He Whare Aroha

This research is grounded in a Māori worldview that is a collective expression of whakaaro, a gathering of aspirations and a commitment to our responsibilities as uri of Ngāti Awa to uphold the dignity and wellbeing of our kaumātua with aroha.  

This research is tasked with designing an iwi-led model of care for kaumātua, centred on wānanga where the voices of kaumātua lead and shape the vision of what a Ngāti Awa model for aged care could be.  

‘He Whare Aroha’ begins with a simple truth, our kaumātua are taonga. They carry whakapapa, memory, reo Māori, tikanga, humour, grief, stories of survival and the wisdom that comes through lived experience.  

In this context, ‘aged care’ cannot be reduced to services, beds, routines, or medication alone. It also encompasses mana, belonging, identity and the ways in which an iwi cares for their own.  

Early insights from wānanga show strong momentum in designing the iwi-led model. Kaumātua have expressed excitement and are thinking beyond conventional models, reimagining what an aged care facility can be when shaped by a Māori perspective, by Māori and for Māori.  

Contributors:

Primary Investigator - Dr Shonelle Wana 

Research Assistant – Leeann Waaka