Introduction to Maori Health and Te Ao Maori Concepts

Coordinators: Annabel Ahudiri Driscoll (Ngati Porou, Ngati Kaufatau, Rangitane, Ngati Kahungunu) and Erin (Two IC).
Support: Atafai (Kaiarahi) from the Office of Training Partnerships.
Context: The course, Teweru, is part of the Bachelor of Health but attracts students from various degrees at UC (University of Canterbury).

Schedule: Content spans $10$ weeks over Terms $3$ and $4$ , with Week $9$ off.
Internal Assessments:
- Essay: Detailed brief provided in Week $5$ , due in Week $6$ .
- Presentation: A $10$ -minute recorded narrative uploaded to Learn.
- Quizzes: Seven quizzes worth a total of $10\%$ of the final grade ( $4$ quizzes in Term $3$ and $3$ in Term $4$ ).
Final Exam: Semi-open book assessment designed to test foundational knowledge retention.

Stance: Use is discouraged as a default for writing. Staff emphasize hearing the student's personal $Whakaro$ (thoughts/opinions/analysis) over AI-generated text.
Critique: AI is described as "wordy" and "waffly," often lacking $Wairua$ (spirit) and $Mauri$ (life essence).
Recommendation: Students should utilize UC resources like the Academic Skills Center and trust their own narrative voices.

Terminology: Historically, "Maori" meant normal or ordinary. Post-European contact, it distinguished indigenous inhabitants from Pakeha.
Evolution of Identity: Shifts from "race" (blood quantum) to "ethnicity" (shared culture, history, and descent).
New Zealander Identity: The term has changed over time. In the $2006$ census, those reporting "New Zealander" as their ethnicity rose from $2.4\%$ in $2001$ to $11.1\%$ ( $430,000$ people).
Current Statistics (2023 Census):
- Approximately $900,000$ people of Maori ethnicity.
- Approximately $1,000,000$ people of Maori descent.

WHO Definition: Health as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not just the absence of disease.
Hauora Maori Concepts:
- $Oranga$ : General well-being comprising various types of vitality.
- $Hauora$ : Sacred breath of life; physical health and vigor.
- $Wai\,ora$ : Broad concept of overall well-being.
- $Mauri\,ora$ : Elemental life essence connecting humans to a healthy environment.
Holistic Approach: Maori health emphasizes the integration of mind, body, spirit, and environment, often centered around the Marae.

Dialogue on AI: Annabel and Erin discussed the investment of university study. Erin noted that while organizations want AI-savvy graduates, funding panels often find AI applications to be a "beautifully worded pile of nothing." They encouraged students to be brave in their imperfect writing to foster academic relationships.
Indigenous Status: The speakers clarified that while the term New Zealander is used for nationality, it is often contested when used as a proxy for ethnicity, especially regarding the status of Maori as indigenous peoples.
Maori Descent vs. Ethnicity: A student asked for clarification on the difference between the two statistical figures. The lecturers confirmed that while many can trace lineage ( $Descent$ ), not all identify with the specific cultural affiliation ( $Ethnicity$ ).