The Sacred Connection of the Feet (Te Tuhono Tapu o ngā Waewae): The Cultural and Spiritual Impact of Diabetes‐Related Lower Limb Amputation Among Māori
Date
Authors
Otene, Cynthia
Ihaka, Belinda
Carroll, Matthew R
Supervisor
Item type
Journal Article
Degree name
Journal Title
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Volume Title
Publisher
Wiley
Abstract
Diabetes prevalence in Aotearoa New Zealand is rising rapidly, disproportionately affecting Māori communities and contributing to significantly higher rates of diabetes‐related lower limb amputations. These inequities reflect systemic issues such as colonisation, racism, and limited access to culturally safe care rather than clinical factors alone. Embedding tikanga (Māori customs) within podiatry foot screening offers a pathway to culturally responsive practice that honours Māori spiritual, physical, and cultural well‐being. Integrating Rongoā Māori (traditional healing) and whānau‐centred approaches alongside biomedical care can improve engagement and outcomes, whereas marae‐based and community‐led models enhance accessibility and trust. Workforce development in cultural safety is essential to uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations of equity, partnership, and protection. Culturally grounded podiatry services not only reduce the risk of amputation but also restore connections to tūrangawaewae (place of belonging) and whakapapa (genealogy), ensuring that care is meaningful and effective for Māori communities.Description
Keywords
1103 Clinical Sciences, 1104 Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 1106 Human Movement and Sports Sciences, 3202 Clinical sciences, 4201 Allied health and rehabilitation science, diabetic foot, amputation, foot screening, health equity, Māori health, podiatry services
Source
Journal of Foot and Ankle Research, ISSN: 1757-1146 (Print); 1757-1146 (Online), Wiley, 19(2). doi: 10.1002/jfa2.70167
Publisher's version
Rights statement
© 2026 The Author(s). Journal of Foot and Ankle Research published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Australian Podiatry Association and The Royal College of Podiatry. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.