Whānau Ora; He Whakaaro Ā Whānau: Māori Family Views of Family Wellbeing

Abstract

This article presents the findings from two studies that investigated the concept of whānau ora (family wellbeing): One examined the nature of resilience for Māori whānau and how resilience relates to whānau ora; while the second investigated the impact of the Working for Families policy on Māori families' perceptions of whānau ora. In each study, Māori were asked to define whānau ora for their family. The responses to the "whānau ora" definition question in each of the studies were separated out to derive a unique dataset of 46 whānau definitions of whānau ora. A secondary analysis of responses was undertaken specifically for this article and these were compared to the whānau ora outcome definition outlined in the Report of the Taskforce on Whānau-Centred Initiatives (Taskforce on Whānau-Centred Initiatives, 2010). The degree of concordance between the definitions of whānau ora expressed by Māori families and those espoused by the government's Taskforce is outlined. The article discusses the variability in understandings around whānau ora and the implications of our analysis for social service delivery and social policy development.

Living a Good Way of Life: Perspectives from American Indian and First Nation Young Adults

“…: teach the younger generations; have mentors around them; take action when things are not going okay in their communities; pay attention to the societal and ethical implications of actions and consumer choices) emphasize the responsibility an individual has to youth, mentors, community, and society. One woman expressed the need to “help or give back, like take action in your community, take care of other people, attend community events, pay attention to your societal implications, pray for the people.” Similarly, other researchers document the importance of having connection to an extended social network, not merely to receive social support, but to give support to others; active participation in extended relationships gives individuals purpose and shapes one’s identity (Boulton & Gifford, 2014; Cross et al, 2011). Notably, one participant in Priest et al (2012) stated that it was impossible to disconnect from community because that would mean disconnecting from yourself that, “in order to stay well, you need that connectedness” (p. 185).…”

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“…Globally, Indigenous notions of wellness also focus on emotional, physical, mental and social health, yet move further to heavily emphasize interconnections and balance among mind, body, and spirit and between the individual, community, and the land (Cross et al, 2011; Lowe & Struthers, 2001; McCormick, 1996; 2009; Ullrich, 2019). Aspects of Indigenous wellness have included cultural and spiritual involvement (Hodge & Nandy, 2011; Kral, Idlout, Minore, Dyck, & Kirmayer, 2011; LaFromboise, Hoyt, Oliver, & Whitbeck , 2006), active participation in community (Boulton & Gifford, 2014), family and community support and sense of belonging (Hill, 2006; Hodge & Nandy, 2011; Kral et al, 2011 LaFromboise et al, 2006; Schultz et al, 2016a), the importance of the land and place (Goodkind, Gorman, Hess, Parker & Hough, 2015; Schultz, Walters, Beltran, Stroud & Johnson-Jennings, 2016b), and intergenerational/ancestral connection (Lowe & Struthers, 2001; Schultz et al, 2016a; Ullrich, 2019). Thus, individual, communal, and environmental wellness are interconnected.…”

Health Inequality as a Large-Scale Outcome of Complex Social Systems: Lessons for Action on the Sustainable Development Goals

“…That is, planned interventions need to recognise system context and be able to adapt to the specific social, economic, cultural and geographic circumstances of a community. In NZ, one such intervention is "Whānau Ora" which was borne from the Māori concept of family wellbeing [73] and connects up and organises health and social services around the needs of individuals, extended families and communities. This understanding of family -or whānau-sits within a much more relational worldview which is embedded in Māori culture.…”

Measuring Māori children’s wellbeing: A discussion paper

“…In 2009-2010 the Taskforce on Whänau-Centred Initiatives (Taskforce, 2010) engaged in an extensive public consultation and developed community provider case studies in its bid to lay the groundwork for a whole-ofgovernment commitment to family wellbeing within a Mäori cultural context. The Whänau Ora initiative that was subsequently developed by Mäori inside (e.g., policy writers) and outside (e.g., health leaders) of government is strengths based, multidimensional, cultural, and about whänau functioning, agency and transformation (Boulton & Gifford, 2014).…”