Pai Tū, Pai Hinga: Exploring Rangatahi Māori Experiences and Understanding of Māuiui Kōtihitihi

Perfectionism is a transdiagnostic risk factor linked to many illnesses. Several factors related to colonisation, such as negative media portrayal of Māori potentially leading to feelings of needing to prove these stereotypes wrong, suggest perfectionism may be relevant and prevalent for rangatahi Māori today. However, perfectionism research focuses on Western contexts. A Kaupapa-Māori consistent approach was used to conduct semi-structured interviews with 10 rangatahi Māori. Reflexive Thematic Analysis was used. Four themes were identified: Perceptions and Expectations; Claiming a Māori Identity; Māuiui Kōtihitihi; and Support. These findings highlighted the need to contextualise rangatahi experiences within broader experiences of colonisation to understand why they had these perfectionistic feelings. Ultimately, challenging the blind use of Western-developed measures, definitions, and interventions with Māori.