Principle 4: Māori Health

Introduction

The following is one of a group of principles which recognise the particular needs of tamariki (children) and rangatahi (young people) receiving health and disability support services. The principles describe what should be provided when your child or young person receives those services.

The principles are based on expert opinion and a considerable body of literature in Aotearoa New Zealand and overseas and they have been developed after wide consultation.

See a listing of 14 principles guiding provision of health and disability services

Recognition of Māori values and beliefs

Principle: Tamariki (children) and rangatahi (young people) who identify as Māori have their health and disability needs met in a manner that respects and acknowledges their individual and cultural, values and beliefs.

When your child is receiving healthcare and disability support services you can expect the organisation providing the services to:

• identify opportunities for and encourage whānau (family) involvement and support at every stage of healthcare delivery
• identify and eliminate barriers to whānau support and participation
• involve whānau and their knowledge of the child or young person during service delivery

What culturally accessible and appropriate care is

Culturally accessible and appropriate care is evident when you and your whānau are encouraged and supported to stay with your child when they are receiving healthcare services and to accompany and support them during procedures.

You and your whānau receive the information and support you need and request throughout the course of your child or young person's treatment.

You and your whānau have your beliefs, traditions, and ways of coping respected.

You and your whānau are invited to share your knowledge of your child and suggestions for their care, to ask the questions you want and need to ask, and to help identify the goals for your child or young person's care.

You and your whānau participate actively in all of your child's care and become full members of the care teams.

You and your whānau are supported to allow increasing confidentiality between your child and their health professionals as your child matures.

You may ask

Questions you can ask when your child or young person is receiving health and disability support services.

Whānau involvement

• is your whānau included in all healthcare planning regarding your child?
• what provision is made for siblings?

Information

• is information appropriate to your whānau and your child's or young person's age group?
• is there written information to explain services provided and to explain the condition or disability of your child or young person?
• is information available to you as often as needed, in a variety of formats; for example, written, verbal, audio and/or visual? 
• how you can access your child's notes?

Whānau preferences

• does your whānau feel that your preferences in relation to grief, parenting style, choices about healthcare etc, are being accepted and supported?

Communication 

• are there programmes provided for tamariki, rangatahi and their siblings to help them understand the treatment, illness and/or disability?
• are older tamariki and rangatahi given dedicated time to discuss sensitive matters with health professionals?
• is there bedside accommodation for parents or primary caregivers of tamariki in hospital?

Support services 

• what information is available about financial support for your family?
• what culturally appropriate support services are available to your whānau and what is their role; for example, social worker, community worker, child/patient advocate?
• what practical support is available free of charge for your family; for example, meals for a live-in parent in hospital, or residential healthcare setting?

See the KidsHealth page on financial help when your child has a disability or chronic condition for more information