I Roto i te Pōuri Te Maramataka e Whiti ana
Maramataka Wānanga
Te Puna Ora o Mataatua is inviting whānau to provide kōrero on their lived experiences of suicide. Join us at a wānanga near you.
“I roto i te pōuri, te maramataka e whiti ana”
“In the darkest skies, the moon shines the brightest”
We’re currently undertaking suicide prevention rangahau in the Mataatua rohe supported by Te Rina Ransfield, a Maramataka practitioner, to map confirmed deaths by suicide in the Mataatua rohe (2007-2023) to the Maramataka (Māori lunar calendar).
We aim to identify patterns or trends between these deaths and the moon phases, ka whakamahi i te mātauranga Māori hei rongoā mā te whānau.
To facilitate this project, we will be hosting a series of consultation wānanga across the Mataatua region from August 2024 to January 2025.
Your kōrero is vital in this mahi, and we invite you to have your say on suicide prevention online or at an event in person.
We also wish to reassure whānau that all personal details included in this research, of those who have died by suicide, will remain anonymous.
The Coroner’s Office has not released personal details; the information provided includes only the date of death, age, gender, ethnicity, and location of death.
Need to talk? | Kōrero mai
He mana, kei tō reo | Why your voice matters
Your voice and lived experiences of suicide are crucial in this rangahau as we examine this taumaha kaupapa through a traditional te ao Māori lens.
Hosted by Te Puna Ora o Mataatua Ngā Mata Wai Ora Counselling and Therapy Hub, these wānanga will be facilitated by hau kāinga of each location and Te Rina Ransfield.
We will also have available our traditional healers, as an optional support for whānau if needed.
It is important to us that your well-being is taken care of, and we will be here to tautoko you every step of the way.
Kia tātou, kia tātou, let’s explore how mātauranga Māori me ngā kōrero tuku iho might offer new perspectives on protecting life.
Pōhiritia tō mātou kairangahau | Meet our researchers
This project is being undertaken in collaboration with Te Rina Ransfield (Ngai Tai, Ngāti Raukawa), a Maramataka Practitioner in Mataatua, also known as “the Maramataka Mum”.
In her mahi she connects with whānau to help them understand life through the lens of Maramataka Māori, pūrākau and kōrero tuku iho.
Her extensive research in Maramataka Māori and as a Maramataka practitioner is key to helping us build understanding of how we can use mātauranga Māori for the betterment of our whānau.
This rangahau will be peer reviewed by Dr. Rangi Mataamua.
He aha ngā āhuatanga o te wānanga | What to expect?
In our wānanga, Te Rina Ransfield will lead whānau in understanding Maramataka, introducing each moon phase and its significance to hauora and healing.
After her kōrero, each participant will receive a Rautaki Hauora Hautipuora resource booklet to take home, which includes details on each moon phases and practical guides on how to best utilise that moons energy towards healing and wellbeing.
At the end of the wānanga, there will be time for any questions (pātai) or for you to share your kōrero.
If you’re uncomfortable speaking, we have journals available where you can write down your pātai or feedback, tear it out, and pass it to one of our kaimahi to share on your behalf. There’s no pressure to speak—you are welcome to just listen. Kei a koe te tikanga – it’s entirely up to you!
Whakatō te kākano: Ngā nekehanga e whai ake nei | Applying our rangahau: Next Steps
In our rangahau, we aim to map all confirmed deaths by suicide (as recorded by the Coroner’s Office NZ) in the Mataatua rohe from 2007 to 2023 to the maramataka (Māori lunar calendar).
Our goal is to identify any patterns or trends between deaths by suicide and the various phases of the Māori moon.
This data will be published and made into a report which we will release publicly in early 2025.
