The Mauri Ora Toko draws inspiration from Māori worldviews about our interconnections to each other, the environment, and the spiritual world. Mauri ora starts with you at an individual level and progresses to those around you. We cannot control the actions of others, but we can control our reactions and choose a pathway that strengthens us and our whānau. When we are well, we contribute our positive mauri to others. When others are well, they contribute their mauri to us.
Below is an acronym for MAURI ORA. It refers to the important aspects of mauri ora, and how we can settle our wairua and restore balance to our body, our kare-a-roto, emotions, thoughts, and relationships.
M – Mana
Inherent dignity/vested authority. Mana in wellbeing refers to your tapu and sacredness. As a descendant of atua and of the environment, you have the right to live a good life where you participate fully and confidently. Mauri ora starts with realising your potential and inherent worth to live well and your ability to manage your āhua (how you are). Mana is in everything we do and say – but what we do can either enhance our mana and that of others, or diminish it. Activating mana can involve assertiveness, protecting and activism.
A – Aroha
Compassion, love. Aroha in wellbeing refers to practicing forgiveness, love, and kindness for yourself and for others. Self-compassion is also a place of safety and balance. When your wairua is unbalanced, you can draw on aroha to understand why you are feeling a certain way, and draw on your resources (ahakoa te iti) to bring you back to tau (balance). Showing kindness is a positive alternative to negative emotions and behaviour. Aroha also involves any mahi manaaki (caring, volunteering), showing forgiveness to others, and tiakitanga (guardianship). Aroha means accepting your choices, abilities, and limitations with love and purpose rather than being critical and judgmental. Aroha can be the glue that binds our relationships with others.
U – Ūkaipō
Origins. Ūkaipō in wellbeing refers to connecting yourself to generations of cultural traditions, values, and beliefs. Ūkaipō is a place of rest and safety. Using cultural knowledge and practices gives you the tools to help redirect your energies into keeping well, restoring balance, and connecting you to your wellbeing goals. Ūkaipō includes all things related to your identity as Māori or other identities, all the way back to our atua Māori.
R – Rongo
Peace, senses. Rongo in wellbeing refers to using all your senses to bring you into a state of peace, awareness, and knowing. Rongo enables you to be aware of your kare-a-roto, emotions, body sensations, thoughts, behaviour, and signs from your environment and from wairua messages like intuitive knowing. Rongo is noticing neutral, positive, and negative feelings. Rongo recognises the power of your thoughts (te hiringa i te mahara), emotions, and body feelings to influence wellbeing. Rongo is also an atua Māori who acts as a guide and a guardian. Hohou te rongo (making peace) means whakawātea (clearing) to rebalance your relationship with yourself and others.
I – Inaiānei
Present time. Being present in wellbeing means being in the moment with awareness and understanding. ‘Being in the now’ means that you are in tune with rongo (your senses) and whether they are appropriate for the time. Being present can also help you anchor yourself so that you can manage the imbalances as they occur in your life and with others.
O – Oranga
Health. Oranga in wellbeing refers to being physically active, mentally active, creative, in a healthy environment, in healthy relationships, and eating good kai. Oranga is using your breath to nourish your body and your ngākau (your emotions, heart, mind, and soul) and seeing the positive impact this has on your decision making and wellbeing.
R – Rapua
Explore. Rapua in wellbeing refers to searching for knowledge and understanding beyond the surface. In this space, you can look, be creative, and desire to know more. By engaging all your senses and experiences, re-connecting to Māori knowledge, and listening to those who are in tune with your wellbeing, you can focus your choices and feel more confidence in the decisions you make. Sometimes rapua is about having a vision and taking a risk in trying new things.
A – Āio
Āio has been referred to as a state of calm and also ā io or ‘of god’. This lets you reflect upon being in harmony with your wairua (kare-a-roto, emotions, thoughts, behaviour), your tinana (body), your environment, and your relationship with others. Ā io reminds us to connect with ngā atua Māori in all the different environments we live in. As descendants of atua, we have a relationship based on protection, nurturing, and a responsibility to learning.
