Compassionate Communities and Māori Ageing at End of Life
As communities around the world rethink how best to support people as they age and approach the end of their lives, the Compassionate Communities movement has gained momentum. It emphasises the power of local networks, including whānau, neighbours, social groups, and community organisations, to work alongside formal health services so that care becomes something shared rather than siloed.
But what does this approach mean for Māori, whose experiences of ageing and end‑of‑life care remain shaped by longstanding inequities and a rich cultural worldview that is not always reflected in mainstream models? This is the topic of the new paper led by Melissa - “Compassionate communities, Māori ageing and end-of-life: A systematic review” .
We set out to understand how Compassionate Communities frameworks could support older Māori in Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia, and whether existing initiatives adequately incorporate Indigenous. Using a Kaupapa Māori lens supported Indigenous values, perspectives, and priorities guide the analysis from the start.
What we found
Across 22 included studies, we identified a clear pattern: although the Compassionate Communities model is expanding globally, it remains strongly Eurocentric in its foundations, with minimal integration of Indigenous philosophies of wellbeing, spirituality, ageing, and relational care.
For Māori, this is a critical gap as there is minimal attention to Māori concepts of end‑of‑life care which emphasise:
Whānau‑centred support
Holistic wellbeing that includes spiritual, emotional, and relational dimensions
Community strength and collective responsibility
Cultural practices and tikanga that guide transitions at the end of life
Furthermore, few Compassionate Communities initiatives involve Māori communities in design or evaluation. Without this involvement, and grounding in Indigenous knowledge, even well‑intentioned models risk reproducing the inequities they aim to reduce. The review highlights an urgent need for research and practice that recognises Māori as knowledge-holders, not just service recipients.
We conclude that to create meaningful change we need:
More research led by or co-designed with Māori communities
Evaluation frameworks that value cultural practices and Indigenous wellness philosophies
Community initiatives that build on the strengths and relationships already present in Māori contexts
System-level support to ensure Māori voices guide Compassionate Community planning and policy
A way forward
The heart of the Compassionate Communities approach is simple: caring for one another is everyone’s business. For Māori, this principle has always been present. But to translate it into modern end‑of‑life systems, health and community sectors must work in ways that honour Māori values, stories, and strengths.
This review makes it clear that embedding Indigenous knowledge is not an optional addition. It is essential for creating compassionate, equitable, and culturally rich support for Māori as they journey through ageing and towards the end of life.