Indigenous Māori responses to COVID‐19: He waka eke noa?

Abstract

The COVID‐19 pandemic of 2020 has had significant impacts on communities and infrastructures across the globe. Indigenous health experts have called for culturally responsive Government support to mitigate pre‐existing inequities and vulnerabilities in Indigenous communities. In Aotearoa New Zealand, official responses to the pandemic typically reflect the worldviews of the settler majority, while Māori interests are treated as part of the national concern. Using autoethnographic, Indigenous voice and an Indigenous wellbeing model, Whiti te Rā , this article contributes insights into Māori cultural values as they were reported in online platforms during the Level 4 lockdown period of March–July, 2020. The authors recorded multiple examples of Māori cultural values and practices that offered individuals, families and communities a digital‐social space of safety and hope to build relational resilience, and to mitigate the effects of the COVID‐19 lockdown. Observations and responses aligned to the model's six dimensions of relational wellbeing: Māori language, the natural environment, spirituality, creative and performing arts, family (and extended family) values and genealogical connections. The observations highlight that Māori have a multigenerational approach to crisis management based on ancestral wisdom and experience that can inform Government responses.

Supporting whānau during COVID-19 pandemic in Aotearoa New Zealand: a systems thinking case study

“…Through this case study of a single urban Māori health and social service provider, it was clear that tension existed at the boundaries of whānau-centred approaches within dominant non-Māori approaches. The participants’ experience was of kaupapa Māori providers being peripheral in the design of services, and more often left to “clean up” messes than be involved in planning for good whānau outcomes at the outset, an experience reported elsewhere [ 15 , 16 ]. Planning, funding and contracting processes are designed for majority services informed by “Western” concepts of health and public administration.…”

“…The government has been criticised for lack of early engagement with Māori for responding to the COVID-19 pandemic [ 15 , 16 ], building upon historical evidence of inequitable access to health services [ 45 ]. The COVID-19 response was led by a health system transitioning to a way of working that places Māori perspectives more prominently within policy and delivery [ 3 ].…”

“…The government response has been criticised for not sufficiently regarding Māori advice early in the pandemic response, a requirement under the Treaty of Waitangi [ 16 , 17 ]. The Treaty of Waitangi was signed by the British Crown and Māori Chiefs in 1840 to establish British governance in Aotearoa New Zealand.…”

Psychological Resilience among Orang Asli Youths in Selangor during COVID-19 and Its Associated Factors

“…A study among indigenous Australians highlights the importance of family communication during a pandemic and illuminates Maori cultural values. Family members advise close and extended family through everyday digital activities ( 51 ).…”

The Impact of COVID-19 on Māori Patients Attending Diabetes Annual Review

“…While this result was unexpected, it potentially reflects participants’ access to government COVID-19 relief funding for Māori and other disadvantaged groups. A qualitative study by Choi et al of low-income individuals (n = 42) interviewed in June-July 2020 immediately after the lockdown reported coping financially while still experiencing financial stress [ 26 ].…”