Kia puāwai ake ngā uri whakatupu: flourishing future generations

Programme Lead:

Dr Amohia Boulton

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Project Leads:

Dr Tanya Allport, Dr Heather Gifford, Prof Denise Wilson

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Whakauae Researchers:

Utiku Potaka, Gill Potaka-Osborne, Lynley Cvitanovic, Kiri Parata, Stacey Ruru, Tom Johnson, Mel Potaka-Osborne, Luke Enoka, Cinnamon Lindsay-Latimer

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Independent Researchers:

Assoc Prof Bridgette Masters-Awatere, Dr John McMenamin, Dr Pat Neuwelt, Prof Stephen Reay, Cassie Khoo, Lucia Gribble, Paora Crawford Moyle, Trent Dallas

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Start/Finish Dates:

November 2021 – October 2026

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Description:

Kia Puāwai is a programme of research that is dedicated to generating Māori knowledge to find new solutions to improve the health and wellbeing of all whānau Māori. Four specific research projects have been designed to work together to present new, aspirational and solutions-based thinking.

The four objectives of Kia Puāwai are to:

1. Establish new knowledge on the leadership, governance and decision-making models required for iwi/Māori to make significant and enduring advances in the equity of health outcomes.
2. Build knowledge on safe and healthy home environments for whānau Māori to flourish;
3. Establish whānau and clinical concepts of good practice in the primary health care system; and
4. Achieve knowledge translation for impact pathways to facilitate key systems change.

The overall objective of Kia Puāwai, to achieve health equity for Māori, is based on the belief that Māori must develop and lead our own solutions to create a system that supports the realisation of the aspirations of our tūpuna (ancestors) - that we flourish as Māori.

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Progress:

Kia Puāwai  gathering -  ­ two years on from the launch, the benefits of whanaungatanga

In Whanganui, on the 18th and 19th October 2023, the full Kia Puāwai research team came together for a second time to:

• reflect on the previous years progress,
• explore opportunities for moving forward,
• talk about systems change within the context each research project,
• discuss integration of research results, and
• update their individual project evaluation frameworks.

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Individually customised, the focus of the frameworks is evaluating the processes engaged through the data collection and analysis phases. Being adaptive to change, part of our reflective practice, enables the research to react and pivot as unexpected environmental factors present themselves. This allows community voices to be heard and research priorities to align with their aspirations.

Presentations from each of the four projects within the programme gave an opportunity to celebrate the collection of dissemination accomplishments, including a number of videos speaking to the kaupapa of the research, a card game, infographic posters, pānui, booklets, international conference presentations, and published articles. The dedicated website is a great repository for these Translation, Uptake and Impact (TUI) activities. You can visit the website here.

Kia Puāwai is motivated to explore how best to lever for systems change supporting whānau to flourish. With this in mind,  the group discussed how, after just two years, these findings may contribute to the changes required to support improved health and wellbeing for Māori.

Another highlight, was time to reconnect with other teams whose members are spread across Aotearoa New Zealand, and, gain a shared understanding of the strengths that lie in our diversity and thinking. Having this hui face to face proved valuable for deeper kōrero to occur and to allow for teasing out ideas during the kai breaks. As one researcher commented, “often gold is struck during this time, we’re able to network, and connect with opportunities through whanaungatanga”. Furthermore this was extended to include a hīkoi along Te Awa Tupua, the Whanganui River.

Many thanks go to Kiri Parata, Programme Manager, who played a key role in organising this event. Besides organising, full Programme Team meetings, her role includes keeping an overview of programme progress, communication between the projects, convening Programme Leadership meetings and Advisory Group Meetings.

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