Guide to Answering the Protocol Quiz

Rituals Of Encounter >> Rituals In Clinical Practice >> Guides to Protocol Quiz

These suggested best responses to the Quiz are guidelines rather than absolutes. Different clinical situations may require somewhat differing approaches. The most important thing is to talk in advance with the Mäori cultural worker or kaumätua/kuia working with you, to be clear about the likely protocol and format of the meeting beforehand. Over a period of time, the relationship with your cultural advisors will hopefully develop so that you are more familiar and comfortable with whänau meetings and more able to pick up cues and work well together as a team.

Always take off your shoes before entering a marae meeting house or a setting specifically set aside for Mäori processes and meetings (such as a whänau room or whare attached to an inpatient setting). This includes home visits to Mäori families, who may be too polite to ask you to do this but who will feel a lot happier about your attitude of respect if you do follow this basic courtesy. With this in mind, it pays to wear reasonable socks, particularly to a very formal powhiri, where odd or tattered socks are somewhat disrespectful to the gathering.
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Be guided by Mäori cultural support workers or kaumätua/kuia present at whänau meetings as to the order of events, and allow them to take the lead as regards protocol particularly during the opening and closing of meetings. If a senior family member is present - e.g. a kaumätua like Joe's grandfather, they are likely to take the lead in the formal process of opening and closing the meeting, rather than the cultural worker, although the cultural worker may respond to their speech, depending on the circumstances.
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Do accept refreshments (e.g. a hot or cold drink) if these are offered by the whänau after a home visit meeting, and do stay briefly to share a cup of tea or coffee with everyone after a whänau meeting held in a workplace. It is impolite to refuse or to rush off without engaging in this part of the process of engagement, which is as important in building rapport and trust as the actual discussion.
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Never sit on a table in a Mäori setting or home. Again, this relates to the basic hygiene protocol of staying at a marae, as the nether regions are considered unclean and should not be put on a surface used to serve food. Another point is that when staying at a marae or taking part in a long hui where people are sleeping or resting on the floor, never step over someone's head. Again, a basic courtesy when living in close proximity to others. The best course of action in the scenario given is to be relaxed and sociable but to focus more attention on the elders present (Joe's mother and grandfather) so as to cement the relationship with the whänau.
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The head itself is considered sacred to Mäori. Don't touch a Mäori person casually on the head in fun, and if needing to examine the head or touch this as part of treatment, explain what you are doing and ask permission. Joe himself might not mind too much but the older family members would probably disapprove and feel you were being disrespectful. As ever in psychiatry, be very careful about personal boundaries and about when it's OK to use humour.