O A'U, O A'U LAVA (I am who I am): Faith in a New Zealand Pacific Island Generation-Z World

Category

Culture and Society

Description of research project

As we enter the 21st century, many New Zealand-born Polynesian Generation-Z do not follow the traditions of their parents, who grew up attending church during the 1980s in Aotearoa. Though Christianity is the largest religion of Polynesian peoples in New Zealand, there are different levels of engagement occurring with today’s New Zealand-born Polynesian Generation-Z. This research is to explore the reasons behind this.

Inclusion and/or exclusion criteria

The participants involved are New Zealand-born Polynesian Generation-Z tertiary students between 18 and 27 years old.

The makeup of these students will be from the following tertiary providers:
- Auckland University of Technology (AUT)
- Massey University (Auckland)
- Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT)
- University of Auckland (UoA)
- Laidlaw College

Due to a conflict of interest, individuals in my personal network, including family members, friends, work colleagues, and students I know personally, will not be permitted to participate in this study.

Statement of ethics approval

Approved by the Auckland University of Technology Ethics Committee on 2023-12-04 for 31 January 2027.

AUTEC approval number

23/168

Contact person

Taulutoa Schuster, bmj7189@autuni.ac.nz

Participant information sheet