Whakauae Research proudly welcomes the 2025 Pae Tawhiti Scholarship recipients, Meretini Bennett-Huxtable and Kelsey O’Connor. These scholarships reflect our commitment to fostering emerging Māori researchers and supporting Indigenous knowledge systems. Meretini’s PhD research at Auckland University of Technology explores the connection between Māori oral traditions, Te Maramataka, and whānau wellbeing. Kelsey, a Master’s student at Massey University, is decolonising mainstream understandings of gender through a Mana Wahine lens. Both scholars are making significant contributions to Māori health, and Whakauae is excited to support their journeys.
The Whakauae research team recently gathered for a transformative writing retreat at River Valley Lodge, nestled on the banks of the Rangitīkei River. Over four days, researchers from across Aotearoa and Australia immersed themselves in wānanga, writing, and meaningful kōrero, strengthening their connections and advancing various projects, including conference proposals, PhD chapters, and research articles. The retreat provided a rare opportunity to collaborate in person, drawing inspiration from the stunning natural surroundings and the manaakitanga of the River Valley Lodge team. Read more about the retreat and its impact on our researchers.
We are consolidating our track record of producing high quality, timely, Kaupapa Māori research, working for whānau, hapū, iwi and hapori Māori. This Pou produces the rigorous evidence, research expertise and the thought leadership that has the potential to transform health services, health policy, and Māori health governance.
We are strengthening our capacity to conduct high quality research through investment in our infrastructure and our people. This Pou supports attracting and retaining high-performance Māori expertise and ongoing commitment to upskilling talented people within the Māori health research sector.
We are enhancing our TUI (Translation, Uptake & Impact) platform through investment in new people, new technologies and varied modes of dissemination. This Pou works to design and package new knowledge into media that are useful and meaningful to whānau, hapū, iwi and hapori Māori and other stakeholders, and which engage and create communities of interest.
We are enriching our alliances at the local, national and international level with groups and organisations who have an interest in advancing a Māori/Indigenous health equity agenda. This Pou works to establish partnerships and expertise across local and international Indigenous groups to develop effective new evidence, ideas, and knowledge exchange.
Creating a new team within our organisation who, drawing on their respective leadership roles in the sector, will translate research evidence into “actionable intelligence”. This Pou works to connect Māori research evidence directly to key areas of change-making to achieve the inclusion of Māori evidence in public health and public policy.
