Article: Te Whare Tapa Wha

 Te Whare Tapa Whā

Information sourced from Te Whare Tapa Wha

What is Te Whare Tapa Whā?

Te Whare Tapa Whā was developed by leading Māori and Sir Mason Durie, a health advocate in 1984. The model of Te Whare Tapa Whā describes health and wellbeing as a meeting house (wharenui) with four walls. These walls represent the following:

• Taha wairua - spiritual wellbeing 

• Taha hinengaro - mental and emotional wellbeing

• Taha tinana - physical wellbeing 

• Taha whānau/family and social wellbeing. 

• Whenua - land forms and our connection with the foundation of the wharenui. 

When all of these things are in balance we thrive. When one or more of these is out of balance our wellbeing is impacted. This week we will be learning about each of these different structures and how we can focus on our own wellbeing. Making sure that you can be the best you possible!

Whenua - Land Forms

Whenua is the place where you stand. It is your connection to the land. It is a source of life, wellbeing and nourishment for everyone. Whenua include soil, rocks, plants, animals and people, these are known as the tangata whenua. People are linked physically and spiritually to the land. It is the earth that connects you to your ancestors (tūpuna) and also all of the generations that will come after you. 

When we talk about whenua you can think of this as your own place of belonging. This means the spaces where you feel comfortable, safe and where you are able to be yourself. This could be considered as:

• Being around your friends

• Being at home with your whānau

• Being part of a sports team 

• At your place of study or work (mahi)

Taha Tiana - physical wellbeing 

Taha tiana is about how your body feels and how you care and look after it. Refueling your body helps you to feel mentally well. Good physical health is required for your optimal development. This includes the foods that we put into our bodies and the physical exercise that we do. By eating healthy and getting out and getting exercise we can strengthen our taha tiana. For Māori the physical dimension is just one aspect of our health and wellbeing and cannot be separated from the aspect of mind, spirit and whanāu. 

The most important thing about your taha tiana is learning what you can do to nurture this. This includes making sure that you drink enough water, eat healthy foods, getting out and getting some fresh air and exercise and getting enough sleep. Sometimes your tinana might not be where you’d like it to be and this might be beyond your control but there are many things that you can do to nurture it.