Te Māoritanga WELLBEING AND IDENTITY Kapa Haka as a Vehicle

same feelings of security, belonging and connection that some may claim as the
sole domain of Māori in tribal communities, despite being in an urban
environment. She warns that forcing Māori (rangatahi in particular) to adopt
Māori markers of identity may be met with opposition and frustration, and they
must have had a positive first experience of being Māori, have adequate
support and engagement in the process, in order to actively pursue a ‘Māori
identity’ further.
Māori identity is ever evolving. It has been influenced by the impact of
colonisation and the political dominance of Government. In more recent times
however, a train of thought has emerged about the way in which we approach
concepts in the traditional Māori worldview, and how today we consider these
traditional concepts through a paradigm of what it means to be Māori today
(Royal, 1998b). Royal states that our need to construct a contemporary 'Māori'
identity, has come to dominate traditional Māori concepts which were created
outside of such a paradigm 11 . This requires us to take another look at how we
are defining ourselves, especially in light of the literature around Māori health
and how a ‘secure Māori identity’ (Durie, 2001) is at the absolute core of
wellbeing for Māori.
2.1. Māori Health
This section will provide a brief background of the current state of Māori
health and its impact on wellbeing. ‘Hauora’ will then be discussed, and will
draw on literature from both the education and health sectors to demonstrate
shortcomings in terms of its application in the health sector. Hauora will then be
discussed with reference to tradtional meanings, and application to Māori health
promotion practice.
“My total wellbeing is not only paramount to me, but is paramount to my
children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren, because I am a unique
being who links them up with the past, present and future. I am the one
that can share the traditions and teachings of our ancient ancestors with
them. I am the spring of water from whence they came”. (Pere n.d, p 1).
11 Royal is referring to ‘Te Ao Māori’
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