A tangata whenua (people of the land) approach to conceptualising Maori health and wellbeing.

From a Maori (Indigenous to New Zealand) perspective, health is not confined to the treatment of illness but also includes the philosophical concepts, structures and cultural practices which reinforce health and wellbeing. The ill-health of Maori is often the focus of health initiatives, particularly if there is an equity approach that centres on disparities between ethnic groups. However, an Indigenous approach prioritises health and wellbeing aspirations through strengthening self-determination, identity and connection with the environment. This article synthesises knowledge from Indigenous and Maori rights, matauranga (Maori ways of knowing) expressed in purakau (epistemological narratives), tikanga (Maori principles), te reo (Maori language) and lived experience to reflect a shared understanding of Maori health and wellbeing. Consideration is given to the status of Maori pre-colonisation, the ongoing impacts of colonisation, and Maori led responses to contemporary health issues. It is proposed that health for Maori, like many Indigenous peoples, should be informed by an enhanced understanding of Indigenous rights, an Indigenous worldview and notions of wellbeing. We argue that a tangata whenua (people of the land) approach is integral to the effectiveness of health policies and initiatives aimed at improving Maori outcomes sustainably. We propose that the current reorganisation of Aotearoa New Zealand's health system, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic response, provide opportunities to emphasise and embed Maori health leadership and knowledge, as well as a tangata whenua conceptualisation of health and wellbeing.

Taonga: grandchildren the treasures of grandparents.

Terns in a multi-ethnic sample of 125 depressed women seeking treatment for depression. Forty-six African American, 36 Caucasian Americans, and 43 Latina women were recruited and interviewed about their beliefs about their illness and their help-seeking. Results indicated that Latinas were significantly more likely than Caucasian Americans to believe that their illness was caused by traditional reasons (e.g., energy imbalance). African Americans were more likely to use spiritual resources (e.g., prayer, church) to deal with their problems than Caucasian Americans or Latinas. Caucasian Americans were more likely to use lay help (e.g., self care, friends and relatives) than Latinas. No ethnic differences in stigma for depressive illness were found. However, the belief in psychological or magico-religious-supernatural causes was associated with increased stigma, but medical and traditional causes were not. Traditional and magic-religious-supernatural causes of illness were associated with using general health care, while psychological and medicinal causes were associated with seeking spiritual care. Additional research is needed to help us to understand how beliefs about the causes of illness and attitudes towards various sources of care interact to influence help-seeking practices.