Noho Haumaru: Reflecting on Māori approaches to staying safe during Covid-19 in Aotearoa (New Zealand)

Authors

  • Leonie Pihama Māori
  • Marjorie Lipsham refer below

Keywords:

Māori wellbeing, Cultural Practices, Covid-19

Abstract

After living for generations virus free Māori have had to struggle with the introduction of diseases since our first contact with Pākeh`ā in 1769. Māori have experienced a number of epidemics and pandemics over the past 271 years. We have also known the failure of successive colonial governments to ensure the protection and wellbeing of our people. This article looks briefly at these historical experiences and provides reflection on some ways in which Iwi (tribal groups) and Māori organisations have utilised cultural practices to protect our communities during the Covid-19 crisis.

Author Biography

Marjorie Lipsham, refer below

Iwi (Tribal Affiliations): Waikato-Maniapoto, Ngāti Rereahu, Ngāti Raukawa

Organisation: School of Social Work, Massey University, Palmerston North

References

Durie, M., & Naera, M. (2020). Kōrero with Sir Mason Durie. Retrieved 16 July 2020 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZBqnXFwls0

Espiner, E. (2020, March 25). New Zealand must learn lessons of 1918 pandemic and protect Māori from Covid-19. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/mar/26/new-zealand-must-learn-lessons-of-1918-pandemic-and-protect-maori-from-covid-19

Heagney, G., & Jacobs, M. (2020, April 13). Manawatū iwi distributing health packs to people in need. Stuff. Retrieved 17 July 2020 from https://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/120960987/manawat-iwi-distributing-health-packs-to-people-in-need

Jansen, R. (2020). Coronavirus. Te Ao. Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/TeAoMaoriNews/videos/2561336060792503

Jones, R. (2020, March 20). Why equity for Māori must be prioritised during the Covid-19 response. Retrieved from https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/news/2020/03/20/equity-maori-prioritised-covid-19-response.html

King, P., Cormack, D., McLeod, M., Harris, R., & Gurney, J. (2020). COVID-19 and Māori health – when equity is more than a word. Te Rōpu Whakakaupapa Urutā. Retrieved from https://www.uruta.maori.nz/when-equity-is-more-than-a-word

Mangapeehi (Rereahu Marae) Covid. (2020). Mangapeehi (Rereahu Marae) Covid. Retrieved 17 July 2020 from https://www.facebook.com/groups/168219899931219/

Mason, H., & Tukaki, M. (2020). Covid-19: Guidance for Māori and Māori communities/organisations. Lower Hutt, Aotearoa New Zealand. Retrieved from https://natlib-primo.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=NLNZ_ALMA11345216080002836&context=L&vid=NLNZ&search_scope=NLNZ&tab=catalogue&lang=en_US

McCormack, F. (2011). Rāhui: A blunting of teeth. The Journal of the Polynesian Society, 1(1), 43-56.

McLeod, M., Gurney, J., Harris, R., Cormack, D., & King, P. (2020). COVID-19: We must not forget about Indigenous health and equity. Australia and New Zealand Journal of Public Health 10.1111/1753-6405.13015

Mead, H. M. (2003). Tikanga Maori: Living by Maori values. Wellington, New Zealand: Huia Publishers.

Ministry of Health. (2020). Alert System Overview. Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand, New Zealand Government. Retrieved 16 July 2020 from https://covid19.govt.nz/covid-19/restrictions/alert-system-overview/#alert-level-4-%E2%80%94-lockdown

New Zealand Government. (2020). Our Reponse to Covid-19. Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand: New Zealand Government. Retrieved from https://covid19.govt.nz/

Ngapuhi Iwi. (2020). Tai Tokerau Community Borders. Retrieved from https://dev.ngapuhi.iwi.nz/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/ZA20-COVID-flyer.pdf

Ngarewa-Packer, D. (2020). Taranaki Checkpoints. Retrieved 16 July 2020 from https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=debbie%20ngarewa-packer%20checkpoints&epa=SEARCH_BOX

Palmer, R. (2020, March 23). Coronavirus: A Glossary of Terms. RNZ. March 23. Retrieved from https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/412427/coronavirus-a-glossary-of-terms

Pihama, L. (2019). Colonisation, Neoliberalism and Māori Education: Herbison Invited Lecture, NZARE Annual Conference 2017. New Zealand Journal of Educational Studies, 54(1), 5-19. DOI 10.1007/s40841-019-00130-7

Pihama, L., & Smith, L. T. (forthcoming 2020). Healing Ourselves: Māori and Indigenous Wellbeing Practices (working title). Hamilton, Aotearoa New Zealand: Te Kotahi Institute.

Pihama, L., Smith, L. T., & Smith, G. H. (2020). Kaupapa Māori Theory and Methodology Series 16 04 2020. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKUuX1PFbSc

Pool, I. (2015). Colonisation and development in New Zealand Between 1769 and 1900 : The Seeds of Rangiatea. Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand: Springer.

Ramsden, E. (1952). Te Puea Herangi, C.B.E. 1884-1952. The Journal of the Polynesian Society, 61(3/4), 192-208. Retrieved from http://www.jps.auckland.ac.nz/document//Volume_61_1952/Volume_61%2C_No._3_%2B_4/Te_Puea_Herangi%2C_C.B.E._-_1884-1952%2C_by_Eric_Ramsden%2C_p_192-208/p1

Reid, P. (2020). Te Roopu Whakakaupapa Urutā. Retrieved 2020 from https://www.uruta.maori.nz/about-us

Smith, L. T. (1999). Decolonizing methodologies: Research and indigenous peoples. Dunedin, New Zealand: University of Otago Press.

Steyn, N., Binny, R. N., Hannah, K., Hendy, S. C., James, A., Kukutai, T., . . . Sporle, A. (2020). Estimated inequities in COVID-19 infection fatality rates by ethnicity for Aotearoa New Zealand. University of Auckland. Retrieved from https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.04.20.20073437v1

Te Ati Awa Iwi. (2020). Kia ūtoka tātou. Te Kotahitanga o Te Atiawa. Retrieved from https://teatiawa.iwi.nz/covid19/

Te Kāhui o Taranaki Iwi. (2020). Pāhake Care Packages: Covid-19. Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1168375216888416

Te Roopu Whakakaupapa Urutā: National Māori Pandemic Group. (2020). Covid-19 Advice for Māori. Retrieved 16 July 2020 from https://www.uruta.maori.nz/policy

Television New Zealand. (2020). We mourn the loss of Dr Te Huirangi Waikerepuru. Retrieved 21 July 2020 from https://www.tvnz.co.nz/shows/marae/episodes/s2020-e5

Tyson, J. (2020, April 30). Tangihanga restrictions don't have indigenous rights at core - Public health physician. Te Ao. Retrieved 16 July 2020 from https://www.teaomaori.news/tangihanga-restrictions-dont-have-indigenous-rights-core-public-health-physician

Waitangi Tribunal. (2019). Hauora: Report on stage one of the Health Services and Outcomes Kaupapa Inquiry. Lower Hutt, New Zealand: Legislation Direct. Retrieved from https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/WT/wt_DOC_152801817/Hauora%20W.pdf

Walker, R. (2004). Ka whawhai tonu matou: Struggle without end. Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand: Penguin Books.

Downloads

Published

2020-11-01