The Impact Of The Treaty Of Waitangi On Healthcare In New Zealand

Present-day New Zealand is being shaped by the Treaty of Waitangi, signed on 6 February 1840 by more than 500 Maori chiefs and representatives of the British Crown, named after the place called “Waitangi” in the heart of the bay of islands, where it was first signed. The history is related to one of two peoples meeting, of encounters and negotiations, agreements made and broken, laws, claims and protests, as Maori and Pakeha find ways of living together in New Zealand when more and more Europeans were acquiring land from the Maori to substantiate commercial operations. It is an integral part of New Zealand and termed as a founding document which declares British sovereignty over New Zealand while preserving the local status of Maori. Also, the British were at risk of probable capture of New Zealand by invaders from French or USA, thus they wanted to get here first. However, it was not until the Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975 which established the Waitangi tribunal with the purpose of addressing Maori grievances and injustice done in past which gave the treaty of Waitangi and its principles recognition in New Zealand Law for the first time. Health-care services in New Zealand back in the 1970s were designed according to ancient British models which support older people of British origin wherein.

It is said to be believed that Maori have poorer health than Pakeha (white people). Kaumatua refers to an older member of whanau (family) usually over the age of 55 years wherein elderly-care services are not supported to provide for people under 65, besides Maori suffer the life-threatening diseases like heart attacks, cancer, respiratory disorder and diabetes of old age earlier, hence have shorter life expectancy and die earlier than people of other community. This can be attributed to the fact that when European first moved here followed by whalers, sealers and then traders, by the beginning of 1840 Maori suffered enormously from European diseases from which they had no immunity and that is when treaty comes into function.

Maori refers health as a four-dimensional model representing four beliefs of life called as Te Whare Tapa Wha developed by Dr. Mason Durie in 1982 as follows:- Te taha hinengaro (psychological health); Te taha wairua (spiritual health); Te taha tinana (physical health); and Te taha whanau (family health). Te Taha Hinengaro refers to mental well-being directly related to the wellness of the body as both are inseparable, without good mental health, physical health cannot be achieved. Te Taha Wairu mentions spiritual health considered as an important prerequisite for a person’s health and well-being with respect to their relationships with environments, people and heritage. Maori believes in the absence of spiritual consciousness one can never lead a healthy life and will always be susceptible to ill health. Te Taha Tinana centres on good physical health an elixir for the greatest physical growth, development and happy living. For Maori the body and things of it are Tapu (sacred) for instance, Head is regarded as most-sacred part of the body, and they do not pat each other on the head. Te Taha Whanau emphasizes on everybody being a part of extensive social systems connected to our ancestors, our cord with the past, present and the future. This accounted as the fundamental component contributing to illness and assist in curing illness in order to understand Maori health issues.

The “3 principles” of The Treaty of Waitangi also called as “3Ps” used as a structure to deliver culturally aware, empathetic and safe services in a health and disability surrounding are as follows:- partnership, participation, and protection. Partnership is about working and people, their family/whanau, iwi (tribe) and hapῡ (extended family groups) with the aim of supporting a person’s well-being. Participation refers to give the necessary time to people, their family/whānau, iwi and hapῡ to be a part of the discussion and decision-making about their health care needs. The principle of participation incorporates person and their whanau by consented discussion and honest consultation executed in good faith while engaging and supporting people to share their ideas. Protection is concerned about protecting people from the disparity in the health system. This involves ensuring that they have access to those services that meet their needs. Also, it is about protecting things Māori, including Te Reo Māori (language) and protecting people from threats to their wellbeing and quality of life. A threat to someone’s cultural practices and values threatens their wellbeing. The principle of protection requires advocacy and honesty, protection of the things that are important to the person, fair knowledge and awareness.

Since 1975, both Maori culture and language have become acceptable, for that reason many medical schools provide education on Maori health wherein hospitals are entitled to give compulsory training to staff on understanding and application of Maori operating principles, values and beliefs in order to work in a culturally safe environment in health or community setting. In addition, health care professionals are required under the terms and agreements of the Treaty of Waitangi to ensure that health care services to Maori are implemented in a way acceptable and most-favorable to them. This is also governed in law through the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act (NZPHDA) 2000, which requires the health sector to reduce health disparities between Maori and other New Zealanders by improving the health outcomes of Maori and other population groups.