Terminology While this report has adopted the term “tāngata whaikaha Māori”, it is important to recognise that contemporary Māori concepts of disability are diverse. Hickey emphasised that terminologies “can also differ region to region, iwi to iwi, hapū to hapū, and whānau to whānau, and as such [Māori should] be allowed to describe or define impairment for themselves as they see fit”.19 Tāngata whaikaha Māori The term ‘tāngata whaikaha’ is used to describe people with disabilities.20 Tāngata whaikaha Māori is used to specifically describe Māori with disabilities.21 Whaikaha means to have strength, to have ability, and to be enabled. It is a strength-based term, inclusive of all disabilities. Maaka Tibble states: “Tāngata whaikaha means people who are determined to do well, or is certainly a goal that they reach for. It fits nicely with the goals and aims of people with disabilities who are determined in some way to do well and create opportunities for themselves as opposed to being labelled, as in the past”.22 Whānau hauā Whānau hauā is an “umbrella” term for Māori with disabilities, reflective of te ao Māori perspectives and collective orientation.23 This term emphasises that the disabled individual is firmly located within the collective, as part of a wider whānau, and views “disability as a collective endeavour of both the individual and the whānau as a whole”.24 Hautupua Hautupua means “remarkable”.26 The concept of Māori with disability as “remarkable” contributes to their reclamation as gifted and vital members of their Iwi. This term is appropriate to a Te Ao Māori informed understanding of disability. Whānau Whānau is commonly used to describe Māori living with disabilities.27 While often translated as “family”, the term “whānau” differs from the Western construction of the nuclear family. It is much wider and more complex. Metge described whānau as being made up of either whakapapa-based whānau, which are based on genealogical connections, and kaupapabased whānau, which are connected to “fulfil a common purpose or goal”.28 Tāngata whaikaha Māori have diverse identities and experiences, but as tangata whenua they share an inherent connection through whakapapa to whānau, hapū and iwi as well as to whenua, maunga, awa and taiao. Māori concepts and realities of disability are diverse, but have not been reflected in prevailing models, which frame disability within an individual, rather than collective context. Prevalence of disability amongst Māori The 2013 New Zealand Disability Survey statistics recorded that: • Māori have higher rates of disability. After adjusting for “differences in ethnic population age profiles”, 32% of the Māori population were identified as disabled, compared to 24% of the total New Zealand population.29 • More Māori children are disabled (15%) than non-Māori children (9%) and the median age of disabled Māori is 40 years, compared to European at 57 years and Asian people at 45 years.30 Māori with lived experience of disability The term “Māori with lived experience of disability” recognises that “tāngata whenua are a collective encompassing many diverse and autonomous nations with varying cosmogonies, genealogies, histories, lived realities and experiences. The term ‘Māori’ is therefore considered a construct used to describe the Indigenous peoples of Aotearoa/New Zealand.”25 Whakamanahia Te Tiriti, Whakahaumarutia te Tangata - Honour the Treaty, Protect the person 7