Te Whare Tapa Whā

Physical wellbeing

Physical health provides the baseline from which we can participate in everyday activities. It is about how your body feels and moves, and how you care for it. When our physical health isn’t at its best, it can limit the activities we can participate in. This can lead to increased worry, losing our zing for life or reducing the positive emotions we are capable of feeling. It affects our resilience and makes it harder to bounce back from life’s challenges. Staying physically well helps our mental health to flourish.

Here are some ideas to help strengthen your taha tinana.

• Go for a bike ride with family or friends.
• Join a local sports team – netball, rugby or hockey.
• Go for a brisk walk during your lunch break or after work.
• Cook yourself healthy meals that nourish your body.

Spirituality and sense of self

Our wairua is one of the most important yet most overlooked cornerstones of health. Who we are, our sense of belonging, and our ability to have faith in a higher power, whether religious or spiritual, all contribute to a strong wairua. A strong wairua means knowing our own identity and being content with who we are and what we believe.

Here are some ways you can strengthen your taha wairua.

• Spend time in nature – go for a bush walk, swim in a river, walk on a beach.
• Attend church or places that nurture your soul.
• Connect with and celebrate your culture.
• Give yourself permission to reflect and grow.

Family and community

Our families and communities provide a sense of belonging, identity, and support, and are the backbone of strong resilient individuals. Belonging to family and community allows us to learn, grow and experience the ups and downs of life without becoming unwell.

Whānau is not just about your immediate relatives, it’s about extended relationships. It’s the people you care about and who care about you. This might be your friends, colleagues or neighbours. Whoever your whānau is, they play a significant role in providing connection, security and wellbeing.

Here are some ideas you might like to try to strengthen your taha whānau.

• Help out at a local community centre or marae.
• Join a local interest group.
• Organise a family reunion.
• Have dinner with your neighbours.

Mental and emotional health

Thoughts, feelings and emotions are integral components of the body and soul. Taha hinengaro is about how you feel, and how you communicate and express your emotions, thoughts and feelings. Being strong mentally equips you with the resilience you need to face life’s challenges and reach out to whānau and friends for support when you need it. There are many ways in which we can protect our mental and emotional health as we go about each day.

Here are some ideas to help strengthen your taha hinengaro.

• Use a mindfulness app.
• Volunteer your time at a local organisation.
• Learn how to manage your stress.
• Eat a range of foods that make you feel good, physically and mentally.

Land and roots

The foundation supporting the walls of your wharenui, your four walls of wellbeing, is whenua – the land and roots. Whenua is about your physical and spiritual connection to the land. It can be the place where you stand or the place where you belong. For Māori, the whenua is a key part of identity. It is how you are connected to your tūpuna/ancestors and to those that will come after you.

Here are some ways you can strengthen your connection to whenua.

• Spend time outdoors and pay attention to the little things – what can you see, hear, and feel?
• Volunteer at a beach or river clean-up, or tree planting day.
• Explore your local maunga/mountain.
• Reconnect with the land that your ancestors walked on.