Social Value Aotearoa is honoured to share this personal reflection from Sir Mason Durie.
Sir Mason has made an extraordinary contribution to Māori wellbeing and public thought in Aotearoa and internationally. We are especially privileged that he is also the eldest member of Social Value Aotearoa. In this reflection, Sir Mason shares how his understanding of wellbeing and social value has evolved over more than six decades.
SOCIAL VALUE , A PERSONAL COMMENT
Mason Durie, May 2026
My understanding of social value has evolved over the past 60 years.
As a graduate of the Otago University Medical School in 1963, my professional career was essentially governed by medical procedures, medical knowledge, expectations and patient benefits. Later, at the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal, I spent a year in the community mental health programme. The significance of mental health for whanau beyond the hospital added another dimension built around whanau responses to a mental health problem within the whanau.
Later, back in Aotearoa and working at Manawaroa, I observed that when a Māori was referred for assessment, the whanau also came. A karakia from an elder initiated the process. Discussion with the patient was often seen as an opportunity to discuss a range of health problems affecting one or more of the whanau. Clearly, the distinction between mental health, the patient, and the whanau was blurred.
Over time the values that have particular relevance to Māori wellbeing have been recognised within individuals, whanau, Māori collectives, Māori leadership, and wider social and physical environments. Values are not confined to a health agenda or to a patient but recognise the wider dimensions of wellbeing – oranga tangata.
Five levels that have implications for the wellbeing of Māori are suggested.
Nga Tino Take o Te Ao Māori
Five foundations for understanding values in Te Ao Māori
Tikanga ‘Taonga tuku iho’
Conventions based on te ao Māori that support wellbeing, safety, relationships, and acceptable ways of living are key to Māori wellbeing.
Whanaungatanga ‘He waka ekenoa’
Bonds within whanau and whanau-like groupings can generate strength, continuity, a secure identity and wellbeing
Rangatiratanga 'He toa takatini’
Māori leadership within whanau, communities, hapu, iwi and wider Māori organisations will be critical for Māori wellbeing.
Kotahitanga 'Nau te rourou, naku te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi'
At all levels, unity and a common sense of purpose will strengthen resolve and capability.
Te Taiao 'Manaaki whenua, Manaaki tangata'
Māori strength and wellbeing cannot be separated from the wider environments - the sky, the earth, the forests and waterways, and the built environments.
Values that will foster wellbeing are built on a range of actions and approaches. Māori wellbeing will be strengthened by considering the contributions of tikanga, whanau, rangatiratanga, kotahitanga and Te Taiao.
Sir Mason has made an extraordinary contribution to Māori wellbeing and public thought in Aotearoa and internationally. We are especially privileged that he is also the eldest member of Social Value Aotearoa. In this reflection, Sir Mason shares how his understanding of wellbeing and social value has evolved over more than six decades.
