Traditional beliefs of tikanga Maori - organ donation

In the fifth edition of the in-depth documentary series Whakatewhatewha, hosts Justine Murray and Maraea Rakuraku explore how the traditional beliefs of tikanga Maori are reconciled with organ donations and transplants.

When it comes to life or death Pou Temara (n Ngai Thoe) believes customary Maori beliefs and practices should be set aside. He uses stories of Maui, the bonding of Maori and Ngarara, and his experience talking with other experts on tikanga Maori to explain his position.

In her role as Cultural Advisor to the Auckland District Health Board Naida Glavish (n Ngti Hine, Ngti Whatua) finds herself challenging what she sees as myths which surround the issue of organ donation. She often finds that she has to convince the Maori she's dealing with that the unauthorised removal of organs from bodies which occurred twenty years ago, no longer takes place. She talks with Justine Murray about how traditional Maori concepts collide with present day Maori health realities.

When Barry Williams (n Taranaki whanui) learned he was sick and required a new liver he experienced a range of emotions as he remembered his Nanny's warnings about the sacredness of the body. It was the same for Eva Haenga (n Ngti Prou) who acknowledges it was smoking cigarettes that attributed to her bilateral lung transplant. She reflects on the journey from illness to post-surgery twelve years after her original diagnosis.

In the past year Maori television presenter Te Hamua Nikora (n Ngti Prou) has faced a range of health problems that has made him re-evaluate his stance on organ donation.

Te Ahi Kaa is online at http://radionz.co.nz/teahikaa

Te Ahi Kaa is broadcast every Sunday at 6:06pm on Radio New Zealand National.