Te Reo Māori

For health and palliative care professionals, we recommend:

• Learn te reo Māori and use it in your practice. At a minimum level we would recommend that you:
  • Learn to speak basic te reo Māori (Māori language) phrases or words and learn to feel comfortable pronouncing te reo Māori words.
  • Use basic greetings to meet kaumātua and whānau for the first time such as, ‘tēnā koe’ [hello to one person], ‘tēnā kōrua’ [hello to two people] and ‘tēnā koutou katoa’ [hello to more than two people]. At subsequent meetings a less, formal greeting can be used such as ‘kia ora.’ To say goodbye use ‘haere rā’ or ‘ka kite anō au i a koe’ [I’ll see you again].
  • Learn to use the correct names in te reo Māori for parts of the body when working with kaumātua and whānau.
  • Learn how to share whakapapa (genealogical connections) as this is an important step in building rapport with Māori whānau. Being comfortable introducing yourself in this way can help with conducting hui and is needed for community networking as well.
  • Find and explore Māori language websites and other local te reo Māori educational opportunities.
• If you are fluent in the reo be sensitive about the use of te reo Māori when working with kaumātua and whānau who may have lost their language.

For health and palliative care services we recommend:

• Staff are supported to learn te reo Māori and tikanga Māori and to use it in their practice. Learning karakia, waiata would be beneficial not only for personal interest but to increase the understanding of staff about Māori cultural practices.
• Using Māori words and symbols on signage, branding and images, on websites and visual and written documentation can help to make kaumātua and whānau feel included as valued consumers.
• Prioritise employing health and social care professionals who have proficiency in te reo Māori.