The Hospital Transfers Project: Supporting whanau engagement during hospitalisations

Abstract

For Māori, as the Indigenous peoples of Aotearoa New Zealand, the care of those who are unwell has always been the concern of whānau (family) and community. Māori have established knowledge systems relating to health and wellbeing, and long-standing practices for both promoting good health and responding to illness (Taskforce on Whānau Centred Initiatives [hereafter referred to as the Taskforce], 2009; Waitangi Tribunal, 2001). These systems recognise the importance of relationships between peoples and broader environments to health and wellbeing (Mark & Lyons, 2010; Taskforce, 2009), something which has been more recently acknowledged in Māori health strategy and policy by government (Ministry of Health, 2014b).