Tēnā koutou katoa

It is with manaakitanga that we welcome you to the Te Ao Māori Hub at Rural WONCA 2026. This space has been created with our local and global conference attendees in mind. It is a place and time where relationships form, understanding builds and shared learning can grow minds and hearts.

The Hub reflects our commitment to hauora Māori and to the aspirations of whānau, hapū and iwi living in rural communities. We invite you to enter with openness and curiosity, to listen, to learn, and to engage in meaningful kōrero that strengthens our collective journey toward equity and wellbeing.

Nau mai, haere mai – we look forward to welcoming you and hearing your stories.

- Margareth Broodkoorn, Chair Te Rōpū Ārahi & Tania Chamberlain, Chair Whānau Whānui

Hauora Māori is a holistic approach to health and wellbeing, grounded in te ao Māori and encompassing the physical, mental, spiritual, whānau and environmental dimensions of life. Rather than focusing solely on illness, hauora Māori recognises the interconnectedness of people, place and identity, and the importance of balance across all aspects of wellbeing.

For rural Māori communities, hauora Māori is especially significant. Access to services, connection to whenua, and the strength of whānau and community networks all play a critical role in health outcomes. Rural settings often amplify both the challenges and the strengths experienced by Māori, making culturally grounded, locally responsive models of care essential.

Across Aotearoa, hauora Māori principles are increasingly being integrated into general practice, primary care and wider health professions. This includes whānau-centred models of care, the use of tikanga and te reo Māori in clinical environments, and a growing focus on equity, partnership and tino rangatiratanga within health systems.

At Rural WONCA 2026, attendees will have the opportunity to engage with hauora Māori through the Te Ao Māori Hub and the wider conference programme. This includes keynote and workshop sessions delivered by leaders in the field, such as Dr Diane and Mark Kopua, alongside opportunities to observe, listen and participate in culturally informed experiences within the Hub itself.

The Te Ao Māori Hub logo and visual identity have been thoughtfully developed to reflect the kaupapa, values and aspirations of this space. The logo draws on te ao Māori symbolism to express connection, hauora and the intergenerational strength of Māori communities.

Each element of the design carries meaning – acknowledging whenua and place, the balance of wellbeing, and the collective nature of rural health. The colour palette and form have been chosen to evoke both grounding and growth, reflecting the Hub as a space for learning, reflection and connection within the wider Rural WONCA 2026 environment.

We are proud to share this visual expression as a symbol of commitment to hauora Māori and to Māori leadership within rural health.

If you would like to explore hauora Māori and mātauranga Māori further, the following resources provide trusted and accessible starting points:

• Tātai Whetū – Access our free educational resource produced by Hauora Taiwhenua to guide and inform you in tikanga Māori: www.kiwadigital.com/projects/tatai-whetu/
• Te Papa Tongarewa – Māori culture, taonga and stories: https://www.tepapa.govt.nz
• Ministry of Health – Māori health resources – official information on policy, strategies and initiatives guiding hauora Māori: https://www.health.govt.nz/maori-health/
• Pae Tū: Hauora Māori Strategy – the current strategic framework guiding hauora Māori within the health system: https://www.health.govt.nz/publications/pae-tu-hauora-maori-strategy

Kia Ora Hauora – a Māori health workforce development programme that supports Māori into health careers: https://www.kiaorahauora.co.nz/