KO WAI AU?

A Legacy of Visionary Leadership and Empowerment

Born on 4 December 1938, raised in Feilding, Tā (Sir) Mason Durie’s upbringing was steeped in the values of leadership and service. 

Educated at Manchester Street Primary School and later Te Aute College, Mason thrived in an environment that fostered Māori leadership, inspiring him to pursue medicine after being influenced by notable Te Aute alumni, Tā Peter Buck (Te Rangi Hiroa) and Tā Maui Pomare.

Tā Mason graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBChB) from the University of Otagoin 1963. He later completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Psychiatry (PGDipPsych) at McGill University in Canada with Distinction. On returning to Aotearoa, he became Director of Psychiatry at Palmerston North Hospital, where he spearheaded innovative practices that integrated Māori values into health care.

In 1988, Tā Mason transitioned into academia as the inaugural Professor and Head of Māori Studies at Massey University. His tenure at Massey saw transformative contributions, including establishing Te Pūmanawa Hauora, the Centre for Māori Health Research, and pioneering the longitudinal study Te Hoe Nuku Roa, which provided crucial insights into Māori households. An ongoing legacy is the Massey University Māori mental health programme, Te Rau Puawai, providing up to 100 scholarships annually for Māori studying health-related subjects.

Tā Mason’s groundbreaking Te Whare Tapa Whā model fundamentally reshaped Māori and public health. It conceptual health through four interconnected dimensions: wairua, hinengaro, tinana, and whānau. This framework, adopted widely across the health sector, emphasises holistic and culturally aligned care.

Tā Mason Durie was a key figure in the establishment of Te Rau Matatini, a national organisation that develops the Māori mental health workforce, in response to the growing need for mental health services. Sir Mason held the role of Senior Advisor with Te Rau Matatini (rebranded in 2019 as Te Rau Ora) until 2023. 

He also led the development of key initiatives such as:

• Waka Hourua: A national suicide prevention program for Māori and Pasifika communities.
• Whānau Ora: An indigenous health initiative emphasizing whānau-centred approaches.

Tā Mason has served on prominent boards and task forces, including:

• Te Papa Tongarewa National Museum (Founding Board Member)
• Foundation for Research, Science and Technology
• Guardians Group for Secondary Futures Project
• Commissioner New Zealand Families Commission
• Ministerial Taskforce on Whānau Ora (Chair)
• Te Kāhui Amokura (Chair, Vice-Chancellors’ Committee on Māori Advancement)
• Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists Patron
• The Mental Health Foundation
• Alcohol Liquor Advisory Council
• Chair of the Standing Committee on Māori Health
• The Royal Commission on Social Policy
• The Māori Advisory Committee for the Law Commission
• Chair of the Core Health Services Committee 

Tā Mason has championed higher education for Māori, mentoring students and fostering pathways for Indigenous academic excellence. He played pivotal roles in establishing secondary schools like Manukura and Tu Toa Trust, both promoting high academic and sporting success among Māori rangatahi.

Tā Mason’s leadership is rooted in his belief that Māori can thrive as both citizens of Aotearoa and the world. His life’s work—a synthesis of health, education, and cultural advocacy—ensures enduring legacies for future generations.

“We should strive to build a future where Māori can have good health and a high standard of living, where we can live as Māori and as citizens of the world” – Tā Mason Durie.