Culture and Health

As a healthcare professional, you will work with many people whose cultures may differ from yours. These will include:

• clients accessing services
• their whānau/family
• your co-workers
• external health providers

A person’s culture can affect so many things about how they see and experience the world we live in. These include their approach to health, their views and expectations of accessing, understanding, and accepting healthcare, and how they communicate and express themselves to others. Your ability to see when a person’s culture differs from your own and then choose how you will work with them and their whānau can make a big difference to their health and wellbeing. Understanding how to work well with different cultures in a health or wellbeing setting is important to doing your job well.

Watch: Cultural Competence (2:21 Minutes)

This video defines cultural competence. Before watching, ask yourself: what do you think the term cultural competence means? There are more questions to answer after watching the video.

The Oxford Dictionary defines culture as “the ideas, customs, and social behaviour of a particular people or society”.

Many people think culture is about ‘race’ and ‘ethnicity’, but culture is much more than just which part of the world someone comes from. Culture also affects many other aspects of a person's identity, including age, abilities or disabilities, gender, sexual orientation, group affiliations and connections. Culture is about how people see themselves, think about things and behave.

The people you work with and support in a health setting may differ from you in many ways including:

• age
• gender
• ability
• spirituality
• sexual orientation
• immigrant status
• disability
• socio-economic status or employment
• ethnicity

Groups might also have distinct cultures, setting them apart from other groups. These groups can consist of individuals with different ethnicities, ages and other diverse characteristics, however, they will share at least one common aspect that binds them together.

For example: pensioners may be Māori, Pasifika, Pakeha or Asian. They could be single, married or divorced, they could identify as takatāpui or LGBTIQIA+. The characteristic they share is that they are all above 65 years old.

Cultural identity is defined as the distinct identity of people or groups. We are often born into our cultural identities. Categories that make up cultural identities include age, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender, religion or spirituality beliefs, social class, occupation, disability, immigrant or refugee status, or region. Culture also reflects group values, norms, and behaviours. Cultural preferences include food, music, clothing, communication, customs, and celebrations.

Activities

Complete the activity below to identify some of the things that make up your culture.

Whakapapa

In Māori culture, whakapapa, or genealogy, is a fundamental concept. Reciting your whakapapa is an introduction to yourself and your Māori identity.

It includes your ancestors and the area you belong to. Whakapapa is important as it connects tangata to their family history. Whakapapa is expressed through pepeha.

The following whānau members will be included in a whakapapa:

• Great Grandmother (Tūpuna Wahine)
• Great Grandfather (Tūpuna Tāne)
• Grandmother (Kuia)
• Grandfather (Koroua)
• Mother (Whaea)
• Father (Matua)
• Children (Tamariki)

Whakapapa not only links people but also connects them with their ancestral land. Māori have strong links with the land and will have an affiliation to a mountain, a river, a waka and their tūrangawaewae (place of belonging).

It’s important in Māori culture as it shows where someone has come from, linking a person to the land and their iwi (tribe).

Whakapapa in the workplace

A mihi is a greeting, while a pepeha is a form of introduction that establishes identity and heritage. In formal situations, the pepeha is part of a person’s mihi. A group situation where everyone gives their mihi (including their pepeha) is called a mihimihi.

Watch: Ko wai tō pepeha? What is your pepeha? (2:17 Minutes)

Watch the following video for a short explanation of the meaning and importance of a pepeha and examples of people reciting sections of their pepeha.

In the health sector in New Zealand, knowing how to do a mihi is important because it helps build strong connections with Māori patients, their families, and colleagues. It shows cultural respect and understanding, which is crucial for providing effective and compassionate care. Using a mihi can create a welcoming atmosphere and help establish trust, which is vital in healthcare settings where communication and relationships play a significant role in client wellbeing.

Reciting a mihi is an essential skill for people training to be community support workers in New Zealand. To be able to recite a mihi helps to establish a strong cultural connection and build trust with Māori clients and their communities.

Watch: Introduction to te reo – giving your mihi (4.42 Minutes)

Watch the following video for information on creating and delivering your mihi. Pay attention - you will be required to create your own mihi after watching the video.

Writing your mihi

Reflect on how you greet and introduce yourself to others for the first time.

Use the following format to write your own mihi. Practice reciting it, referring back to the video if required for help with pronunciation.