About Te Wheke
The concept of Te Wheke was developed by Dr Rose Pere to define family health.
The head of the octopus represents whānau. The eyes represent waiora (total wellbeing) for the individual and family.
Each of the 8 tentacles represents a specific dimension of health:
- wairuatanga – spirituality
- hinengaro – the mind
- taha tinana – physical wellbeing
- whanaungatanga – extended family
- mauri – life force in people and objects
- mana ake – unique identity of individuals and family
- hā a koro ma, a kui ma – breath of life from forbears
- whatumanawa – the open and healthy expression of emotion.
The dimensions are interwoven. This represents the close relationship between the tentacles.
A holistic view of health
Traditional Māori health acknowledges the link between mind, spirit, the human connection with whānau and the physical world in a way that is seamless and uncontrived. Until the introduction of Western medicine there was no division between them.
