A Brief History of the Treaty of Waitangi
The history of Aotearoa New Zealand plays a significant part in not only the history of the world but definitely in the way the country is governed today. The founding document of Aotearoa New Zealand, better known as the Treaty of Waitangi, was an agreement established between the Maori chiefs and the Crown. The document served as a way to preserve and protect the indigenous people from colonialists across the world. The ratification of the document took place on the 6th February 1840 in Waitangi in the Bay of Islands and is celebrated to this day.
Although the intentions of the Crown seemed sincere, the document brought much debate for many years. The Treaty was written in both English and Maori language and was compiled in a short space of time which left a marginal period for discussions of its contents. This caused great controversy as the English and Maori versions did not correspond due to poor translation by Henry Williams. The three articles of the Treaty of Waitangi consequently were open to misinterpretation. The English version stated that Maori submit their complete authority to the Crown, while it intended to say that the Crown was allowed only to set up government so that the Maori people still had control over the land and its people. Over the years, the promises made by the Crown were disregarded and as a result, the indigenous people lost their land, economic and political standing, and also became culturally displaced. These issues had domino effects on each other, especially on the health and well-being of Maori people.
Many had concerns about the future of the Maori culture and population, which led to the establishment of the Waitangi Tribunal of 1975. This tribunal was founded as a way to reform and restructure laws and policies brought forward by Maori and address any issues that arose. The goal of the treaty is to ensure that Maori have equal access to healthcare and to respect the principles and foundations set out by the Royal Commission of Social Policy.
The four cornerstones of Maori health
Healthcare is a multidimensional system that is influenced by many components. It is through compromises to one or all of these components that creates imbalances in the system, leading to an individual feeling ill. To follow are the four cornerstones that make up the Maori health system.
The component of mental health (Te Heningaro) accounts for the processing of one’s feelings, thoughts, and emotions and places emphasis on the individual’s perception of their health. Although closely related, spiritual health (Te Wairua) allows us to explore a deeper sense of self and discover our individuality through faith and belief as a way to guide us in decision-making. Spiritual health also provides us with a connection to our ancestors. While the concept of family health (Te Whanau) connects all Maoris as one being. In my understanding, good health and habits of the individual contribute to the good health of the family and the society as a whole. And thus, a healthy society aids in good individual health too. The physical health (Te Tinana) aspect is representative of an individual’s Maori ancestry and is also seen as an extension of the family’s wellbeing. Furthermore, Pistacchi explains that the mind, body, and soul are all components that impact one’s physical health and wellbeing. The four cornerstones of Maori health pride themselves on uplifting the family and community by aiding a holistic care approach to ensure that the health and wellbeing of the Maori community are achieved on a broad spectrum.
The three principles of the Treaty of Waitangi
Three principles form the foundation of the Maori Health Strategy. All representing ideologies within the Treaty of Waitangi and aiding the policymaking and development of Maori Healthcare.
The principle of Partnership has to do with the inclusion of Maori in all aspects of healthcare by working as a collective to improve overall health outcomes and goals. The inclusion allows for transparency and active involvement to be provided about laws, policies, and strategies to implement appropriate healthcare for all. Maintaining these communication channels and active inclusion ensures all stakeholders’ values are taken into consideration and acknowledged.
The principle of Protection works to safeguard the Maori health, cultures, and traditions that were passed down from generations that came before. It also serves as a way to remove inequalities, by working towards equitable healthcare to ensure that Maori are receiving a comparable level of care as non-Maori. This is achieved through health initiatives such as health prevention and promotion strategies as well as monitoring and improving current strategies for betterment.
The principle of Participation encourages the involvement of Maori in the service delivery of healthcare whereby Maori are not confined to only receiving treatment but also providing it. By increasing Maori participation in the healthcare system, one increases the cultural competence surrounding Maori practices and thus addresses the health inequalities. Similarly, one can preserve Maori health cultures and traditions in sharing them with non-Maori workers.
A brief discussion of the implications the Treaty of Waitangi has on healthcare delivery in New Zealand
Since New Zealand is a diverse country that embraces a variety of ethnicities and cultures the Treaty of Waitangi influences the way that healthcare and other services are delivered. This is achieved as the Treaty places its emphasis not only on being clinically and ethically sound but also on gaining cultural competence as a healthcare worker by promoting cultural inclusion.
This is set out by the Health Practitioners Competency Assurance Act of 2004 to ensure the development of well-versed practitioners to address the disparities. Similarly, cultural awareness and empathy also aid in addressing these health disparities, which increases compliance resulting in improved health outcomes and service delivery.
The Treaty has provided me with greater contextual insight into the inequalities faced by the Maori people. I will strive to uphold my responsibilities to patient care by providing effective and holistic assessment and treatment sessions accounting for the spiritual, physical, mental, and family aspects involved. By strengthening my cultural competence and awareness, I am able to express an empathic yet professional approach to healthcare by acknowledging the cultural beliefs and values that are important to my patient. I believe that knowledge is only effective with appropriate communication by engaging and learning about Maori cultures and traditions firsthand serves to be mutually beneficial as knowledge is shared and works to address the disparities by active participation and partnership between myself and my patients improving overall health outcomes. The key principles and cornerstones of Maori health as influenced by the Treaty will continue to be the basis of my practice to continuously develop and grow in my profession as well as apply the aforementioned.
Resources:
- Kingi, T. K. (2007). The Treaty of Waitangi: A framework for Maori health development. New Zealand Journal of Occupational Therapy, 54(1), 4.
- Matika, C., Houkamau, C.
