Health and Wellness in Aotearoa – Māori Health & Housing

Assessment Task

You are required to produce a 2,000-word annotated bibliography on a health or social issue in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Your annotated bibliography should:

1.       Identify and justify a specific health or social issue relevant to Aotearoa (e.g., diabetes, mental health, housing, smoking, alcohol harm, youth suicide).

2.       Discuss the historical and political underpinnings of this issue, including:

o    Pre-European Māori health and wellness o         Role of colonisation and its impacts on Māori o Historical trauma arising from colonisation

o    Impacts on both Māori and non-Māori populations up to the present day

3.       Provide a critical evaluation of socio-economic and socio-cultural changes in Aotearoa since 1840, linking these to the health issue you have chosen.

4.       Draw on Māori and Pacific models of health to explore culturally grounded perspectives.

5.       Examine the implications of Te Tiriti o Waitangi for health and healthcare in relation to your chosen issue.

Experts Answer on Above Questions on Health Management

Health/social issue selected for analysis – housing and health inequality

Analysis of the health issue – the social issue of housing and health inequality is significantly important because there is a direct impact of housing conditions on respiratory illness, infectious disease, mental wellbeing and children’s health. The housing related health inequality in Aotearoa New Zealand has the effect in terms of poor quality, overcrowded and unaffordable housing on Maori and Pacific whanau even though there are legal and professional standards regulating community health, mental health, and addiction services in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Historical and political underpinnings

Pre-European Maori health and wellness

There was a close connection of Maori to Whanau before European settlement, and as a result the housing should not be considered as an individual physical structure. Connection to Whenua and the ability to live within a supportive whanau community are the important components of well being. Te WHare Tapa Wha analyses health through interconnected dimensions including taja tinana, taha hinengaro, taka whanau and taha wairua.

Colonisation and its impact on Maori

There is a significant impact of colonisation on Maori relationships with land, housing and economic resources. The material Foundation was negatively affected because of land alienation, population displacement, introduced diseases and description of traditional social structures. All these aspects have significantly supported Maori wellbeing. The ability of Maori to secure adequate housing was adversely affected because of reduced access to economic resources.

Historical trauma

Even after the end of individual colonial policies, the impact of colonisation did not disappear. There is a significant contribution of land loss, cultural disruption, discrimination and socio economic deprivation on continuing inequities.

Maori and Non-Maori population

The impact of the housing problem is significant on everyone including non-maori New Zealanders that are experiencing poverty, rental stress or homelessness. There are additional structural disadvantages faced by Maori and Pacific communities related to income inequality, discrimination, overcrowding and reduced access to secure housing.

Socio-economic and socio cultural changes since 1840

There are significant changes witnessed by Aotearoa since 1840 to an urbanised, market based and ethnically diverse society. Urbanisation changed where Maori lived and worked. Economic restructuring has further increased inequalities in employment and household income. Housing market changes have a significant impact on low and middle income households through high property prices, rental costs and limited affordable housing supply.

Maori and Pacific models of health

Te Whare Tapa Wha can be utilised to understand Maori perspective where housing conditions can affect all four dimensions of wellbeing including Taha Tinana, Taha hinengaro, Taha whanau and Taha wairua. Te Wheke can assist in analysing another Maori framework by analysing interconnected dimensions of wellbeing within whanau.

The application of the Fonofale model is useful in exploring the pacific perspective which conceptualises health through a Pacific family foundation, cultural values and beliefs and mental dimensions.

Implications of Te Tiriti o Waitangi

The role and implication of Te Tiriti o Waitangi is huge in addressing Maori housing-related health inequalities. It is important for Maori to meaningfully participate in developing housing and health policies that have an impact on Maori communities. It is important for the government agencies to work with iwi, hapu, Maori organisations in designing solutions and ensure the inclusion of Maori participation. There is a need for active protection to ensure Maori wellbeing and address any kind of inequities. However, there should be genuine opportunities available to ensure Maori participation in decisions affecting their health and living conditions.

Want Detailed Answers with References on Maori Health & Housing?

An analysis of housing as a health issue in Aotearoa analysing the colonisation, historical trauma, socio economic change, Maori and pacific help models and Te Tiriti indicated important findings to address the housing issues faced by Maori communities. If you need a similar kind of analysis, with our assignment help New Zealand page to get a professional assignment helper well versed with Maori developments. Also access the solved assignment answers from Eastern Institute of Technology before making any commitment.