Description

The Te Hoe Nuku Roa Cultural Identity Measure is a validated instrument designed to assess Māori cultural identity, with a focus on both a sense of belonging and active participation in Māori cultural life. It was developed as part of the Te Hoe Nuku Roa study and provides a culturally grounded way of quantifying Māori identity and engagement (Stevenson, 2004). Importantly, the measure is not intended to classify “who a person is” but instead reflects the extent of an individual’s participation in te ao Māori (the Māori world) at the time of assessment. The instrument has been used in research to explore links between cultural identity and health outcomes, including alcohol use among older Māori (Herbert & Stephens, 2015).

AI/AN Communities where the measure has been used

Māori and non-Māori New Zealanders

Demographics of AI/AN participants where the scale has been used

Adult Māori; Adults over the age of 50 identifying as Māori

Notes on adaptations or modifications

N/A

Modality and administration

Self-report; this measure is administered via postal survey using multiple contact points to maximize participation. Participants received an introductory letter, followed by the paper questionnaire, reminder postcards, and replacement questionnaires as needed.

Scoring

  • Seven key indicators: 1) self-identification as Māori, 2) whakapapa (genealogy), 3) perceived importance of whānau (extended family), 4) perceived ability in te reo Māori (Māori language), 5) contact with Māori people, 6) number of marae visits in the past 12 months, and 7) financial interests in whenua tipu (ancestral land).
  • Each item produces a weighted score, combined to form a total score between 0–18.
  • Higher scores indicate a higher level of participation in Māori cultural activities.

Psychometric evidence

Evidence of strong content and face validity in addition to construct validity – this measure is shown to validly distinguish different levels of Māori cultural engagement and identity.

Citation(s)

  • Stevenson, B. (2004). Te Hoe Nuku Roa: A measure of Māori cultural identity. He Pukenga Korero, 8(1), 37–45.
  • Herbert, S., & Stephens, C. (2015). Alcohol use and older Māori in Aotearoa. Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse, 14(3), 251–269. https://doi.org/10.1080/15332640.2014.993786

Disclaimer: The included citations are not exhaustive, but represent the examples we had access to. If you are an original author or have other work that could be included here, please contact us.