Dr. Hinemoa Elder redefines mental health through Māori wisdom at HamLit 2026
Dr. Hinemoa Elder, a 60-year-old psychiatrist with a background in children's television, will speak at the 2026 Hamilton Arts Festival. Her talk at HamLit will explore the links between culture, creativity, and mental health—drawing from her upcoming book, Ara, A Māori Guidebook of the Mind.
Before entering psychiatry, Elder worked as a children's TV presenter, a role she found both enjoyable and educational. This early experience shaped her ongoing interest in young people, which now informs her mental health practice. She values understanding the perspectives of children (tamariki) and their families (whānau) when addressing psychological wellbeing.
Her upcoming book, Ara, serves as the foundation for her festival discussion. The work introduces Māori worldviews as a way to broaden mental health approaches. Elder argues that indigenous resources, particularly Māori frameworks, offer vital tools for mental health support.
At HamLit, she will outline key concepts from Ara, including whakawhanaungatanga (relationship-building), mātauranga Māori (indigenous knowledge), and wairua-centered healing. These methods contrast with Western psychology by focusing on communal bonds, ancestral spirituality, and cultural storytelling rather than individualised cognitive techniques. Elder's career has spanned decades, during which she has witnessed some of the worst global and local crises—experiences that further inform her perspective on resilience and healing.
The 2026 festival session will highlight how Māori approaches can reshape mental health care. Elder's work suggests that integrating indigenous knowledge may provide more inclusive, culturally grounded mental health support. Her talk aims to bridge traditional wisdom with modern therapeutic practice.
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