Nōku te Ao: Sovereignty of the Māori Mind

Wikaire, Erena; Wikaire-Mackey, Kayla; Graham, Shaquille; Naera, Michael; Durie, Mason

doi:10.60967/healthnz.26499646.v1

Nōku te Ao: Sovereignty of the Māori Mind

report

posted on 2024-08-05, 22:28 authored by Erena WikaireErena Wikaire, Kayla Wikaire-Mackey, Shaquille Graham, Michael Naera, Mason Durie

The purpose of this report is to present a Māori worldview of factors that contribute to discrimination of people who have experienced — or continue to experience — mental distress.

The focus in this research is on Māori and recognises that discrimination associated with mental distress has many causative factors including colonisation, racism, socioeconomic deprivation, different perspectives on ‘mental distress’, historic separation of mental health from other health problems, and the longstanding societal disregard for people who experience mental distress.

A critical Kaupapa Māori collation of relevant literature is presented that unpacks the root causes and institutional drivers of discrimination against Māori who experience mental distress.

This research aims to inform a Kaupapa Māori approach to Nōku te Ao that prioritises Māori.

Find out more about Nōku te Ao at nokuteao.org.nz.

History

Plain language summary

This report uses a Māori worldview to understand what causes discrimination within mental health in Aotearoa New Zealand. It explains of what it means to perform Kaupapa Māori research, and defines mental distress and discrimination within this perspective. The researchers also suggest paths forwards for people who want to work towards changing this.