Korero te kai o te Rangatira: Nutritional wellbeing of Māori at the pinnacle of life

Abstract

Aim: To provide a succinct overview of the historical food eating patterns of Māori, the indigenous population of New Zealand, by examining the dietary practices of older Māori, and the significance of these practices for their health and wellbeing. Method: A historical review of food sources that provided pre‐colonisation eating patterns of Māori was developed. Full engagement of older Māori was sought in the design and implementation of a longitudinal study of ageing ‘Life and Living to Advanced Age: A Cohort study in New Zealand’, (LILACS NZ) referred to in the present review. A cross‐sectional pilot study, which included older Māori aged 75 to 79 years, provided detail of traditional foods currently utilised in Northland and the Bay of Plenty regions. For the main study, local Māori providers conducted the research processes and the longitudinal cohort study (LILACS NZ) was implemented. Nutritional assessment included nutrition screening at baseline and detailed assessment using the repeated multiple pass, 24‐hour recall method for each participant in a 12‐month follow up. Results: A wide range of foods were utilised prior to European contact. Similar traditional food was used in Northland and Bay of Plenty regions and these traditional foods were found to be valued and frequently used by older Māori. Those able to access important traditional foods on a regular basis had a significantly better nutrition status. Those who had less regard for the importance of traditional foods to practise their culture tended to be at higher nutrition risk. Screening identified over half of older Māori to be at high nutrition risk. Most participants viewed traditional foods to be very important and were able to eat these on a regular basis. Conclusion: Research shows the impact of colonisation resulted in displacement of traditional foods from the diets of older Māori and this has been accompanied by higher nutrition risk. Food is an important cultural activity for Māori and Māori elders need to be supported to increase their consumption of traditional foods. Further investigations will examine the dietary patterns and nutrient intake of older Māori in relation to health and wellbeing.

Identity and demographics predict voter enrolment on the Māori electoral roll: Findings from a national sample

“…This is problematic as many nutrient recommendations, including protein intake, differ for adults aged over 50 years (National Health and Medical Research Council & Ministry of Health, 2005). Older Mäori consume different foods according to their cultural preferences and this may result in different nutrient intakes (Wham, Maxted, Dyall, Teh & Kerse, 2012).…”

High nutrition risk related to dietary intake is associated with an increased risk of hospitalisation and mortality for older Māori: LiLACS NZ

“…Variability in interpreting certain SCREEN II items by Māori and non‐Māori has been noted, for example, when using “puddings” as a prompt to describe nutrition supplements 11 . Traditional foods and practices are particularly important among older Māori 24 and approximately 1–2% of Māori consume traditional foods 28 . Māori have a holistic view of health and the use of generalised measures in this study (SF‐12, GDS‐15, and NEADL) for both Māori and non‐Māori may be a further limitation.…”

“…Food has special cultural significance for Māori. The impact of colonisation has affected access to traditional foods with limited availability of food species and time to go out on the land, the sea and the forest to harvest 28 and may compromise dietary quality.…”

“…Nearly two‐thirds of Māori and one‐fifth of non‐Māori reported fewer than the recommended five servings of fruit and vegetables per day. As a key source of antioxidants, fruit and vegetables have a protective role in ageing, 28 and consumption of at least one fruit and one vegetable serving per day, as well as more than four servings per week, has been associated with improved ten‐year survival rates among community living older adults in France 34 …”

Cognitive-load of activities for Māori and non-Māori: a New Zealand consensus

“…Cultural ceremonial practices involving oral traditions necessitate detailed memory of ancestry and interrelationships between tribal groupings. For example, distinctive cognitive-loads may arise from the physical demands of a whānau approach to cultivation, hunting, gathering, and preparation of kai (food) (Wham, Maxted, Dyall, Teh, & Kerse, 2012), and from assembling at marae (social and ceremonial (Zawaly, K., et al, 2019) Cognitive-load of activities for Māori and non-Māori: a New Zealand consensus 5 meeting grounds). The meetings at marae foster multi-generational engagement in diverse cultural activities (de Bruin & Read, 2018) such as kapa haka (dance), poi (a light ball on string swung or twirled rhythmically), raranga (weaving), and singing in te reo (Māori language).…”