Biculturism

Practitioners working in New Zealand need to have an understanding of and sensitivity to the bicultural nature of the society. This approach has both cultural and legal aspects. It is founded in the Tiriti O Te Waitangi (The Treaty of Waitangi); an agreement between the Crown and Maori in the late 1800s which provides for an equal partnership between the parties.

This partnership has at its foundation authenticity and respect. Maori are Tangata Whenua (literally, "people of the land") in relation to New Zealand (Aotearoa) as a whole. Maori from a particular area are Mana Whenua. A person or tribe who ‘possesses’ land are said to hold or be the mana whenua of the area, and hence have the power and authority to produce a livelihood for the family and the tribe from this land and its natural resources. Every effort is made to protect and uphold mana whenua, not only from loss of ‘possession’ of the land, but also from damage by careless exploitation. The imposition of European title, for example, cannot remove mana whenua from a tribe.

From a therapeutic perspective, practitioners will need to have an understanding of the holistic, family (whanau) and tribal (Iwi) interconnected nature of the Maori world view and demonstrate an ability to meet the other in their difference. Gestalts concepts of holism, dialogue, field theory and phenomenology will potentially enable respectful meetings and dialogue (korero) around difference.