Te Reo Māori and Tikanga

Policy

Te reo Māori is an official language of Aotearoa New Zealand, a taonga (treasure), and protected under te Tiriti o Waitangi.

To embody our commitment to te Tiriti o Waitangi and our responsibility to provide culturally safe health services, we actively support our team to grow their capability in te reo Māori and use it in their everyday work.

We encourage our team to normalise Tikanga practices in their work to uphold the wairua (spiritual), hinengaro (psychological), and tinana (physical) well-being of Māori patients, whānau, and team members.

Te Taura Whiri | Māori Language Commission: Te reo Māori Self-assessment Tool can help your organisation identify how well you are currently supporting te reo Māori in the workplace. It offers tips and recommendations for next steps.

Te reo Māori resources

There are many useful resources available to support confidence and capability in te reo Māori. These include:

Websites

Mobile phone apps

These apps are freely available via the iOS and Android stores and can be used on any smart device.

Tikanga best practice guidelines

These guidelines are considered best practice and can be incorporated for all patients regardless of ethnicity.

Whānau support

We actively support, encourage, and include whānau in all aspects of health care and decision making.

For example:

• sharing a copy of care plans with patient and whānau
• asking the patient or whānau if they wish to nominate a person to speak on behalf of the whānau
• acknowledging and involving the nominated person.

Karakia

We encourage team members to be open to the offering of karakia (blessings or prayers), which are important for many Māori to protect and maintain spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical health.

For example:

• before, during, or at the end of a consultation
• before a team hui
• before sharing kai.

Food/linen

We encourage team members to become familiar with the concepts of tapu (sacred) and noa (not sacred).

For example:

• not using pillowcases for any other purpose
• using different cloths for washing the head and washing the body
• keeping food separate from anything that comes into contact with the body or body fluids.

  For example:

  • Don't place medical samples on the same surface as food.
  • Don't heat anything that comes into contact with the body (e.g. wheat bags) in the same microwave that is used for food.
  • Use tea towels only for drying dishes, and wash them separately from other items.
  • Store food, drink, and medicines for consumption separately to medical samples taken from patients.
  • Don't sit on tables or other surfaces that may be used for eating.

Taonga

We encourage team members to be aware and respectful of taonga (valuables of significance, often worn around the neck) and discuss any need to handle the taonga with the patient and whānau.

For example:

• only removing taonga if leaving them on the patient places them at risk
• where possible, taping the taonga securely to the patient rather than removing it
• if wearing the taonga places the patient at risk, obtaining consent before removing it and giving whānau the option of caring for it.

For more Tikanga best practice guidelines, see WellSouth: Tikanga Best Practice Guidelines, Te Whatu Ora Te Tai o Poutini West Coast: Tikanga best practice guidelines, or your own region's guide.

Resources

Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Treaty of Waitangi

Diversity Works: Introducing and Embracing te reo Māori in the workplace