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Te Rau O Tāne (Upholding the Mana) Inclusion of Tāne Māori in the Pregnancy, Labour, and Birth Journey

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Postgraduate Certificate(858.13 KB)

Date

2021

Authors

Supervisor

McAra-Couper, Judith
Farry, Annabel
Tai Tin, Paraone
Leatham, Beatrice

Item type

Degree name

Postgraduate Certificate in Health Science

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Auckland University of Technology

Abstract

This dissertation will share my reflections and the learning I have uncovered regarding tāngata whenua o Aotearoa, specifically, tāne Māori when sharing their hapūtanga, haerenga. Within Te Ao Māori, hapūtanga is a significant process deeply embedded with ancient mātauranga, and yet so much of this knowing has been lost. Therefore, this has been my karanga, my wero, to uphold the mana of our people and remind our tāne of their korekore and their whakapapa. We as Māori know how important our tāne are and their link to pōkaitanga, hapūtanga, birth, and beyond. As a Māori midwife working closely with whānau Māori and providing kaupapa Māori care, I see the difference that our care makes. Cultural connection is something that Aotearoa prides itself on; yet, whānau Māori do not necessarily receive culturally safe care. In fact, too often their experience of maternity services in Aotearoa is mana diminishing. Huge disparities exist in the provision of healthcare for Māori. In the interest of this dissertation, we focus on hapūtanga. This lead me the research question How do we understand, include, and uphold the mana of tāne Māori during the pregnancy, labour, and birth journey? The aim is to reflect on the importance of mana tāne, acknowledging the impact of disconnection including lack of knowledge and understanding and the imbalance of power within our maternity system and beyond. As I reflected on the shared hapūtanga experiences, I was increasingly informed about how tāne perceive themselves within the pregnancy and birth space. It also informed me of their korekore, their potential as well as their “knowing”. The use of whānau pūrākau aligned with the kaupapa Māori methodology that informed this dissertation. Pūrākau have been the pou to the knowledge shared and gained upholding the mana of the whānau and especially that of tāne Māori. The Te Atatū Pūrākau analysis tool created by Alayne Mikahere-Hall (2017) provided concepts that I was able to apply to the pūrākau. These concepts such as wairuatanga gave consideration to a Te Ao Māori perspective that aligned with the research and the kaupapa. This allowed a thorough analysis of the pūrākau giving insight, vision and understanding in a way that keeps within the true kaupapa of Te Rau o Tāne with respect. Te Atatū pūrākau ensured that I was able to whakamana tāngata whenua keeping them culturally safe within their world view, their beliefs, their tikanga whilst their hapūtanga journeys were explored. The exploration and concepts of analysis of the pūrākau have shown that there are clear failings within our current approach towards tāngata whenua and specifically tāne Māori. The current Maternity health care provided with New Zealand fails to uphold the commitments promised within Te Tiriti o Waitangi and fails to understand the consequences suffered by tāne Māori because of the severed link that now exists within pōkaitanga and hapūtanga. The whānau pūrākau became the waka of navigation and the incredible pou that informed the research. The many layers of trauma and experience unravelled allowing a deep insight into the mamae and the journeys held by tāne Māori. This gave understanding on how we as health professionals approach whānau Maori when providing their care. Pūrākau was a necessary tool to conduct this study as it resonated not only with myself the researcher but with the whānau also. Their world view was able to be celebrated in a way that provides a genuine and realistic interpretation that upholds their mana. This approach set the mauri for my study and resonates well with Māori in a way that we appreciate and understand to be tika and pono. The key conclusions from Te Rau o Tāne that will be explored in future research is the importance of working towards a maternity system that will consider the historical damages that have separated tāne Māori from their pōkaitanga and hapūtanga. To reevaluate how midwives as well as the New Zealand Maternity system understands, views, and values the important role of tāne Māori within their hapūtanga. These key points are critical to research further in order to uphold the obligations of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and ensure that tāne Māori, whānau Māori and pēpē Māori are thriving within the midwifery care that we are so privileged to provide in Aotearoa. Ensuring that for tangata whenua it is nothing less than mana enhancing. Mauri ora

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http://hdl.handle.net/10292/16353

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