Reaching hard-to-reach, high-risk populations: piloting a health promotion and diabetes disease prevention programme on an urban marae in New Zealand.

Maori and other indigenous peoples experience a high prevalence of type 2 diabetes. A pivotal question is how primary and secondary preventative initiatives might be more effectively targeted to embrace those who are at highest risk of developing diabetes and its complications. This paper proposes that, in the case of Maori, as a high-risk population, conventional approaches are insufficient, and that increased consideration needs to be given to how the settings in which health education and services are offered may influence diabetes prevention and earlier diagnosis.