Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Māori health equity; culturally safe practice with whānau, hapū and iwi
This domain tests applied understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Māori health equity, not slogans. Expect scenarios about access, trust, whānau involvement and bias.
Te Tiriti articles
- Article 1: kāwanatanga (governance).
- Article 2: tino rangatiratanga (Māori authority over taonga, including health).
- Article 3: ōritetanga (equity).
- Article 4: wairuatanga (in some interpretations).
- Equity is not equal treatment; it is differential support to achieve fair outcomes.
Māori models and practice
- Te Whare Tapa Whā: taha wairua, taha hinengaro, taha tinana, taha whānau.
- Whakawhanaungatanga, manaakitanga and aroha guide engagement.
- Turanga Kaupapa (NZCOM) guides Māori-centred midwifery.
- Use te reo Māori and culturally appropriate resources where possible.
Equity in practice
- Recognise institutional racism, access barriers and bias in referral and pain management.
- Avoid deficit framing such as "non-compliant"; examine system barriers.
- Māori maternal morbidity inequities are systemic, not inherent.
- Te Tiriti obligations apply to all midwives, not only those working with Māori women.
- Equity measures include interpreter services, transport support and flexible clinic times.
Worked example
A Māori woman declines a screening test. Explore trust and prior experiences, offer whānau support, provide information in a culturally safe way and document. Do not label her as non-compliant.
Traps
Tokenism; treating culture as a risk factor; ignoring structural determinants; assuming one Māori worldview.