Indigenous and holistic models of well-being
Navigating the end-of-life journey is deeply sacred for our kaumātua, elderly, and their whānau. In Aotearoa New Zealand, understanding health goes far beyond physical medicine. By exploring Te Whare Tapa Whā, Te Wheke, and the Pacific framework of Fonofale, families can find clarity, comfort, and shared understanding when honouring an elder's wish to live their final months at home.
Te Whare Tapa Whā: balancing the four walls
Developed by Sir Mason Durie, Te Whare Tapa Whā compares holistic health to the four walls of a meeting house: taha tinana (physical), taha hinengaro (mental and emotional), taha wairua (spiritual), and taha whānau (family). When an elderly loved one chooses to remain at home during palliative stages, medical caregivers often focus primarily on the physical wall. However, this model reminds families that nurturing their wairua through familiar surroundings, and strengthening whānau connections by being together, provides the deepest form of comfort and dignity.
Te Wheke: the interwoven tentacles of life
Dr Rangimārie Rose Pere’s model of Te Wheke uses the octopus to symbolise total whānau well-being, where the head represents the collective family and the tentacles represent interconnected dimensions such as mana ake (unique identity), mauri (vital life spark), and whatumanawa (expression of feelings). For families coming to terms with an elder's decision to stay home, Te Wheke honours grief, open emotional expression, and ancestral connections, helping everyone navigate the delicate transition with mutual respect and profound love.
Fonofale: embracing shared Pacific perspectives
Created by Fuimaono Karl Pulotu-Endemann, the Fonofale model depicts holistic well-being through the structure of a Samoan fale, founded on family, sheltered by culture, and supported by physical, spiritual, mental, and other dimensions within a dynamic environment. Reflecting the rich diversity of Aotearoa, Fonofale demonstrates that caring for elders at the end of life is a cultural duty anchored in collective responsibility, providing families with reassurance as they care for their loved ones in their own home.
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