Hinengaro Balance Map
Mahere Tūāhurutanga · Mapping Emotions Across the Four Pou of Te Whare Tapa Whā
Ngā Whāinga Akoranga · Learning Intentions
- Analyse how a single emotion affects ALL four pou of Te Whare Tapa Whā — not just the mind
- Identify protective factors (āwhina) and risk factors (pehanga) that affect emotional balance
- Understand that wellbeing is holistic — a change in one pou ripples through the others
- Plan two concrete actions to support hinengaro balance this week
Paearu Angitu · Success Criteria
- I can describe how my chosen emotion affects each of the four pou with specific examples
- I can name at least two protective factors that help me maintain balance
- I can identify at least one risk factor or pressure that destabilises my hauora
- My two next-step actions are specific and realistic — something I can actually do this week
Hononga Marautanga · Curriculum Alignment
Curriculum alignment for this handout has not yet been verified against the live curriculum statements. A generated placeholder that stood here was removed on 2026-08-29 because it matched no real statement.
Te Whare Tapa Whā · The Four Walls of Wellbeing
Developed by Sir Mason Durie, Te Whare Tapa Whā uses a house (whare) as a model: four walls, a roof, and a foundation. If any wall is weakened, the whole house is less stable. Wellbeing requires all four pou to be strong.
Taha Tinana · Physical
Body: health, sleep, nutrition, movement, sensation, energy
Taha Hinengaro · Mental/Emotional
Mind: thoughts, feelings, beliefs, memories, focus, self-talk
Taha Whānau · Social
Relationships: whānau, friends, community, belonging, roles, communication
Taha Wairua · Spiritual
Spirit: purpose, values, connection to whenua, faith, sense of identity
Te Mahere · The Map
Ngā Kare-ā-roto i āro ana i a mātou · Emotion we are exploring:
Choose an emotion from this unit (e.g., anxiety, loneliness, grief, joy, anger, pride). Be specific if you can — "anger when I feel ignored" is more useful than just "anger."
Taha Tinana
How does this emotion feel in your body? (tension, stomach, chest, sleep, appetite, energy)
Taha Hinengaro
What thoughts or beliefs come with this emotion? (self-talk, memories, trigger stories)
Taha Whānau
How does this emotion affect your relationships? (withdrawal, conflict, seeking support)
Taha Wairua
What does this emotion say about your values, purpose, or sense of who you are?
Āwhina me Pehanga · Protective Factors and Pressures
Āwhina — Protective Factors (what supports balance):
List routines, people, places, beliefs, kai, or practices that help you maintain wellbeing across all four pou.
Pehanga — Risk Factors / Pressures (what destabilises the pou):
Name stresses, systems, habits, or situations that weaken your wellbeing. Be honest — identifying risks is the first step to managing them.
Ngā Ara Tūhono · Next Steps — Manaakitanga Plan
Agree on two specific actions you will take this week to support hinengaro balance. These should be small, realistic, and concrete — not "be happier" but "go for a walk at lunchtime."
Action 1:
Action 2:
Who I will tell about these actions (accountability partner):
After this week — did I follow through? What did I notice?
Aronga Mātauranga Māori
Te Whare Tapa Whā was developed by Sir Mason Durie in 1984 as a framework for understanding Māori health that goes beyond the biomedical model. The framework insists that physical health cannot be separated from mental, social, and spiritual health — all four walls of the whare must be strong for the person to be well. This is not metaphor: research consistently shows that social isolation affects physical health, that spiritual disconnection affects mental health, and that physical illness affects all other dimensions.
In te ao Māori, taha wairua is not optional or supplementary — it is foundational. Your connection to your tīpuna, your values, your whenua, and your sense of purpose is the foundation (the ground on which the whare stands). A student who understands this framework understands why wellbeing is not just about eating well and exercising. It is about belonging, purpose, and the continuity of connection across generations. Kia tūpato, kia māia, kia manawaroa — be careful, be courageous, be persistent.
Ngā Rauemi Tautoko · Support Materials
Resources already provided:
- This balance map — use it independently whenever you want to understand an emotion more deeply
- Grounding Cards (unit-8-grounding-cards.html) — six techniques for returning to the present when emotions overwhelm
- Koru Breath Card (unit-8-koru-breath-card.html) — a focused breathing practice to support taha tinana and hinengaro
- Mindfulness Journal (unit-8-mindfulness-journal.html) — track your mauri and practice over 5 days
Aronga Rerekē · Differentiated Pathways
Tīmata · Entry Level
Choose the emotion. Complete two pou (Taha Tinana and Taha Hinengaro). List one protective factor and one risk. Write one next step. Work with a partner if that helps — the conversation itself is part of the learning.
Paerewa · On Level
Complete all four pou with specific examples in each. Identify at least two protective factors and one risk factor. Write two realistic next steps. Complete the accountability partner section.
Tūāpae · Extension
Complete all sections. Then write a paragraph: "How does the Te Whare Tapa Whā framework change how you understand this emotion compared to just saying 'I feel anxious'? What does mapping it across four dimensions reveal that a single-sentence description doesn't?" This analytical depth — moving from experience to understanding — is what makes the framework powerful.