Nau Mai, Haere Mai
Te Ao Marama
Te Ao Marama, NZ Māori Dental Associations overall goal is to achieve Oranga Niho for all.
The impact of Te Ao Marama was to raise the awareness of oral health with government agencies, Māori health providers and Māori communities. Te Ao Marama serves as an important Māori organisation to foster and promote oranga niho among Māori for the dissemination of information and new developments and services in oranga niho and to foster professional support and whanaungatanga among its membership. This national organisation, which has been recognised to represent the Māori view of oral health, is an assertion of Article II of the Treaty of Waitangi, and is a classic example of tino rangatiratanga (Māori self determination). It is a recognised leader for Māori oral health.
Te Ao Marama holds a national hui (conference) in February/March of each year where Māori people come together to kōrero (discuss) a variety of issues including new initiatives and developments in oral health, indigenous health, Māori health, public health and health promotion.
Te Ao Marama has representation on many committees and organisations within the New Zealand dental health sector.
Te Ao Marama is involved in many activities to promote oral health for all New Zealanders. One recent example was the fluoridation campaign in Hamilton (which voted in a referendum in April 2006 to continue to fluoridate their water supplies) where Te Ao Marama made a concerted effort to contribute to the campaign by organising and distributing fluoridation information to whānau (Māori families) and the community.