Ngāti Whakaue Unveils Papakāinga Aged Care Model to Support Māori Elders

In a move to address the specific needs of Māori elders, Rotorua-based iwi Ngāti Whakaue has unveiled a new papakāinga model of aged care. This initiative, launched in June, marks a significant step toward providing culturally grounded support for kaumātua within their own community environments. The project is a collaboration with Te Rau Ora, a kaupapa Māori health workforce development organisation dedicated to strengthening the Māori health sector. Reporting by The Spinoff highlights that the traditional retirement village and residential care sectors in Aotearoa currently serve a population that is overwhelmingly Pākehā. Data from the 2023 census indicates that while nearly 97% of retirement village residents identify as European, representation for other groups remains minimal. The Ngāti Whakaue model aims to offer an alternative that aligns with Māori values of whanaungatanga and manaakitanga, ensuring that elders can age with dignity while remaining connected to their iwi and hapū. The development comes as experts warn of increasing pressure on the country’s aged care infrastructure. For many whānau, caring for elders is a deeply ingrained cultural practice. As reported by Madeleine Chapman, many young people, like 24-year-old Helena who cares for her Tongan and Samoan grandparents in Auckland, view the role of caregiver as a central act of service. The Ngāti Whakaue papakāinga model supports this ethos by creating dedicated spaces where aged care is integrated into the tribal landscape. By partnering with Te Rau Ora, Ngāti Whakaue is also focusing on the development of the Māori health workforce to sustain these models. This proactive approach by the Rotorua iwi ensures that aged care is not just a clinical requirement, but a cultural continuation, providing kaumātua with environments that recognise and celebrate their identity and contributions to their people.