Kete Aronui Maori Palliative Care

The Kete Aronui site is dedicated to highlighting some practical information to help whānau manaaki provide care to adults and kaumātua at the end of their lives. The information is based on the Pae Herenga study findings and from the Kaumātua Advisors from the Te Ārai Palliative Care and End of Life Research Group, School of Nursing, University of Auckland. They support the recommendations. We include pūrākau (stories) from Pae Herenga participants’ interviews to highlight the different tikanga associated with end of life care.

When Tāne retrieved ‘Te Kete Aronui’ it contained knowledge of those things that could benefit humankind. Tāne’s journey to obtain this kete (basket) of knowledge was important because it held information about aroha and peace as well as creative knowledge and skills. This knowledge is gained through observation of the environment and it also contains knowledge of literature, philosophy and humanity.

Kete Aronui contains information about the tikanga (customary practices and protocols) and kawa (ceremonies, cultural knowledge, processes and rituals) that participants in the Pae Herenga study said whānau drew from to provide care to adults and kaumātua at end of life. This includes rongoā such as natural healing, spiritual practices and the healing wairua provided by the love of whānau.

Whānau have their own end of life care kete filled with tikanga and kawa that inform their caregiving. There are many ways of doing things. Some whānau prefer to only use the customs of their ancestors and they do not want to alter or change anything about their tikanga or kawa. Other whānau may choose to adapt their tikanga and change things up. There is not a one-size fits all approach. It is up to each whānau to keep their ancient care customs going, generation after generation, and they can adapt their customs according to their needs.