Open AccessToku toa, he toa rangatira: A qualitative investigation of New Zealand Māori end of life care customs
Author(s) -
Tess MoekeMaxwell,
Rawiri Wharemate,
Stella Black,
Kathleen Mason,
Janine Wiles,
Merryn Gott
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
international journal of indigenous health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2291-9376
pISSN - 2291-9368
DOI - 10.32799/ijih.v13i2.29749
Subject(s) - indigenous , end of life care , qualitative research , diaspora , ethnic group , traditional knowledge , nursing , psychology , sociology , political science , palliative care , medicine , gender studies , social science , anthropology , ecology , biology
Informal end of life caregiving will increase over the next 30 years in line with the anticipated increase in older Māori deaths. Of concern, New Zealand’s neo-colonial trajectory (loss of lands, cultural disenfranchisement, urban migration, ethnic diversity, global diaspora and changing whānau (family, including extended family) compositions) has restricted some indigenous whānau from retaining their end of life care customs. This article reports on a qualitative pilot study on Māori whānau end of life care customs undertaken to explore how those care customs contribute towards strengthening whānau resilience and bereavement. Five whānau, including thirteen individuals from diverse iwi (tribes), took part in one of six face to face interviews. Kaupapa Māori research methods informed the analysis. The findings report a high level of customary caregiving knowledge among older whānau carers as well as a cohesive whānau collective support system for this group. Tribal care customs were handed down via 1) enculturation with tribal principles, processes and practices 2) observing kaumātua processes and practices and 3) being chosen and prepared for a specific care role by kaumātua. Younger participants had strong cultural care values but less customary care knowledge. The pilot concluded the need for a larger systematic qualitative study of Māori tikanga (customs) and kawa (guidelines) as well as the development of participant digital stories to support a free online educational resource to increase understanding among whānau, indigenous communities and the health and palliative care sectors.