Maori Health

Mana (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 8, 13 October 1977, Page 1

Maori Health

Concern over Maori health has been voiced by the Polynesian and Maori Health Committee in its report to the New Zealand Maori Council. The following is the text of this report as presented by Mr Bruce Gregory. The deterioration in the mental health of the Maori. The family unit and extended family which we pride ourselves on as acting aS a buffer to the stresses and strains in the modern world is now beginning to crumble. There are increasing numbers of Maoris being admitted into Psychiatric institutions so that now the numbers of Maoris entering such institutions exceeds that of the European. This is particularly the case in the young teenager group and the over 50s age group. The fact that an increasing number of parents both husbands and wives now employed in work during the day hours, along with the smaller number of our Elders with us puts an increasing strain on the family structure. Up until recently a very strong cohesive force in family stability. Increasing responsibility is now being placed on older siblings and obviously in most cases, this is not adequate. The strain is particularly great on the women folk who as well as being employed in various jobs also in many cases have the added role of preparing meals and also taking up a good deal of the financial responsibilities of the family. While many workers in the field, of social medium equate the role of the Maori mother with that of the European counterpart, this has never been the case. The husband likewise in Maori society has had little to do with the bringing up of children — their role coming into play only when the child has reached adolescence. The cry of the father to share more in the responsible bringing up of his family must therefore in the light of these facts be assessed and analysed for the future well being of our children.

The Report made by the Maori Affairs Department in regard to the baby bashing syndrome along with the increasing numbers taking up smoking, are some indications as to the increasing stress being placed upon our womenfolk. It can even be said that our marae are maintained and run largely through their efforts. The very high incidence of lung cancer in our womenfolk is a sad commentary on the deterioration of our once proud heritage of a harmonious life style. The numbers of our youngsters in penal and psychiatric institutions are a further indictment of the socio economic breakdown in the Maori family circle. The situation outlined is of greater impact in the urban areas. The need to strengthen hapu, tribal and marae utilisation in the latter in matters as much of the living as of the dead I consider of prime consideration. No amount of pills will correct the situation.

In the area of medical education much work needs to be done. It was pleasing to see that there were 30 applications for Maori and Polynesian preference at the Auckland Medical School and applicants came from all areas of the North Island. Six preference seats for Maori and Polynesians are set aside at the Auckland Medical School. It was indeed welcome news to be involved on the Selection Panel for Maori and Polynesian applicants. The far reaching and sympathetic view of the Auckland Medical School rating body to the need for actual Maori involvement in this area of concern to the Maori can only be of value to this country. The setting up of the Auckland Medical School as a Marae has also been a highlight in Medical Education in the area, and was due largely to the efforts of the Medical students themselves to a rural marae. was achieved in an atmosphere of frank discussion and friendliness — it has long been overdue that cultural interchange of this type be enacted in our society. I have no doubt that this sudden increase in interest of Maoris to the field of medicine will be a continuing story of success. Congratulations must also be extended to Professor Colin Mantel! of Ngaitahu, at his appointment to a Professorship at the Auckland Medical School. His recruiting programme with the secondary schools in the Auckland area — discussions and lectures by Maori doctors and Mairo leaders and Elders has also been utilised within the Medical school. Lectures by myself and others is now becoming a matter of course in medical school teaching.

It is not however the same atmosphere at the Otago Medical School. A recent visit to the Otago Medical school does not show a comparable picture of six preference positions for Polynesian Maori applicants. There were only four taken up this year. In 1976 there were no Polynesian or Maori applicants and the year 1975 there were only four applicants of Polynesian extraction. In conjunction with concerned people in the Otago Medical School along with Maori students and local Maori Elders, a meeting w z as convened as to the possibilities of carrying out a similar programme as was the case in Auckland — the response at this initial meeting was very heartening and I hope to be able to report more fully in the future. Educational programmes on aspects on Maoritanga and cultural attitudes to death and dying with regard to post mortems, responsibilities in costs in transfer of the tupapaku from hospitals to respective homes, the release of the tupapaku in adequate time. The need to extend a programme to Pathologists, Justice Department JP’s etc. Future doctors are now being made aware of Maori cultural attitudes. A Report on Maori attitudes to death and dying was made to the Taitokerau area and brought to the attention of the local Hospital Superintendent and Medical Schools. Its implementation within the teaching curricula of both Medical Schools is now being carried through. Drugs are now also becoming a pressing problem with our young people particularly in the urban situation. I cannot stress that the social cultural economic needs of our people are matters of priority in the physical mental and social well being of the Maori paople. Treating the physical condition is no complete solution to the betterment of health of our people. The greater need to utilise the ancillary services of the Health Department, Public and District Health Nurses, the intensification of the School Health Service and the setting up of Health Clinics on marae e.g. Panguru and Te Kao are recommendations which should be pursued. The utilisation of

the tohunga should also not be neglected. The encouragement of a cultural style within the hospital environment e.g. cooking Maori kai, allowing family groups freer access to their suite are creating a changing atmosphere between the Maori and Health institutions. The need for our young Maori girls to take up nursing as a career is a career very suited to the caring — community orentation of the Maori life style. The need for active recruitment within the schools while being carried out on a low key needs to be actively pursued. The MWWL could be very active in this field. An intensive recruitment programme

through the career and vocational services in the school through local doctors and the nursing profession should be intensified. The Bill of Abortion & Sterilisation is one of concern to Maoridom and is indeed a sensitive area, particularly as regards our womenfolk — the most entire absence of submissions by Maori organisations in particular the MWWL. The quality of life has always been a prime concern of our people and the question of abortion and sterilisation must never become an end in itself. The absence of submissions to the Commission on Abortion and Sterilisation means one ' of two things, either this is an

indication of apathy or apprehension regarding the future of Maoridom, or that it is a definite NO to the Commission and in my experience it is more the latter. That the tangi is still the pre-eminent experience on our marae is infact indicative of the importance of the living. The need for the concern to living activity outside that of the tangi needs constant reminding to our people. The mythological conception held by the Maori and the importance of the malefemale element and his concept of creation and therefore in his total spirituality is still certainly in the rural area a driving force in maoritanga survival.

In my experience male sterilisation is still viewed with resistance and anathema by most Maori males. The reaction of the female to sterilisation is much more submissive — invariably the reasons given being those of the stresses of low socio-economic difficulties.