Māori Hospitals w/ Associate Professor of Social Sciences at the University of Auckland Marama Muru-Lanning 18th September, 2024

Three years ago, the kaumatua hauora research team from the James Henare research centre from the university of Auckland, met with a number of Kaumātua and elderly Māori from the Waikato region to discuss the experiences of Kaumātua in healthcare facilities across Aotearoa.

The study found that Kaumatua largely had unpleasant experiences in healthcare facilities, that they felt misunderstood by Pākeha healthcare professionals, were placed in mixed gender wards and often times left neglected. 

On top pressing concerns regarding the health disparities between Māori and non-Māori, the study prompted discussions about opening Māori led hospitals, which would be hollistic centres run by Iwi and Māori organisations operating with a kaupapa Māori approach.

Oto spoke to Associate Professor of Social Sciences at the University of Auckland Marama Muru-Lanning to discuss the concept of Maori hospitals and the steps needed to establish them.