This article describes the origins and development of Te Mauri (the life essence), a unique Māori (Indigenous people of New Zealand) public health and well-being programme aimed at addressing critical gaps in knowledge about supportive cancer care for whānau (families) living with cancer in Aotearoa (New Zealand). Te Mauri is a kaupapa Māori (Māori philosophy) public health initiative having a whānau ora (family well-being) approach, so is based not on the individual, or patient, but within whānau and the core role of communities in relation to the provision of cancer care, the promotion of recovery from cancer, and the maintenance of well-being for current and future generations. Te Mauri makes an important contribution to expanding mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) and the range of Indigenous models of care so that cancer service provision is improved for the benefit of all those who are on a cancer journey.
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