HEALTH TRENDS IN THE MAORI TODAY

Te Ao Hou, March 1960, Page 57

HEALTH TRENDS IN THE MAORI TODAY by Dr G. MAAKA Although there has been a magnificent recovery in Maori health since the beginning of the century, sickness is still a big problem. In fact, if the Maori was as healthy as the New Zealand European he would, on the average, live fifteen years longer. Maori health was discussed with much insight at the Young Maori Leaders Conference. To help delegates along, Dr Maaka supplied a most interesting paper on Maori health in the Whakatane district; part of this is reprinted here. Whakatane is a thriving, rapidly growing town situated at the outlet of the Whakatane River on the Bay of Plenty coast. It is the centre of a rich dairy farming, timber milling and paper-making aera. The population in the district in 1956 was as follows: Maori Pakeha Total Whakatane Borough 660 5,440 6,100 Whakatane County 6,390 10,410 16,800 —— —— —— 7,050 15,850 22,900 —— —— —— Within twenty-five miles of the Borough approximately 6,000 members of the Ngati-Awa and Tuhoe tribes live in scattered settlements consisting of family groups and sub-tribes centred around their own marae. Many of the elements of the old culture are still retained, viz. Maori speech in the homes, strong kin relationships, marae activities with perpetuation of traditional ceremonies, attitude to land, and a modern variety of ‘tohungaism’. Associated with this is the modern outlook of the younger generation who, influenced by better education, the radio, press, cinema, and a freer association with pakeha friends and co-workers, become more Europeanised in their ways.