Adapting Traditional Healing Values and Beliefs into Therapeutic Cultural Environments for Health and Well-Being

Bruno Marques, Claire Freeman and Lyn Carter
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Bruno Marques: Wellington School of Architecture, Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand
Claire Freeman: School of Geography, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
Lyn Carter: Te Tumu School of Māori, Pacific Island and Indigenous Studies, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 19, issue 1, 1-19

Abstract: Although research has long established that interaction with the natural environment is associated with better overall health and well-being outcomes, the Western model mainly focuses on treating symptoms. In Aotearoa/New Zealand, the Indigenous Māori have long demonstrated significantly more negative health outcomes than non-Māori. Little research has examined the causes compared to Western populations or the role of the natural environment in health outcomes for Māori. An exploration of rongoā Māori (traditional healing system) was conducted to ascertain the importance of landscape in the process of healing. Eight rongoā healers or practitioners took part in semi-structured narrative interviews from June to November 2020. Transcribed interviews were analysed using an interpretative phenomenological analysis and Kaupapa Māori techniques. The findings show how rongoā is underpinned by a complex set of cultural values and beliefs, drawing from the connection to wairua (spirit), tinana (body), tikanga and whakaora (customs and healing), rākau (plants), whenua (landscape) and whānau (family). Incorporating such constructs into the landscape can foster our understanding of health and well-being and its implications for conceptualising therapeutic environments and a culturally appropriate model of care for Māori and non-Māori communities.

Keywords: therapeutic landscapes; therapeutic environments; Indigenous knowledge; M?tauranga M?ori; Rongo? M?ori; traditional healing; health and well-being; cultural landscapes; cultural geography; landscape architecture (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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