Te Whare Tapa Wha

Whare Tapa Wha is a holistic framework that originates from the Māori culture of New Zealand. It was created by Sir Mason Durie, a respected Māori academic, in order to better understand the health and well-being of Māori people.

Whare Tapa Wha is based on the concept of a whare, or traditional Māori house, and the four cornerstones that support its structure. The four cornerstones of Whare Tapa Wha are taha wairua (spiritual health), taha hinengaro (mental health), taha tinana (physical health), and taha whānau (family health).

Each of these four cornerstones is seen as equally important, and together they form a complete picture of a person's overall health and well-being. If one of these cornerstones is weak or damaged, it can affect the entire structure and the person's overall well-being.

By taking a holistic approach to health and well-being, Whare Tapa Wha recognizes that a person's physical health is not the only indicator of their overall well-being. It also acknowledges the importance of cultural, spiritual, and social factors in shaping a person's health and well-being.

Overall, Whare Tapa Wha provides a useful framework for understanding and improving the health and well-being of individuals and communities, not just in Māori culture, but also in other cultures and contexts around the world.

Ken Sin