Te Tiriti o Waitangi

The Mental Health Foundation is dedicated to ensuring that Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its Articles are honoured, enacted, upheld and incorporated into our work. Since its inception, the Foundation has been committed to operationalising Te Tiriti o Waitangi. This commitment is embedded in our constitution.

The Foundation interprets the Articles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Maori version) being applied in the following ways:

Ko te Tuatahi - Article One - Kawanatanga

Achieve Maori participation in all aspects of mental health promotion

In practice, this means meaningful Maori participation at all levels of the organisation, with a priority being given to Maori participation at decision-making and management levels.

Ko te Tuarua - Article two - Tino Rangatiratanga

Achieve the advancement of Maori health aspirations

This requires action towards the achievement of Maori health aspirations as determined by Maori. It involves the organisation creating and resourcing opportunities for Maori to exercise tino rangatiratanga over Maori health

Ko te Tuatoru - Article three - Oritetanga

Undertake mental health promotion, which improves Maori health outcomes

In practice, this means prioritising of mental health promotion action which will bring about positive health outcomes for Maori

(Adapted from TU-Hanz A Treaty Understanding of Hauora in Aotearoa-New Zealand, Health Promotion Forum of NZ 2002)