Table 1 The pōwhiri process of engagement

The pōwhiri process of engagement refers to an actual pōwhiri, which is a formal welcome of visitors (manuhiri) by local, Māori hosts (tangata whenua) [36]. The pōwhiri provides a cultural framework to gather people together to carry out cultural customs (such as funerals) or to engage in a discussion or an event of interest and worth to Māori. The pōwhiri begins with a welcome call (karanga) by an esteemed female elder (kuia) and also involves greetings, formal speechmaking by both hosts and visitors as well as a meal afterward [36]. The visitors may be unknown to the hosts. These cultural practices and protocols are useful to help bind the hosts and visitors into a mutually rewarding relationship. In essence, it provides a spiritually safe way for all the people taking part in the meeting to engage with each other and to discuss the topic that underpins the reason for meeting [37].

In addition, the principles underlying the practices and protocols present during the pōwhiri are enacted throughout the research project. For this research, three were integral: aroha, manaakitanga and mana. Aroha may be defined as care and empathy. Manaakitanga is sometimes defined as hospitality, yet also contains a more nuanced meaning. It includes such values as generosity, kindness and a responsibility to care for others [38]. In addition to prestige, mana may refer to the power or authority of an individual. It may also be imagined as a reflection of how the community as a whole regards its wellbeing [39].

Our pōwhiri took place at the University of Auckland’s Māori communal meeting place (marae). The research participants and researchers were the visitors who were welcomed by Māori elders associated with the marae. The pōwhiri process provided a safe space to bind the researchers and Indigenous participants together in preparation for the digital storytelling workshop.