To provide effective care, it’s vital that emergency physicians have a good understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Aotearoa’s history, tikanga Māori (customary values and practices) and health inequities.
The following resources can assist you to deepen your understanding of the Treaty and to enhance your provision of culturally competent care. These could be used individually or in conjunction with the resources available from your Māori health team if you are a DEMT developing teaching materials for trainees.
New Zealand’s founding document, was meant to be a partnership between Māori and the British Crown. Although the intention of the Treaty was to create unity, different understandings of the Treaty, and breaches of it by the Crown, have caused conflict. From the 1970s, efforts to honour the Treaty and its principles have gained momentum.
Te Ara has excellent summaries and more in depth content on Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Te Ara is the complete guide to the peoples, environment, history, culture and society of Aotearoa/New Zealand.
New Zealand History
Te Reo words on this list are in common use in New Zealand. Check your understanding, practice your pronunciation and improve your vocabulary.
Ministry of Health Learn Online
The Foundation Course in Cultural Competency supports you to build your understanding of cultural competency and health literacy in New Zealand, with a focus on improving health outcomes. The multimedia, interactive course is a voluntary programme, spread across four modules, and is available for all people working in the health sector. Each training module is supported by videos, video transcripts, additional reading resources and library references.
New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE)
Understanding tikanga Māori (customary values and practices) is critical to providing culturally safe care. NZTE has developed an excellent cultural tool kit which is freely available on this website or via an app.
Mauriora Associates
This is a free online course in cultural competency with a focus on Māori health.
Mauriora Associates is committed to reducing disparities in Māori health through training the health workforce. They also deliver online foundation courses in Tikanga Māori, Māori Healthcare and the Treaty of Waitangi, and Health Literacy, for a small fee.