13 Dec A Metaphoric Approach to Health and Wellbeing

Crystal Pekepo.

Metaphoric poetry always has a way of resonating with Māori. Although it is easy to identify huahuatau (metaphor) in written or communicated kōrero, it is not always easy to physically interpret, especially when we attempt to apply huahuatau in our respective roles in Māori health.

Crystal Pekepo (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Vara (Mangaia)), is a recent graduate of Te Wānanga o Raukawa, Poutuarongo Kawa Oranga degree. Crystal was one of our summer intern recipients for 2015-2016 and resides in Waiwhetū (Lower Hutt). In this webinar, Crystal will provide an example of the metaphoric approaches she has used in her current role with Toi Tangata as a community research and co-design specialist. She will also provide a kōrero around her recent studies with Te Wānanga o Raukawa.

Te Ara Koiora is a framework Crystal designed in her recent research pursuits with Te Wānanga o Raukawa. This was created to inspire whānau to work collectively in the pursuit of Koioratanga with koiora meaning life and te ara koiora meaning the journey towards quality of life. Using a whānau centric model called the “Pā Maioro”, Crystal and her whānau have been able to draw on the building and living systems of their ancestors as a metaphoric approach to whānau wellbeing. Crystal’s approach is captured well in the following quote: “Whānau should always be at the forefront, it should never be an individual journey because it is important to ensure the whakapapa and mana of your whānau is perpetuated.”