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. 2024 Apr 5;21(4):445.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph21040445.

Introducing 'Ngaruroro', a New Model for Understanding Māori Wellbeing

Finley Ngarangi Johnson  1 , Priscilla Wehi  2 , Tia Neha  1 , Mike Ross  3 , Veronica Thompson  4 , Stephanie Tibble  5 , Natasha Tassell-Matamua  6 , Kevin Shedlock  7 , Ririwai Fox  8 , Zachary Penman  9 , Tyler Ritchie  1 , Taylor Winter  10 , Hitaua Arahanga-Doyle  11 , Paul E Jose  1
Affiliations

Introducing 'Ngaruroro', a New Model for Understanding Māori Wellbeing

Finley Ngarangi Johnson et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Indigenous peoples around the world are revitalising their ancestral beliefs, practices, and languages, including traditional understandings of health and wellbeing. In the Aotearoa (New Zealand) context, a number of ground-breaking Māori health- and wellbeing-related models have emerged, each with their own scope and applications. We sought in our qualitative studies to explore and identify several key sources of wellbeing for Māori individuals. Nine interviews were conducted with members of Māori communities to identify key themes of Māori wellbeing. We performed a Reflexive Thematic Analysis on these data and then conducted a further fifteen interviews to revise, refine, and reposition the previously generated themes. The Ngaruroro model describes wellbeing as the embodied and active process of being well in relation with one's (1) here tāngata (social and familial ties), (2) te taiao (the environment), and (3) taonga tuku iho (cultural treasures) while doing what one can to make lifestyle choices that are conducive to the health of one's (4) tinana (body) and (5) wairua (spirit) while cultivating a balanced (6) ngākau (inner-system), fulfilling (7) matea (core needs) and exercising your (8) mana (authority). These themes illustrate that Māori wellbeing is dynamic, interconnected, and holistic.

Keywords: Indigenous health; Indigenous wellbeing; Kaupapa Māori; Māori; Māori wellbeing; qualitative research; thematic analysis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Theme icon for Here Tāngata.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Theme icon for Tinana.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Theme icon for Ngākau.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Theme icon for Wairua.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Theme icon for Taiao.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Theme icon for Matea.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Theme icon for Mana.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Theme icon for Taonga Tuku Iho.
Figure 9
Figure 9
The illustration of the eight themes coming together to form the Ngaruroro model of Māori wellbeing.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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