Māori perspective on public health
Tangata whenua have a long history of maintaining the health of populations through concepts and practices such as tapu, noa, and rāhui that protected water supplies, food sources and safety of whānau.
For Māori, the concepts of health and wellbeing go beyond physical wellbeing. Good health is recognised as being dependent on a balance of factors that affect wellbeing:
Te Taha Wairua
Spiritual health, including the practice of tikanga Māori in general.
Te Taha Hinengaro
The emotional and psychological wellbeing of the whānau and of each individual within it.
Te Taha Tinana
The physical aspects of health.
Te Taha Whānau
The social environment in which individuals live – the whānau of family, the communities in which whānau live and act.
A Māori perspective of health. Durie, M. H., Social Science and Medicine 20(5): 483-6. 1985.
In the whare tapa whá model of health described above, the four components represented four walls of a house. If one of those walls fails, the house will fall.
In public health, there are two other perspectives which are seen as particularly important.
Te Ao Turoa
The environment: the relationship between Māori and te auo turoa is one of tiakitanga (stewardship). It is the continuous flow of life source. Without the natural environment, the people cease to exist as Māori.
Te Reo Ranagatira
Expresses the values and beliefs of people and is a focus of identity. The root of all cultures is the language, and te reo is a vital expression of rangatiratanga.
Te Tātai I te Ara: Guidelines for Developing Māori Health Education Resources. Ministry of Health,1996.
Māori health must be understood in the context of the social, economic and cultural position of Māori in the present day, as well as the effects of the past on Māori today.
Public health practice in New Zealand recognises the interconnectedness of public health and development of whānau, hapu and iwi. Through the Māori development initiatives across education, employment, housing, justice and health, there is potential to improve the health of the Māori population.