Te Whare Tapa Whā
Te Whare Tapa Whā is the founding theory of a kaupapa Māori world view of health and wellbeing. It is extremely valuable when thinking about the development of the whole person as it clearly outlines the many dimensions that contribute to development.
Sir Mason Durie (1994) developed a Māori philosophy toward health that is based on a holistic health and wellness model called Te Whare Tapa Whā [11].
He states that health is underpinned by four dimensions representing the basic beliefs of life – te taha hinengaro (psychological health); te taha wairua (spiritual health); te taha tinana (physical health); and te taha whānau (relational health). The four dimensions are represented by the four walls of a house. Each wall is necessary to the strength and symmetry of the building.
Taha hinengaro (mental health) describes the capacity to communicate, to think and to feel. Thoughts, feelings and emotions are integral components of the body and soul.
Taha wairua (spiritual health) describes the capacity for belief, faith and core values. Health is related to unseen and unspoken energies and the spiritual essence of a person is their life force. This determines us as individuals and as a collective, who and what we are, where we have come from and where we are going.
Taha tinana (physical health) describes the capacity for physical growth and development. Good physical health is required for optimal development. Our physical ‘being’ supports our essence and shelters us from the external environment. For Māori, the physical dimension is just one aspect of health and wellbeing and cannot be separated from the aspect of mind, spirit and family.
Taha whānau (family health) relates to the capacity to belong, to care and to share where individuals are part of wider social systems. Whānau or family provides us with the strength to be who we are. This is also the link to our ancestors, our ties with the past, the present and the future.
Te Whare Tapa Whā demonstrates that healthy youth development from a Māori perspective requires connection to culture as well as a healthy mind and body. Durie asserts that “interdependence rather than independence is the healthier goal” [12 p. 72].
References
Durie, M. (1994) Whaiaora – Māori Health Development, Oxford University Press, Auckland New Zealand.
Durie, M. (1998). Whaiora: Maori health development. Auckland: Oxford University Press, 1998, pp. 68–74.
Additional resources
