October 2025, Articles

Balanced Athlete Health – The four dimensions of wellbeing

A well-known Māori model of wellbeing is proving a helpful tool for athletes to help find their balance by considering all aspects of what wellbeing means for them.

Te Whare Tapa Whā is a holistic Māori model of health and wellbeing that uses the metaphor of a wharenui (meeting house) with four walls to represent the interconnected dimensions of health: taha tinana – physical wellbeing, taha wairua – spiritual wellbeing, taha whānau – family and community wellbeing, Taha Hinengaro – mental and emotional wellbeing

The model emphasises that for a person or collective to be healthy, all four dimensions must be in balance.

HPSNZ Performance Life coach Carolyn Donaldson uses the model extensively in her daily work with athletes and has seen its value.

“It helps athletes, and those working with them, to see that if one wall is weakened, such as through injury, it can affect the balance of the whole whare,” Carolyn says.

“For a high performance athlete to maintain their balance and overall wellbeing, it’s important to strengthen the other dimensions while the weakened one heals.

“This holistic approach encourages us to look beyond the injury and focus on the people, activities, and support that nurture us mentally and emotionally, spiritually, socially and physically. For an athlete this model can inform when and how they need to dial up support for one or more of the dimensions.”

That support can come from HPSNZ specialist practitioners, NSO coaches and support staff or from an athlete’s family and wider support network, but the first step is identifying what is needed within each dimension to maintain overall balance.

Credit: Michael Thomas

Lisa Adams, Shot Put F37 gold medal winner at last month’s Para Athletics World Championship, has been working with Carolyn since 2018 and using the Te Whare Tapa Whā model.

“The Te Whare Tapa Whā model of wellbeing enables me to focus on my remaining walls when one has been affected. It helps me to be proactive and intentional in progressing towards goals and in life while certain parts are being restored.” Lisa says.

“Using the Te Whare Tapa Whā model in the wellbeing work I do with Carolyn supports my overall wellbeing and helps me be a better person and athlete.”

Carolyn says HPSNZ is encouraging athletes to be intentional about what wellbeing and balance means for them.

“We want you to think about the concept of Hauora (wellbeing) and all aspects that make you whole.”

HPSNZ’s Dr Sue Robson, whose team is leading a campaign in collaboration with NSOs to promote the importance of balanced athlete health, says former athlete, Rugby NZ coach and physio Victoria Grant has played a key role in incorporating Te Whare Tapa Whā into the Balanced Athlete Health framework.

“Victoria brings several perspectives. It has been a real educational process working and learning from Victoria who, alongside our Sport NZ Group Rautaki Māori team, has been assisting with her Māori bicultural lens to weave in the Te Whare Tapa Whā model.”

@for ($i = 0; $i < 4; $i++)
{{--
--}}
@endfor