Māori perspective on health The Māori perspective on health embodies a wider view on current western ideas, encompassing not only physical, but also psychological spiritual emotional and familial factors as significant indicators of wellbeing. The entire environment can affect the health of Māori, including the colonising effects of loss of land, language and heritage. There is difference of opinion on what represents health between Māori and non- Māori. In ancient times Māori depended on optimum wellness and their values and beliefs revolved around enabling this to happen.

Māori models of health Māori models of health are integral to wellness from a Maori perspective. These have been incorporated into the health sector in various forms. Te Wharetapa Wha Te Pae Mahutonga Te Wheke and Meihana Model

Māori models of health In 1984 the then Department of Health hosted the hui Whakaoranga Māori health planning workshop a Hoani Waititi marae, Auckland. This hui gave contributors an opportunity to reveal the underlying concepts of Te Whare Tapawha (Department of Health, 1984). The Whare Tapa Wha encapsulates the traditional of Māori health as viewed from a holistic perspective of taha wairua, taha hinengaro, taha whanau, taha tinana

Māori models of health

Māori women and breastfeeding Traditionally, breastfeeding for Māori has been an everyday normal activity. A new mother’s social network included sisters, aunties and extended family. They encompassed the new mother and baby. The mother learnt to breastfeed by watching, listening and interacting with her new pēpi/baby. She learnt to identify and interpret the cues for infant feeding. In traditional times Māori pēpi were kept close to their māma/mother and were breastfed for extended periods often until they were walking (Jenkins & Harte, 2011).

Māori women and breastfeeding Today, many Māori women feel the pressure to return to work due to financial restraints after the birth of their baby (Glover et al, 2009). Not all workplace environments support breastfeeding (Galtry 1995). This has impacted on Māori women’s ability to maintain breastfeeding and subsequently Māori breastfeeding rates nationally have been affected. This could explain the rapid downturn in rates at three months of age.

Māori women and breastfeeding When māma return home from the hospital with their pepe, support and care needs to come from the community to ensure that breastfeeding mothers are helped in their own environments. We still have a long way to go in improving breastfeeding uptake by whānau Māori and the solutions are always not obvious. From a Māori perspective, breastfeeding is more than a choice, it is a right. Māori traditional knowledge is at stake and there needs to be recognition of this when developing strategies to improve breastfeeding health outcomes.

References Galtry, J. (1995).Breastfeeding, Labour Market Changes and Public Policy in New Zealand. Social Policy Journal of New Zealand. 5 Glover, M. Waldon, J Manaena-Biddle, H. Holdaway, M. & Cunningham, C. (2009). Barriers to best outcomes in breastfeeding for Māori: Mothers' perceptions, whānau perceptions, and Journal of Human Lactation 3(25). pp. 307 – 316 Jenkins, K. & Harte, H. (2011). Traditional Māori parenting : An historical review of literature of traditional Māori child rearing practices in pre-European times. Te kahui Mana Ririki.