title: Positive Ageing in Place: Older Māori in Traditional and Non-traditional Place

authors: Williams, Cassandra

subjects: Māori

abstract: This thesis examines the role of place in experiences of ageing for older Māori, and the extent to which places of choice facilitate a sense of positive ageing. Particular attention is given to multiple experiences of home and the complexities surrounding Māori affiliations to place. Participants were older whānau members over the age of 55 who whakapapa to, and have lived, or currently live in Manaia in the Coromandel. Two participants still reside in Manaia to this day, and two have moved into urban areas in Paeroa and Taupo. Two semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants in their own homes. The first interview focused on housing experiences, personal background and support. The second interview incorporated Māori relationship principles relating to the importance of turangawaewae, whānaungatanga, wairua and manaakitanga. My analysis was informed by a narrative approach, and the relevance of Māori principles to participants’ positive ageing experiences.

I found that Māori relationships with places of ancestral connection are complex and do not exclude other places becoming equally, if not as important to individuals. Experiences of home for participants were multiple and extended to places with which they had forged memories, relationships and positive attachments. Findings indicate that the ability to age positively within particular places is largely reliant on the supports available for older Māori. Wairua was acknowledged by participants as being significant in aiding their positive ageing experiences. Strong connections to non-living objects such as places, nature and tupuna were expressed as being a crucial part of their philosophies on life and death. This feeling of knowing ancestors were part of everyday life alleviated feelings of loneliness and reiterated the never-ending connections between whānau. Everyday contact with whānau provided practical social support as well as a chance for reciprocal relationships to be fostered. When whānau support was not readily available due to geographical distances, technological means of relationship building were used to enable ageing at a distance, allowing home to be played out across physical localities. Health issues were expressed by participants, both historical and reoccurring, and appropriate health care services were regarded as playing an active role in participants’ ageing experiences. Three out of four participants accessed a Māori health provider. By accessing a health care service that was financially inexpensive, where the doctors built a rapport with patients and took advice, participants felt culturally safe and reported positive relationships with their provider. Finances were reported as being a support that needed to be strengthened and a lack of income had a negative effect on participants ageing experiences. Participants’ everyday lives were impacted by financial instability, with a lack of finances standing in the way of fully interacting with the community, negotiating place and being able to age in places of choice.
This thesis argues that ageing in place facilitates positive ageing by allowing older Māori to remain in their places of choice with firm attachments where they can maintain control over their affairs and maintain a sense of continuity. Māori ageing needs to be viewed within a history of colonisation, urbanisation, experiences, relationships and spiritual connectedness to human and non-human entities. It is within this context that ageing in place can be truly explored. Recommendations are made to aid positive ageing in place for older Māori. These include further research into supports, a review of the age of eligibility for state pensions, subsidised transport initiatives, and making Māori health services more accessible.

text: Positive Ageing in Place: Older Māori in Traditional and Non-traditional Place This thesis examines the role of place in experiences of ageing for older Māori, and the extent to which places of choice facilitate a sense of positive ageing. Particular attention is given to multiple experiences of home and the complexities surrounding Māori affiliations to place. Participants were older whānau members over the age of 55 who whakapapa to, and have lived, or currently live in Manaia in the Coromandel. Two participants still reside in Manaia to this day, and two have moved into urban areas in Paeroa and Taupo. Two semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants in their own homes. The first interview focused on housing experiences, personal background and support. The second interview incorporated Māori relationship principles relating to the importance of turangawaewae, whānaungatanga, wairua and manaakitanga. My analysis was informed by a narrative approach, and the relevance of Māori principles to participants’ positive ageing experiences.

I found that Māori relationships with places of ancestral connection are complex and do not exclude other places becoming equally, if not as important to individuals. Experiences of home for participants were multiple and extended to places with which they had forged memories, relationships and positive attachments. Findings indicate that the ability to age positively within particular places is largely reliant on the supports available for older Māori. Wairua was acknowledged by participants as being significant in aiding their positive ageing experiences. Strong connections to non-living objects such as places, nature and tupuna were expressed as being a crucial part of their philosophies on life and death. This feeling of knowing ancestors were part of everyday life alleviated feelings of loneliness and reiterated the never-ending connections between whānau. Everyday contact with whānau provided practical social support as well as a chance for reciprocal relationships to be fostered. When whānau support was not readily available due to geographical distances, technological means of relationship building were used to enable ageing at a distance, allowing home to be played out across physical localities. Health issues were expressed by participants, both historical and reoccurring, and appropriate health care services were regarded as playing an active role in participants’ ageing experiences. Three out of four participants accessed a Māori health provider. By accessing a health care service that was financially inexpensive, where the doctors built a rapport with patients and took advice, participants felt culturally safe and reported positive relationships with their provider. Finances were reported as being a support that needed to be strengthened and a lack of income had a negative effect on participants ageing experiences. Participants’ everyday lives were impacted by financial instability, with a lack of finances standing in the way of fully interacting with the community, negotiating place and being able to age in places of choice.
This thesis argues that ageing in place facilitates positive ageing by allowing older Māori to remain in their places of choice with firm attachments where they can maintain control over their affairs and maintain a sense of continuity. Māori ageing needs to be viewed within a history of colonisation, urbanisation, experiences, relationships and spiritual connectedness to human and non-human entities. It is within this context that ageing in place can be truly explored. Recommendations are made to aid positive ageing in place for older Māori. These include further research into supports, a review of the age of eligibility for state pensions, subsidised transport initiatives, and making Māori health services more accessible.

year: 2012

title: Addressing disparities by listening to Māori whānau: Lessons for Kāhui Ako

authors: Horne, Sharon Karey

subjects: Addressing

abstract: This research involved interviewing five Māori whānau, with children attending four of six schools across a  Kāhui Ako, to identify the extent to which their children were enjoying and achieving education success as Māori.
A review of the literature highlighted precolonial ways of teaching and learning where whānau were highly involved in the education of their children and where teaching and learning was reciprocal and where the mana of children, whānau and hapū were important.
Applying culturally responsive methodologies and using group focussed, semi-structured interviews to collect whānau perspectives it was revealed that many Māori children were neither enjoying education nor achieving success as Māori. Māori whānau spoke sincerely about their own experiences and those of their children.  Critical and consistent messages from Māori whānau identified what must be addressed if Māori children are to reach their full potential and enjoy and achieve education success with their Māori cultural identity secure. 
This thesis identifies that it is crucial for school leaders and teachers to listen to what whānau are saying if educators are to take greater responsibility for the performance of Māori students’ learning and cultural identity by delivering their teaching performance against the cultural competencies stated in Tātaiako.  Addressing, reducing and removing the ongoing challenges and disparities Māori children and whānau face in education is essential. However, unless school leaders and teachers believe they have to change, then Māori will continue to get from schooling what they have always got. That is not good enough for Māori whānau and nor is it good enough for anyone’s whānau. This thesis discusses how together we can make this happen.

text: Addressing disparities by listening to Māori whānau: Lessons for Kāhui Ako This research involved interviewing five Māori whānau, with children attending four of six schools across a  Kāhui Ako, to identify the extent to which their children were enjoying and achieving education success as Māori.
A review of the literature highlighted precolonial ways of teaching and learning where whānau were highly involved in the education of their children and where teaching and learning was reciprocal and where the mana of children, whānau and hapū were important.
Applying culturally responsive methodologies and using group focussed, semi-structured interviews to collect whānau perspectives it was revealed that many Māori children were neither enjoying education nor achieving success as Māori. Māori whānau spoke sincerely about their own experiences and those of their children.  Critical and consistent messages from Māori whānau identified what must be addressed if Māori children are to reach their full potential and enjoy and achieve education success with their Māori cultural identity secure. 
This thesis identifies that it is crucial for school leaders and teachers to listen to what whānau are saying if educators are to take greater responsibility for the performance of Māori students’ learning and cultural identity by delivering their teaching performance against the cultural competencies stated in Tātaiako.  Addressing, reducing and removing the ongoing challenges and disparities Māori children and whānau face in education is essential. However, unless school leaders and teachers believe they have to change, then Māori will continue to get from schooling what they have always got. That is not good enough for Māori whānau and nor is it good enough for anyone’s whānau. This thesis discusses how together we can make this happen.

year: 2020

title: Physical and mental health issues in the Te Aroha district

authors: Hart, Philip

abstract: Although Te Aroha was considered to be a healthy district, until the early twentieth century it lacked clean water or adequate sanitation. There were justifiable fears of typhus and other diseases being created by these lacks and by the common ‘nuisances’ caused by unsanitary behaviour. Many people had a poor diet, which was normal for men undertaking prospecting far from their homes. For miners, their working conditions were always unhealthy, and miners’ complaint was common, affecting battery hands also. 
Medical services remained inadequate until the twentieth century because doctors could not settle for long (for financial reasons) and there was no local hospital. Some doctors, nurses, and dentists visited, but the seriously ill had to be sent out of the district. For injuries, chemists and nurses did their best, as did a dubiously skilled local doctor. Self-medication was common.
Examples are given of breakdowns in mental health, which sometimes led to physical attacks on others or to suicide.

text: Physical and mental health issues in the Te Aroha district Although Te Aroha was considered to be a healthy district, until the early twentieth century it lacked clean water or adequate sanitation. There were justifiable fears of typhus and other diseases being created by these lacks and by the common ‘nuisances’ caused by unsanitary behaviour. Many people had a poor diet, which was normal for men undertaking prospecting far from their homes. For miners, their working conditions were always unhealthy, and miners’ complaint was common, affecting battery hands also. 
Medical services remained inadequate until the twentieth century because doctors could not settle for long (for financial reasons) and there was no local hospital. Some doctors, nurses, and dentists visited, but the seriously ill had to be sent out of the district. For injuries, chemists and nurses did their best, as did a dubiously skilled local doctor. Self-medication was common.
Examples are given of breakdowns in mental health, which sometimes led to physical attacks on others or to suicide.

year: 2016