Latest Wellbeing Survey on Maori in Christchurch post-disaster

I've followed the CERA Wellbeing Surveys since their first back in 2012. The surveys contain an awesome collection of data on how Cantabrians have responded and been impacted by the earthquakes of 2011, 2012.

My main interest has been the impact on Maori. The somewhat jingoistic presentation of the Maori response (how 'resilient' we were, how wonderful our support networks are, et cetera...) is increasingly disturbing given the repeated negative stats coming out of these surveys.

Example, in the latest results (April 2016) of those more likely to say the impact on their everyday lives is moderate or major (23% of respondents) are:

• Māori (36%)
• Women (30%)
• People living with children in the household (30%)

The graph below shows how Maori have answered this question over all the surveys  ...

Data has changed, well different questions are perhaps being asked as we are now 5 years on from the February 22, 20122 disaster. And the data is presented in a patchy manner, making it difficult to track groups over the time of the surveys (which I hope continue). But what they are saying is that the most consistently impacted group are Maori, and it seems to be getting worse.

Now there comes a time when the impact of the earthquakes are diluted and overtaken by other things (working conditions, family security, health, neighborhood factors and so on). But that one particular community, the Indigenous Peoples of a land that promotes its race relations to the rest of the world, continue to record their lack of resilience continues to be ignored the media, policy makers, and politicians (including Maori).

Canterbury Maori Health Stats...

Latest District Health Board Maori profile makes interesting reading.

Using the NZDep2013 index of small area deprivation, the report shows 40% of Canterbury Māori lived in the four most deprived decile areas, compared to 25% of non-Māori.

Maori and non-Maori Deprivation in Canterbury

Maori in Te Waipounamu have less access to marae than our Te Ika a Maui cousins and whanaunga...

Rates of hospitalisation for mental disorders were 38% higher for Māori than for non-Māori, and we know the post-disaster landscape is still negatively impacting on our mental health in Otautahi.

"Among Māori females, the most common cause of admission was mood disorders, with 50 admissions per year on average.  The rates of admission for bipolar disorders and depressive episodes were higher for Māori women than for non-Māori women, as was the admission rate for anxiety or stress related disorders.

Among Māori males, the overall admission rate was 61% higher than the non-Māori rate. Admissions for schizophrenia type disorders were the most common, at a rate 2.6  times that of non-Māori. The second most common cause of admission was for mood disorders, with a rate 48% higher than the non-Māori rate, followed by substance use disorders. Admissions for anxiety or stress-related disorders were 65% higher than the non-Māori admission rate." (p. 26-27).

Full Report:
Robson B, Purdie G, Simmonds S, Waa A, Andrewes J, Rameka R. 2015. Canterbury District Health Board Māori Health Profile 2015. Wellington: Te Rōpū Rangahau Hauora a Eru Pōmare.

Indigenous Knowledge and Disaster Risk Reduction website launched...

This is a group I've been working with for the past year and a bit, having met three of the four key researchers at a conference in Otautahi when they were visiting as part of the International Social Science Council Risk Interpretation and Action programme...

Some exciting work and, we think, important work that will help Indigenous communities through the ongoing challenges we face in a dynamic world.

http://indigenousknowledgenetwork.org/who-we-are/

International Workshop on Disaster Risk Reduction...