Te Māoritanga WELLBEING AND IDENTITY Kapa Haka as a Vehicle

Figure 2- All-cause deaths by deprivation (Robson and Harris,
2007). p 38.
There is a considerable disparity shown between Māori and non-Māori
rates that correspond with each level of deprivation. Mortality increased as the
levels of socio-economic deprivation increased. What is most important about
the NZDep2001 study (Anjwani et al, 2003) is that they found that Pākeha 12 in
the most deprived areas live longer than Maori in the least deprived areas. This
study showed that when accounting for socio-economic differences between the
different deciles, Māori could still expect a shorter life expectancy than non-
Māori. Therefore, other factors such as ethnicity and the ongoing effects of
colonisation needed to be taken into account when describing determinants of
health for Maori.
“We cannot accept socio-economic status as an explanation of ethnic
differences in health status unless we are prepared to accept as a given
the unequal distribution of wealth and poverty by ethnicity” (Jones, 1999).
The Ottawa Charter (World health organization, 1986) states that “health
is seen as a resource for everyday life, not the objective of living. Health is a
12 Pākeha - New Zealander of European descent (Moorfield, 2005).
13