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  • Essay / The Treaty of Waitangi

    Table of ContentsHistoryThree Principles of the TreatyFour Cornerstones of Māori HealthReferences:HistoryThe Treaty of Waitangi, often called the founding document of Aotearoa New Zealand. Signed on February 4, 1840, the treaty formalized the relationship between the Māori and the Crown (Kingi 2007). The Treaty of Waitangi was composed of 5 parts namely: the preamble, 3 articles and the postscript and exists in Maori and English. Problems have arisen due to poor translation of the treaty and as a result there have been different interpretations of the treaty between the English and Māori versions. The English version says that the Maori cede their sovereignty to the crown while the Maori version says "kawanatanga" which allows the crown to establish a government in New Zealand (course reference). Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay Both versions have similar aims, emphasizing that Māori and non-Māori share the same health and well-being, but the Māori version emphasizes Māori control over all things Māori ( Kingi 2007). Within a few years it was clear that the rights promised to Māori were being ignored, leading to land confiscation, language displacement and a loss of political power and economic control. The loss of Mauri land, control and culture led to the depopulation of the Mauri. Historically, Mauri recovered from near extinction with little assistance from the Treaty or the Crown and platforms for Mauri health development were established (Kingi 2007). The Waitangi Tribunal was established in 1975 and served as a platform where treaty issues could be discussed outside of the court setting. This ultimately led to the restoration of the relationship between the Treaty and Mauri's health through the establishment of the Treaty principles identified by the Royal Commission on Social Policy (1988).Three principles of the TreatyThe three principles, namely: partnership, protection and participation, have been established. create common ground based on the two versions of the Treaty (Kingi 2007). The principle of partnership imposes an obligation on the Crown to integrate Mauri into the design of health legislation, health policies and strategies. This encompasses the involvement of all indigenous communities in the development of strategies for the improvement of Mauri health, as well as appropriate health and disability services (Kingi 2007). The principle of participation encompasses the obligation for the Mauri to participate at all levels of the health and disability sector, ensuring that health strategies are consistent with current Mauritian realities (Kingi 2007). The final principle of protection serves to eradicate disparities between Mauri and non-Mauri, ensuring equitable health outcomes as well as the protection of Mauritian cultural concepts and values. The principles of the treaty are part of the principles aimed at eradicating any inequality between Mauri and non-Mauri as well as preserving Mauri culture and values. Four cornerstones of Māori health Māori health and wellbeing is described by a concept called “Te whare tapa wha” which represents a holistic approach to health comprised of four cornerstones. This concept illustrates that each of the four cornerstones plays an equal role in maintaining complete health and well-being. Thus, if any of the four cornerstones is weak, a person is considered sick (Pistacchi 2008). The four cornerstones are: physical health (Taha tinana), spiritual health (Taha wairua), family health 2008). 34(3).