Health: a Maori view

Tu Tangata, Issue 23, 1 April 1985, Page 20

Health: a Maori view

By Dr. Pat Ngata, Division of Health Promotion, Department of Health, and Ms Lorna Dyall, Review and Development, Department of Health.

Good health is important to any group of people. Every person has their own idea of “what health means to them.’’ Each cultural group also has its own knowledge and beliefs about health and how it can be achieved or maintained through the use of various health and healing practices. It is important to recognise that in a multi-cultural community like New Zealand’s, there exist many different cultural beliefs, attitudes, and practices that people have towards health and sickness. Foundations of health Health from a Maori perspective embodies a holistic philosophy. It encompasses spiritual, mental, family and physical dimensions. Maori people believe that each one of these dimensions cannot be looked at separately, but are inter-related to form a whole and are the foundations on which good health depends. They have their roots in Te Ao Tawhito, The Old World, where the social, cultural and economic circumstances of the Maori was governed by the Lore of Tapu, Tapu means more than sacred or religious. It was a means of social control that was geared to maintaining harmony and balance between a person, his/her Atua and his/her environment; to protecting and nuturing existing resourcing of tribal, spiritual, social and economic wellbeing and to enhance a continuity with his/her past and future. Through a process of customary practices, karakia and awesome respect, it ensured the ongoing health and welfare of the community. The main social, living and learning unit in maori society was and still is the whanau: an extended family system based on genealogical kinship ties. Several whanau units made up a hapu while several subtribes constituted an iwi. A tribe was often named after one of the main waka that participated in one of the migrations from Hawaiki or an eponymous ancestor. Tribal leadership was vested in the authority of the rangatira and overall wellbeing in the counsel of his main advisor the Tohunga: an expert in tribal lore, customs, history and spirituality. Human manifestations Individuals were not seen only as members of the whanau and hapu, but

as a human manifestation of their tipuna with certain functions, roles and obligations to fulfill during different stages of the life cycle. The kaumatua were respected and given special status because of their knowledge, widsom, life experiences and links with the past. Mokopuna and tamariki were cherished because they represented continuity with the future and needed nuturing, protection and guidance. Parental roles extended across the whanau or tribal group and decisions concerning the health and wellbeing of a person involved the advice, support and counsel of the wider extended family group. The focus of family and tribal activity was the marae. While now the term marae refers to a whole physical complex of buildings, traditionally it is the courtyard in front of the main meeting house. It also embraces a human and spiritual dimension. It is a place where a person has turangawaewae: a place to stand and where one has a sense of belonging; it is where Maori langauge, oratory, values and philosophy are reaffirmed. It fosters self respect, pride, social control and enhances family relationships. It is where the dead are farewelled and meetings, tribal or family issues are debated. Three parts It was believed that a person was made up of three parts: (i) A Mauri; the vitality spark or life essence of a person. (ii) A Wairua; the spiritual part or soul of a person. (iii) A Tinana; the physical body of a person. All things in the Maori world contain a mauri. The mauri of the Iwi or Hapu for example was vested by custom in a special place called a Tuahu. The health and wellbeing of the tribe, subtribe and family members were protected by maintaining inviolate the tuahu and by not upsetting the lore of tapu. Violating the tuahu or mauri and upsetting the lore of tapu exposed the tribe and its people to harm from evil spirits, angry Gods and makutu resulting in ill health and sickness. The relationship between people, their spiritual beliefs, the lore of tapu and extended family kin ties was and still is a very special and important one. Definition of health A Maori definition of health incorporates: (i) Te Taha Wairua

(ii) Te Taha Hinengaro (iii) Te Taha Tinana (iv) Te Taha Whanau (i) Te Taha Wairua: Spiritual Wellbeing Te Taha Wairua is that non-material spiritual ‘vital essence’ part of a person. It is the life force that determines who you are, what you are, where you come from, where you are going to and provides the vital link with ancestors who are perceived as omnipresent. Spiritual wellbeing is extremely important for Maori people and is acknowledged in their everyday lives by observing certain practices and procedures. The tangihanga: funeral ceremony is one of the most important events in Maori life. The deceased is often referred to as a taonga. It is not only seen as an occasion to share the loss with the bereaved family but one to ensure the safe, untroubled journey of the wairua to the spirit world and the happy reconciliation of the family into the living world. It is a difficult concept to explain as each person has his/her own idea of spirituality, knowing what it means for him/herself and how it can influence his/her way of life. (ii) Te Taha Hinengaro: Mental Wellbeing Te Taha Hinengaro is the mental and emotional dimensions of a person. It recognises that the mind, thoughts and feelings cannot be separated from the body or soul and that together they determine how people feel about themselves and thus their state of health. Self esteem and self confidence are important ingredients for good health. (iii) Te Taha Tinana: Physical Wellbeing Te Taha Tinana is that dimension which recognises the physical or bodily aspect of a person. It is the part of a person that western medicine focuses upon. Maori people like many other groups believe that the mind, body and soul are all closely inter-related and influence the physical state of wellbeing. Physical health cannot be dealt with in isolation nor can the individual person be seen as separate from the family. (iv) Te Taha Whanau: Family Wellbeing Te Taha Whanau acknowledges the importance of the function and role of the family in providing sustenance, support and an environment conducive to good health. There are many definitions of family. Maori people define it to include the extended family network that embraces all vertical and horizontal kinship members of a whanau, hapu or tribal group. Whanaungatanga is the essential element that provides a sense of belonging, identification and collective strength.