical significance that extends far beyond nutrients and individual behaviour. These findings challenge predominantly biomedical approaches to dietetic care and highlight the importance of recognising the broader social, structural, and historical determinants that shape nutrition and wellbeing.
Collectively, this body of work suggests that achieving equity requires more than culturally responsive communication skills; it requires dietetic models of care and professional standards that reflect Māori values, knowledge systems, and aspirations for wellbeing. Together, these findings highlight key considerations for whānau-centred dietetic care that upholds mana, strengthens relationships, and supports whānau-defined goals. This presentation will discuss how dietetics can contribute to Indigenous-led approaches to obesity care that are more equitable and culturally safe, and responsive to the needs of Māori communities.