Abstract

Indigenous (Maori) psychologies of sexual health occur at the cultural nexus of Indigenous and Western knowledge, colonising influence and intervention. Formal school-based sexuality education holds potential to intervene in this psychological space by decolonising notions of Maori sexuality, relationships and reproduction. This research utilises an Indigenous feminist (Mana Whine) methodology and interviews with 43 Maori participants (26 women and 17 men). We explore how Maori knowledges (mtauranga Maori), responsive to the surrounding colonising context, were interwoven through four themes: relationships, reproductive responsibility, open conversations about sexuality and contraceptive education. Indigenous knowledges can contribute to good sexual health psychologies for all.