PURPOSE:
Turanga Kaupapa is a set of principles and practices that guide midwives in providing care that is respectful of and responsive to Māori culture. Māori in NZ are experiencing health inequalities with poorer health outcomes compared to non-Māori. These inequities are rooted in socioeconomic deprivation, geographical isolation and barriers to accessing health care services such as affordability, transportation and colonisation. Wairoa Maternity is a Midwifery led Primary birthing unit based within the Wairoa Hospital on the east coast of New Zealand. Our service provides antenatal, labour and birth and homebirth care, any obstetric emergency care and postnatal home visits for 6 weeks after birth. The Wairoa district has the highest proportion of Māori population per head in New Zealand. The median age for Māori ethnic group is 28.3 years old. People who can speak Te Reo is 22%. In this oral presentation Tungane will present how Turanga Kaupapa is implemented.This innovative approach enables connection, meeting people where they are and indigenising our practice, our workplace and our language. Glossary Kaupapa Our philosophy or approach Māori The indigenous people of New Zealand Te Ao Māori The Māori world view Te Reo The Māori language

DISCUSSION:
We see these inequalities and it has shaped our philosophy of care. Our Kaupapa is; “Te Ao Māori is the key to wellness providing a safe place, to feel at home, to feel empowered to have a voice, to feel connected and where the sacredness of becoming a whanau grows.”

EVIDENCE WHERE RELEVANT:
Hau Te Kura – Cultural Responsiveness Review of Maternity Services

KEY MESSAGE:
Using Turanga Kaupapa we improve maternity outcomes including engagement trust and meaningful communication. This includes decreased stillbirths, premature labour and increased normal vaginal births. Poster session 4 (Group B)