Understand how Māoritanga is important

Māoritanga can be central to:

understanding what is important to the person and their support needs
support that is respectful and comfortable
support that safeguards well-being.

It is useful for supporters to know this information ahead of key decisions.

Ameria, Caleb and Faith’s stories

Ameria, Caleb and Faith are in a kapa haka group.

Doing kapa haka helps them express themselves.
It connects them to their whakapapa and gives them balance.

Learn more from Ameria, Caleb and Faith in this video. It is just over 1 minute long.

Video transcript

Ameria: It’s really good to experience kapa haka because if it wasn’t for me, I wouldn't know what I was doing. I would have just been home doing nothing.

Caleb: I actually grew up doing kapa haka when I was a little kid. So it’s something that I have always done.

Faith: I got kapa haka going. It gives me balance.

Ameria: When I was little I knew how to do it. My family used to practice a lot and they would show me the actions of the songs that our family has.

Caleb: I am a proud advocate of anything to do with Māori. Kapa haka or even just advocating for my friends who cannot speak up for themselves. I feel people should not be afraid to speak up about who they are.

Faith: And it will broaden your horizons of just being who you are.

Ameria: Kapa haka has been the best experience of my life.

How are whānau important to the person? (social connections)

The person’s whānau is often very important to Māori. Whānau may be a central part of their wellbeing.

Who do they consider whānau? For example, whānau may be:

extended family
community
close friends.

What are their will and preferences for whānau connections? For example, for:

regular visits
celebrations (weddings, birthdays, graduations, prize-giving, sports events)
responding to whānau changes (divorce, health challenges, people moving away)
bereavement (attending tangihanga or unveilings, coping with grief and loss)
providing manaakitanga to others (care and hospitality)
participating in cultural events such as hui-a-iwi, kapa haka, Waitangi Day, Matariki
being involved in decisions.

How is wairua important to the person? (spiritual wellbeing)

Here are some examples of useful questions for supporters and tāngata whaikaha Māori (disabled Māori people) to think about:

What is the place they feel most connected to?
Where would they most want to live (who with?)
What helps them feel at peace?
What supports their wairua?
Do they have roles that are important to them in their whānau, whare (home), or community?

How are cultural events and activities important to the person?

It is a good idea for supporters to understand the decision-maker’s will and preferences for common decisions ahead of time. Preparing for these key decisions can help make supported decision-making easier.

Some examples of common decisions are

Where I live and who I live with.
My support.
How I manage my money.
My care.
My hobbies and who I like spending time with.
My health and healthcare.
My holidays.
My relationships.
My future plans (like wills, advanced care plans, EPOA or guardianship).

For tāngata whaikaha Māori, the support team should also be prepared for decisions about key cultural events and activities. If key supporters are unaware of cultural opportunities the person may not get to make decisions about their own cultural life. If in doubt, key supporters should seek out people who are aware of cultural opportunities to help the decision-maker.

We have made a list of some common Māoritanga decisions. Read or download the list of common Māoritanga decisions.

Avoid assumptions

Some experiences are common for tāngata whaikaha Māori, but supporters should remember that

Every Māori person is unique.

People vary in how involved they are in Māori practices and language, tikanga Māoriand te reo Māori.
Each iwi, hapū, and whānau has cultural differences.