This study explored the situation of mothers, as the carers of young adults with a learning disability, Down syndrome. The socio-political context of the study had been established as British colonialists focused on national growth and development. The 1840 Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and the promotion of selfdetermination - tino Rangatiratanga and resource sharing, was largely overlooked by the social, economic, and political institutions of the state. In establishing health services the domination of Pakeha and their provincial governments enabled the practice of institutionalisation to be adopted to control the impact of idiocy and imbecility, pauperism and crime in the new colony. These earlier practices were to shape the 'common sense' understanding of learning disability held by the student participants. In contrast the study revealed a high congruence between the expectations of mothers as carers, and the family healthcare model supported by the general practitioners. [...]