Te Whare Tapa Whā. The impact of physical distancing on the health and well-being of kuia and koroheke

The effects of the COVID-19 lockdown and physical distancing were broad, impacting multiple sectors, particularly health, for Mäori and Indigenous peoples. This article considers health and well-being using Te Whare Tapa Whā, and looks at the experiences and voices of kuia and koroheke—considered to be at high risk of contracting coronavirus—to better understand their health and well-being impacts from physical distancing. This article then reflects on these experiences to identify how help groups can best support communities in future lockdown situations. The recommendations for future support efforts are threefold and centre on increasing coordination amongst the efforts of the different help groups, using a holistic approach such as Te Whare Tapa Whä to address the various pillars of health, and considering individual health and well-being needs.

This article was published in the MAI Journal Vol. 10 Issue. 1 (2021)