Toi Oranga
Design a Kaupapa Māori Visual Arts Program for the community of Whangaroa, to support mental health and wellbeing
1. Executive Summary
This proposal outlines a 10-week research and development project grounded in the holistic framework of Te Whare Tapa Whā (Durie, 1985).
The Toi Oranga program recognises Te Whare Tapa Wha as your superpower sustained through the alignment of taha wairua (spiritual wellbeing), taha hinengaro (mental and emotional wellbeing), taha tinana (physical wellbeing), and taha whānau (family and social wellbeing).
When all pou are aligned, immense positive energy is generated, helping us give meaning to life, provide us with solutions to challenges, and deeper connection to our true self. Expressed in a visual art context, Toi Oranga will provide a cohesive, interconnected pattern for deeper understanding of self, to take form.
Maori Visual arts (toi) offer a natural form of self-healing. A non-verbal language that expresses complex thoughts and feelings for greater clarity to build self-awareness and resilience.
Through community engagement, creative inquiry into kaupapa Māori health models, this research will develop and pilot a visual arts program, designed especially for and accessible to, the community of Whangaroa.
2. Rationale | Kaupapa
Many people experience mental, emotional, spiritual and physical dis – ease within contexts of disconnection from culture, whenua, and whānau.
Over time the loss of trust in our selves has caused us to rely on others for acceptance and approval, impacting on our ability to self-determine. This is then manifested as dis-ease in the form of anxiety, stress, fear and depression.
As well as this, we live in a time of immense cultural, political, social and economic unrest, all contributing to a mental state of scarcity, instability and insecurity.
Alongside limited access to mental health and wellbeing support. Conventional mental health services often prioritise clinical models, which may not align with a Māori perspective.
By understanding the principals of Te Whare Tapa Wha, you begin to trust in yourself wholly. You begin to pay attention to your intuition and to visualise a complete image of yourself, unified, cohesive, expansive.
Because Te Whare tapa Wha supports the human condition, this kaupapa is not restricted to a specific gender, race or age and provides a foundation that recognises:
Emotional expression is inseparable from spiritual wellbeing
Mental wellbeing is strengthened through connection and belonging
Creative practice supports balance across all aspects of life
Māori visual arts have traditionally been used to express whakapapa korero and cultural identity. This project responds by designing a community-led, Toi Oranga program grounded in mātauranga Māori and lived experience.
4. Project Aim and Objectives
To research, design, and pilot the Toi Oranga program for holistic wellbeing through kaupapa Māori references, practitioners, creative practices and processes.
Objectives
Co-design a visual arts program that strengthens taha wairua, hinengaro, tinana, and whānau
Facilitate creative activities that integrate Te Whare Tapa Whā
Evaluate the program’s impact using holistic wellbeing indicators
Produce a documented program framework for sustainable delivery
5. Research and Development Methodology
The project follows a kaupapa Māori approach that aligns with:
Whakawhanaungatanga – Relationship-building as the foundation
Ako – Reciprocal learning between participants and facilitator
Manaakitanga – Upholding safety, care, and respect
Phase 1: Research art therapy practices from a Mātauranga Māori perspective.
Engage with literature – Week 1/ 20 Jan
Explore the teachings of Māori approaches to healing :
Dr Hine Elder – kaupapa Māori wellbeing and whānau-centred practice
Moe Milne – Māori therapeutic frameworks and embodied healing
Sir Mason Durie – Te Whare Tapa Whā and Māori health models
Consult with Community knowledge Holders – Week 2 / 27 Jan
Explore non-clinical, community-based creative facilitation
Collect local whakapapa korero for deeper understanding of the human condition.
Analyse how their frameworks inform creative, non-clinical wellbeing practice.
Outputs for phase 1
This phase will produce the following:
Research Summary Document
A concise synthesis of literature, kōrero, and kaupapa Māori frameworks relevant to visual arts and wellbeing.
Tikanga, Safety, and Ethical Practice Guidelines to support:
Cultural safety and mana-enhancing facilitation
Emotional safety in a non-competitive space
Facilitator responsibility as kaiāko (not therapist)
Phase 2: Lesson planning: Week 3 / Feb 3
Design a 10-week visual art lesson plan, with exercises and activities that:
Support internal processes (visual diary for reflection, emotional response, metaphor, storytelling)
Enable external expression (artmaking, symbol, colour, form)
The Toi Oranga program structure will design each session to Te Whare Tapa Whā:
| Session Focus | Te Whare Tapa Whā |
| Identity | Taha Wairua |
| Emotional Expression | Taha Hinengaro |
| Grounding | Taha Tinana |
| Connection & Belonging | Taha Whānau |
Outputs for phase 2
Draft a 10-week Toi Oranga program
Facilitator guide referencing Te Whare Tapa Whā
Participant resources, materials, and equipment
Phase 3: Facilitate Toi Oranga program
Taha Wairua – Spiritual Wellbeing: Week 5 – 6/ 17, 24 Feb
Creative processes that support self-expression and reflection
Use of symbols, colour, and metaphor to explore our taha wairua
Opening and closing sessions with whakawhanaungatanga
Taha Hinengaro – Mental and Emotional Wellbeing: Week 7 – 8 / 3, 10 March
Non-verbal expression of emotions through visual art
Safe exploration of feelings such as grief, stress, joy, and hope
Strengths-based facilitation that supports emotional regulation
Taha Tinana – Physical Wellbeing: Week 9 / 17 March
Mindful engagement with materials and the body
Encouragement of grounding, breathing, and rest within sessions
Recognition of the physical impacts of stress and creativity
Taha Whānau – Social and Relational Wellbeing: Week 10 / 24 March
Group-based sessions that foster connection and shared experience
Opportunities for kōrero and collective reflection
Building trust, belonging, and mutual support
Outputs for phase 3: Participant Outcomes
Taha Wairua: Increased sense of meaning, identity, and connection
Taha Hinengaro: Improved emotional expression and regulation
Taha Tinana: Greater awareness of physical wellbeing and stress
Taha Whānau: Strengthened relationships and sense of belonging
6. Role of the Facilitator
The facilitator acts as a kaiārahi, not a clinician. Their role is to:
Hold a culturally safe and supportive space
Support expression across all four pou
Encourage creativity rather than artistic perfection
Maintain clear boundaries
8. Evaluation
Evaluation methods will align with Te Whare Tapa Whā and include:
Self-reflection recorded in the visual diary
Participant kōrero and creative narratives
Facilitator observation and reflective logs
9. Budget Summary
Duration: 10 weeks
Total Hours: 100 hours
Total Budget: $5,000 (R&D fee @ $50/hr)
10. Conclusion
This project embeds Te Whare Tapa Whā at every stage of research, design, and evaluation. By using visual arts as a culturally grounded pathway to strengthen taha wairua, hinengaro, tinana, and whānau, the project supports holistic, sustainable wellbeing for the community.