Te Tapatoru: a model of whanaungatanga to support rangatahi wellbeing

Aspects of Wellbeing for Indigenous Youth in CANZUS Countries: A Systematic Review

“…There were eight papers that reported aspects of wellbeing of Māori rangatahi (youth, 12–25 years) and tamariki (children, 0–14 years) in Aotearoa New Zealand [ 109 , 110 , 111 , 112 , 113 , 114 , 115 , 116 ]. We use the term rangatahi to reference older youth (in this paper, this is up to 18 years), and tamariki where results are specific to young Māori children.…”

“…Feeling supported and cared for is a key aspect of hauora (wellbeing), for rangatahi and tamariki , which can be moderated by their sense of belonging [ 109 , 110 , 111 , 112 , 113 , 114 , 115 , 116 ]. Whānau (a wider conceptualisation of family that also includes extended family members and friends) [ 116 ], community, and health professional support established during infancy is regarded as key to tamariki wellbeing [ 109 , 110 , 114 , 116 ].…”

“…Feeling supported and cared for is a key aspect of hauora (wellbeing), for rangatahi and tamariki , which can be moderated by their sense of belonging [ 109 , 110 , 111 , 112 , 113 , 114 , 115 , 116 ]. Whānau (a wider conceptualisation of family that also includes extended family members and friends) [ 116 ], community, and health professional support established during infancy is regarded as key to tamariki wellbeing [ 109 , 110 , 114 , 116 ]. This support begins very early in life, and is reinforced through cultural items, such as the wahakura (flax bassinet), which grounds tamariki to the whenua (land) and to a sense of safety and belonging to their culture [ 110 ].…”

“…Caregivers prioritise rangatahi and tamariki physical health, even in the face of pressures like food insecurity [ 112 ] and pre-term births [ 111 ]. Kaumātua (grandparents, elders) and pakeke (adults) play important roles in nurturing hauora [ 114 ], and this is further reinforced in relationships with whanau members such as siblings, who provide important aspects of cultural connection for rangatahi and tamariki [ 111 , 114 , 116 ]. The concept of whānau is collective and ties into many complex aspects of hauora for tamariki and rangatahi : there is support and connection realised in relationships with whānau and pakeke [ 113 , 114 ]; and sadness is seen when deaths and mental illness are present in the community [ 113 , 116 ].…”

“…The concept of whānau is collective and ties into many complex aspects of hauora for tamariki and rangatahi : there is support and connection realised in relationships with whānau and pakeke [ 113 , 114 ]; and sadness is seen when deaths and mental illness are present in the community [ 113 , 116 ]. Whanaungatanga (nurturing of relationships) is inextricably tied to hauora and the concept of whakapapa (genealogy) [ 114 ]. A sense of belonging within whānau and te Ao Māori (the Māori world) is crucial in maintaining and strengthening connection to each other, to whakapapa , and to the whenua .…”