Te whare tapa whā

Te whare tapa whā means the house with four cornerstones and is a Māori model of health developed by psychiatrist Dr Mason Durie in 1982.

It can be applied to any health issue, whether it involves physical or psychological well-being.

If one of the four cornerstones is missing this can cause an imbalance and poor health outcomes.

These four aspects can also mean the four walls of a house. If any wall is missing, the house will fall down.

According to the Ministry of Health the four cornerstones are:

Taha tinana or physical health: this represents the capacity for physical growth and development.

Taha wairua or spiritual health: this represents wider communication and faith. It is often one of the least recognised of the four.

Taha whānau or family health: this represents the capacity to belong and the wider social setting.

Taha hinengaro or mental health: this represents the capacity to communicate, to think and to feel.

Taken together these four elements represent the necessary aspects for positive health outcomes.

Next: Te wheke.