How rongo¯a M¯aori helped injured man back to work
A series of workplace accidents shattered Michael Dixon’s life as he feared he’d never work again – until he discovered an alternative method of rehab. By
For Michael Dixon (Nga¯puhi), the fear of being unable to work following a spate of workplace injuries left him in a state of mental and physical distress.
The 68-year-old Papamoa resident had been working as a concrete layer when, on the same day he returned from knee surgery, he fell backwards from a platform.
‘‘I went to step back off the floor, and fell down this post hole. I struggled to get out of the hole and just about passed out,’’ Dixon said. ‘‘There was a big crack when I hit the ground.’’
He initially tried to put up with the pain and ‘‘tough it out’’ over the following days. But after being diagnosed with a lumbar disc prolapse, his future in such a physically demanding occupation was looking bleak.
Dixon is already past the official retirement age, but has always enjoyed working and began to worry not only about returning to his then job, but any job.
‘‘A guy at my age, with a back injury, who’s going to give him a job? For me, it was a really emotional thing,’’ he said.
‘‘I was beginning to wonder if I’d ever come out the other side or would ever be able to work again – that was my biggest fear. You start thinking of ways to step off the planet... What kept me going was thinking about my family and my grandkids.’’
Dixon was entered into the ACC Ha¯ pai Progamme to rehabilitate and recover from his injury.
ACC Chief Ma¯ori and Equity Officer Michelle Murray said the Ha¯pai programme was created to provide a culturally appropriate and safe service for injured wha¯ nau Ma¯ ori, while upholding obligations to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
‘‘In 2021 ACC worked with Ma¯ori clients, wha¯ nau and service delivery teams to develop Ha¯ pai. As a result of that it was based on some te ao Ma¯ori principles,’’ Murray said.
The principles of the programme are whakawhanaungatanga (relationshipbuilding), tı¯kanga (targeted support and training), wha¯ nau-centricism, mana motuhake (autonomy), and Wha¯ ia Te Tika (ACC Ma¯ ori Policy), Murray said.
Much of Ha¯ pai also involves the use of rongoa¯ Ma¯ori, a set of traditional Ma¯ori healing techniques designed to encompass not just physical therapy and wellbeing – but also mental, spiritual and wha¯nau wellbeing too.
Dixon said for him, rongoa¯ Ma¯ ori had ‘‘enlightened the whole body’’.
‘‘(Rongoa¯ ) just seems to revive, it’s good to see that Ma¯ ori have that option now.’’
As part of the Ha¯ pai programme, Dixon received counselling and rongoa¯ Ma¯ori (traditional Ma¯ ori healing) services, which includes mirimiri and romiromi (bodywork), whitiwhiti ko¯rero (support/advice) and karakia (prayer), along with other medical advice and physio.
There are more than 100 ACCregistered rongoa¯ Ma¯ ori practitioners
‘‘(Rongoa¯) just seems to revive, it’s good to see that Ma¯ori have that option now.’’
Michael Dixon
around New Zealand.
Although unable to return to his physically demanding concrete-laying job, Dixon was able to recover and return to work. He now works part-time at the Te Puke Recycling Centre and is in the final stages of his return-to-work programme.
He has also been able to do other things he enjoys, such as surfing.
‘‘Just being in there with nature, Tangaroa (God of the Seas) throwing waves at you, picking out the ones you like and just gliding into them. You’re out there on a beautiful day, clean, glassy, the colours in the sky are resonating off the sea.’’
Dixon encouraged others who suffered workplace injuries to ask for help, rather than trying to hide their pain.
‘‘There is light at the end of the tunnel.’’
interest