Manaaki Ora App

The Manaaki Ora app is a culturally centred well-being tool designed to provide Maori individuals and whanau guidance on how to self-help. It is based on the Māori models of health - Te Whare Tapa Whā and Manaaki Tangata - incorporating holistic concepts of well-being, including emotional, physical, spiritual and whanau.

• The app includes activities to help individuals identify feelings when overwhelmed and to create plans for dealing with emotional distress.
• It recommends useful interventions and options to create a supportive contact list. It also includes details for NZ local support and crisis services.
• In addition, the app offers very useful advice for whanau, concerned for loved one’s, on how to communicate openly with them and work towards supporting them or engaging them with support services.
• The app contains audio explanations and clear and stylish graphics. It also has some interactive activities, which are engaging.

For the complete app description, go to the Google Play(external link), App Store(external link) or, for a more detailed review, see reviews below.

Clinical review

Reviewer: David Bloore, Clinical Psychologist, David Bloore Psychology Ltd (private practice)
Date of review: July 2024
Platform: Android
Version: 1.7
Comments: Manaaki Ora is a simple app designed to help (primarily) Maori individuals and whanau who are struggling with mental or emotional well-being. The app helps users (and supportive whanau) identify specific areas of challenge and through the use of Māori models of health/wellbeing - Te Whare Tapa Whā and Manaaki Tangata - to facilitate interventions specifically identified by this holistic models. The app also encourages development of a support network and highlights further support/crisis services, for when more intensive intervention may be required.

Individuals can gain insight into their emotional functioning and consider the different areas of life which contribute to their well being. They can also develop a plan for how to improve their well-being and daily functioning and develop a contact support network to reach out to when in need.

Whanau can get a better understanding of what might be impacting on a loved one’s well-being and learn how to better support someone who is going through a difficult time.

Overall this is a good, easy-to-use app that helps to connect with Māori users and may be very beneficial to those who initially struggle to reach out to healthcare professionals for support
Safety concerns: There are no safety concerns about the app, but as the creators note, this app is designed to provide tips and guidance for wellbeing. It is not designed to for people struggling with more serious mental health disorders and if you do have concerns for someone’s safety, please seek help through the crisis services mentioned in the app, or dial 111.
New Zealand relevance: Yes.

Clinical review

Reviewer: Peter Ou, GP, FRNZCGP, Auckland
Date of review: September 2021
Platform: Apple
Version: 1.5
Comments: Manaaki Ora is a simple app that help users screen for symptoms of depression and its effects on daily life. The app also help users to connect with the Māori model of health Te Whare Tapa Whā and create goals to recover. The app is most useful for users who are having a difficult time including those who are unsure if they may be suffering from depression. It can also benefit users who know people who are having a hard time and may be suffering from depression. Users can gain insight into the symptoms of depression, create goals to help recover from depression and build a network of contact and support services. Overall this is a good, easy-to-use app that helps to connect with Māori users and may be very beneficial to those who struggle to reach out to healthcare professionals for support.
Safety concerns: None – this app is made more accessible to Māori users through the use of te reo Māori and the Te Whare Tapa Whā
New Zealand relevance: Yes, relevant to a New Zealand audience.