NiaNia Wiremu, Bush Allister, Epston David
Māori Healer, Tohunga, Te Kuwatawata, Primary Mental Health Service, Tairawhiti District Health Board, Gisborne, New Zealand.
Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Te Kākano o Te Aroha, Māori Mental Health Service, Te Whare Mārie, Capital Coast District Health Board, Porirua, New Zealand.
Australas Psychiatry. 2019 Aug;27(4):334-336. doi: 10.1177/1039856219828191. Epub 2019 Feb 18.
The aim of this article is to give an overview of Māori concepts informing a collaboration between a Māori healer (NiaNia) and psychiatrist (Bush).
Wairua (spiritual) problems can resemble psychiatric disorders or symptoms. Knowledge of relevant Māori concepts such as mauri, tapu, mana, matekite and manaakitanga may assist psychiatrists in collaborating with Māori healers and kaumātua (elders) to enable more appropriate cultural and clinical assessment, as well as helping to build rapport and clinical interactions with Māori whānau (individuals and families).