Culture Counts!

Results from Te Kupenga, 2013 Atawhai Tibble, Project Manager, Statistics NZ

According to Durie et al, Māori culture, in all its multiple forms and expressions, is central to Māori well-being…

So how central is culture to Māori? And what is the relationship between culture & wellbeing?

In 2013, Statistics NZ conducted the ‘first ever’ Māori well-being survey – Te Kupenga. Culture was a major wellbeing topic:

Here is what Statistics NZ found…

Te Kupenga 2013 was a post-censal sample survey. Stats NZ undertook 5,500 interviews of Nzers of Māori ethnicity/descent The sample was scientifically selected to represent all Māori aged 15y+

resident in NZ, and in a private dwelling in NZ on Census night.

Māori culture is important to most Māori aged 15y+ Only 10% said it was not important at all.

How important is culture to your everyday life?

% of All Māori aged 15y+

Most Māori know their Iwi

Qn: Which aspects of your pepehā do you know?

% of All Māori aged 15y+

Wairuatanga or Spirituality is important to 66% of Māori. It is more important to Māori women than Māori men.

% of All Māori aged 15y+

Qn: How important is spirituality to you?

Less than half of Māori consider religion is important

0

10

20

30

40

50

Very, quite,Somewhat

A little Not at all

% Māori 15y+

Qn: How important is religion to you?

Most Māori have been to their Marae Tīpuna at least once.

34% went in the past year.

Half of Māori see their ancestral marae as their tūrangawaewae.

36% felt very or strongly connected to their tūrangawaewae.

12% felt somewhat connected to their tūrangawaewae.

When asked if they wanted to go to their Marae Tīpuna more, the 3 main barriers were:

*Māori aged 15y+ who would like to have gone, or gone more often to their marae

For more information on Te Kupenga:

Te Kupenga Background

Te Kupenga First Release Report

Te Kupenga Data Dictionary

Te Kupenga Questions

Te Kupenga Regional, Age group & Gender Data