Opening doors – Māori and their whānau: Finding equilibrium through the senses

Esme Schlotjes

Melanie Smith
Biography
Ko Esme Schlotjes ahau
A fifth generation New Zealander, descendant from English, Scottish, Welsh, Norwegian, Swedish. (discovered 2019). Growing up, my lens on the world was “Kiwi”.
My home, a mixed culture rural town, Hawkes Bay, with close relationships with Māori neighbours. School Kapa Haka was where I learnt and assimilated “Kiwi Culture” with Māori mentors.
An Occupational Therapist, 39 years’ experience, across health and wellbeing, includes:
Post Graduate Qualification (Health Science), specialty Mental Health.
Sensory Modulation Research Project Assistant to Dr Gilbert Azuela. Co-developer of Sensory Modulation training.
Serving Leadership Groups: Occupational Therapy, Sensory Modulation, Zero seclusion – Health Quality & Safety Commission New Zealand, Te Pou National Sensory Modulation Practice Group.
As an Occupational Therapist for over 11 years in Acute Inpatient Mental Health, my passion is enhancing wellbeing, personal potentials, empowering and strengthening of others. Māori particularly require culturally safe, sensory modulating approaches to enhance mana.
Kō Ngā Puhi, Kō Ngāti Manu, me Ngāti Pākehā ngā iwi
Kō Ngāti Manu te hapū
He kaiako ahau ō Te Kuratini Tuwhera o Aotearoa
He Kaiwhakaora Ngangahau
Ko Melanie Smith ahau
Of Māori and Pākehā descent, I descend from Kupe, a known Māori navigator and from Rangatira, Te Whareumu. I whakapapa to two signatories on the Māori version of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Growing up with a predominantly Pākehā lens amongst my English and Welsh extended whānau in the Waikato. With the knowledge that the Māori land confiscation line bordered one side of the land.
I am a registered Occupational Therapist with 28 years’ experience across many sectors of health and wellbeing including Māori health. For the past 4 years I’ve also lectured at the Open Polytechnic in Health and Wellbeing. I am passionate about Māori wellbeing and educating others regarding cultural safety and mana enhancing and protecting practices.
Abstract
Introduction: Whakaāio ā-rongo (Sensory modulation) has origins within Whakaora Ngangahau, having gained recognition as an effective approach within oranga settings. We argue that therapeutic use of self and a strong therapeutic alliance is vital. Manaakitanga and The Re‐covery Model’s ‘Bridge of trust’ (Randal. et al. 2009) can build insight moments and successes that are ‘mana enhancing and protecting’ (Te rau matatini. 2016). This presentation seeks to explore how Māori and whānau have gained benefits from Whakaāio ā-rongo through the restorative process of whakawhanaungatanga, values approaches and toanga. Together this empowers tāngata whaiora to gain insight and mastery to achieve rongo and help address any oranga ararau (complex needs).
Objective: Equity for Māori through provision of Whakaora Ngangahau that attends to the development of genuine therapeutic relationships that empower tāngata whaiora to embrace relevant healing sensory modalities. Currently Māori are experiencing higher rates of conflict and seclusion with poorer health outcomes. The whakaaro is for Māori and whānau to positively experience; feel recognised, honoured, safer and more connected, respected and heard; and have holistic needs met. Through hope inducing Interactions, promoting a sense of community and being a rangatira in their hīkoi.
Approach: Based on practice experiences of working in partnership with Māori tāngata whaiora and whanau, including feedback within a range of oranga settings. Our purpose is not to teach models but bring real sensory modulating practice examples that meet the whakaaro. These affirm best practice guidelines for Māori and whānau.
Practice Implications: The kōrero advances four insights to enhance practice with Māori:
1) there is no prescription but need for flexibility, creativity and an individualised kete;
2) paramount for success is a culturally safe and genuinely invested relationship;
3) focus remains on mana integrity and the skills, experiences and resources of the tāngata;
4) therapist reflection enhances the personal hīkoi of the tāngata and their potential, honouring relevant ‘doing’ experiences.
Conclusion: Our presentation traverses approaches honouring Māori and whānau within oranga settings to achieve Whakaāio ā-rongo. Practice examples will inspire a Māori values-based roopu and consider facilitation of a tangata whaiora centric kete.