Generating Perspectives of Wellbeing in Aotearoa New Zealand

Abstract

Nestled within the South Pacific Ocean, Aotearoa New Zealand is a bicultural nation shaped through a partnership between indigenous Māori and non-Māori peoples. Framed by a Māori worldview, we discuss perspectives of holistic wellbeing as characterized by models and frameworks. A case study of IronMāori, a series of multisport events initiated by Māori, is examined with regard to physical, emotional, mental, social and spiritual wellbeing. Through notions of third space and hybridity, we suggest IronMāori is both a series of wellbeing events and a transformative movement that acts as an educative opportunity for Māori and non-Māori of all ages. We argue that the power of IronMāori resides across multiple coexisting social and cultural fields, expanding possibilities for how we think about wellbeing, and how wellbeing is promoted through seemingly dichotomous structures with ever-present contradictions and thin coherences that lead to transformation of fields.