Marae Ora Kāinga Ora: Indigenous Health and Wellbeing Solutions via Time-Honored Indigenous Spaces

Abstract

Marae Ora, Kainga Ora (MOKO) is a three-year research study established as a marae-led intervention project to strengthen the provision of housing with five urban marae in South Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand. In brief, marae are primarily places for cultural gatherings and are the centres of activity for Māori communities. Though just one of the marae involved is part of a pre-European tribal settlement, the four other marae were established to meet the cultural needs of Māori who had relocated many decades ago from their tribal areas outside of the Auckland region. The project works with Marae Research Coordinators (MRC) nominated by each marae to build research and development capacity and capability through the sharing of skills, information, and resources. Each MRC is affiliated with their respective marae, either through whakapapa (genealogical links) or through their contributions of service and leadership. The role of the MRC is critical in capturing the lived realities, experiences, and aspirations of their marae community. This was evident in the first year of the project (2020) when three of the five marae actively responded to the needs of their communities during COVID-19 lockdowns in Auckland. While the project has a housing focus, the marae involved demonstrate, in their own distinctive ways, how health and wellbeing is intrinsic to their core function.

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“…Another Australian study examining urban Aboriginal populations found that successful outcomes, such as employment, were linked with educational attainment and interaction with the justice system (Reeve & Bradford, 2014). Lee-Morgan et al (2021) proposed that wellbeing solutions for the M aori Indigenous people of New Zealand incorporate M aori culture and a more holistic perspective into policy. Chetty et al (2020) found that the Indigenous population in the United States had lower rates of upward mobility and higher rates of downward mobility than the Caucasian population, leading to intergenerational socioeconomic gaps.…”

“…Lee‐Morgan et al . (2021) proposed that well‐being solutions for the Māori Indigenous people of New Zealand incorporate Māori culture and a more holistic perspective into policy.…”