He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tāngata!† (What is the most important thing in the world? It is people!)
Bridgette Masters-Awatere A E , Moana Rarere A , Rewa Gilbert B , Carey Manuel C and Nina Scott D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand.
B Te Kohao Health Services Ltd, 951 Wairere Drive, Hamilton 3216, New Zealand.
C Poutiri Charitable Trust, PO Box 148, Te Puke 3119, New Zealand.
D Waikato District Health Board, Private Bag 3200, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand.
E Corresponding author. Email: bridgette.masters-awatere@waikato.ac.nz
Australian Journal of Primary Health 25(5) 435-442 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY19027
Submitted: 31 January 2019 Accepted: 17 September 2019 Published: 10 October 2019
Journal Compilation © La Trobe University 2019 Open Access CC BY-NC-ND
Abstract
This paper highlights the importance of people as a central factor in improving health for Māori (Indigenous people of New Zealand). How whānau (family) relationships, connections, values and inspiration are integral to achieving Indigenous health goals is explained. Descriptions of how community researchers, healthcare staff, consumers and academics worked together to design interventions for two health services (in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty regions) is included. Through highlighting the experiences of health consumers, the potential for future interventions to reduce the advancement of pre-diabetes among whānau is described. Evidence from the study interviews reinforces the importance of whānau and whakapapa (heritage) as enabling factors for Indigenous people to improve health. Specifically, the positive effect of whānau enhancing activities that support peoples’ aspirations of tino rangatiratanga (self-determination) in their lives when engaging with health care has been observed. This study highlights the many positives that have emerged, and offers an opportunity for taking primary health to the next level by placing whānau alongside Indigenous primary care providers at the centre of change strategies.
Additional keywords: chronic disease prevention, community membership, Indigenous health services, primary health services.
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