TOWARDS A KAUPAPA MĀORI FITNESS GYM. A Bourdieusian analysis

Abstract

The fitness gym is an avenue where people pursue their health and well-being aspirations. In Aotearoa New Zealand, Māori have similar rates of physical activity to non-Māori; however, it is unclear how many Māori access the fitness gym. At the time of undertaking the research reported in this article, the lead author was a health advisor at a fitness gym within a Māori health provider whilst completing his Master of Physical Education. He was interested in examining whether a Kaupapa Māori gym was possible. This gave rise to a research project framed by a Kaupapa Māori theory that utilised Bourdieu’s (1986/2011) theory of capital to examine the relationship between Māori health, capital accumulation and the fitness gym. There is little known about the value of fitness gyms for Māori, and whether Māori values and principles can be integrated within the fitness gym. The research methods utilised were individual interviews, an individualised personal training session and a questionnaire. There were 23 Māori participants, who were recruited within Dunedin during August 2015. The main finding of this part of the research was that capital accumulation through all Bourdieu’s types of capital (economic, social, symbolic, bodily and cultural) was identified and enhanced through interpreting the participants’ feedback and experiences, with Kaupapa Māori theory providing the foundational methodological support for enhancing Māori voices and aspirations for individual and collective hauora throughout the research process.