Gut diseases are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Aotearoa New Zealand, with higher rates of these conditions in Te Waipounamu. Māori experience both worse outcomes and different patterns of incidence in gut diseases than non-Māori. Overall, Māori have lower life expectancies than non-Māori and experience barriers to accessing determinants of health. We aim to illuminate how Māori understand the gut and navigate the health system when the topic is the gut and gut disease, based on interviews with Māori participants in a wider study of gut symptoms. Participants explored a range of issues related to gut disease, including interactions people had with healthcare providers surrounding these conditions. They frequently felt “brushed off” or disengaged from healthcare, which could contribute to delayed diagnosis. Results indicate there may be value in promoting more widespread uptake of existing cultural competence models designed for healthcare practitioners. Findings have implications in New Zealand and other postcolonial environments.