The Selwyn Foundation and Ngāti Whatua Orakei are partnering to deliver a Māori-led centre providing care for kaumātua who have mate wareware (dementia).
The partnership was affirmed today at an inaugural Northern Iwi Leaders Forum in Auckland, Tāmaki Makaurau. Denise Cosgrove Chief Executive of The Selwyn Foundation believes the partnership marks a major step towards ensuring kaumātua age with dignity, cultural connection, and security.
“With disproportionately high rates of chronic illness, early diagnoses of dementia and lower life expectancy, action to address these barriers cannot wait for another generation,” Cosgrove said.
The partnership builds on the findings from a Ngāti Hine Kaumātua Needs Assessment research project* which has highlighted the urgent challenges facing Māori elders, including housing insecurity, health inequities, social isolation, and digital exclusion. The research found only 24.6% of Ngāti Hine kaumātua own or partly own their homes, significantly lower than the national Māori homeownership average. Three out of four kaumātua rely on rental housing or shared family accommodations with 28.9% reporting crowded housing conditions. 41.7% of kaumātua live in damp housing significantly increasing the risk of respiratory illnesses.
The research provides a clear pathway for action, calling for investment in kaupapa Māori solutions for kaumātua that reflect Māori values such as manaakitanga and whānau-centred care. This starts with The Selwyn Foundation’s commitment to deliver a dedicated Māori-led dementia centre with Ngāti Whatua Orakei so kaumātua with mate wareware have a space steeped in te ao Māori where they can seek care.
"Kaumātua are the cultural anchors of our iwi and whānau. They have given so much to their communities, yet many are facing barriers that limit their well-being and ability to thrive. Through this partnership, we are taking a stand for kaumātua and ensuring their needs are prioritised,” Cosgrove said.
The Northern Iwi Leaders Forum provides a unique platform to engage iwi leaders, to work collaboratively on solutions and share insights.
With kaumātua well-being at stake, the partnership is calling on government leaders, policymakers, community organisations and funders to invest in Māori-led aged care models and kaupapa Māori healthcare solutions.
"This is about tino rangatiratanga and mana motuhake – independence, interdependence and self-reliance when it comes to the care of our kaumātua. We invite all those who share this vision to join us in making it a reality," Pita Tipene Ngāti Hine Leader said.
Following today’s hui, The Selwyn Foundation and Ngāti Hine will launch into a work programme that seeks to address and advocate for health, housing, digital inclusion and funding changes to embed Māori led approaches to kaumātua health and wellbeing. This will include the scoping of work for the Māori mate wareware (dementia) centre in partnership with Ngāti Whatua Orakei.
"The Selwyn Foundation is committed to walking alongside our iwi partners to deliver long-term, meaningful change. This is not just a research report - it is a call to action. We are urging the government, funders, and the wider health sector to step up and support the solutions that Māori communities have identified,” Cosgrove said.
