Whakauae Research and Wai Rangahau renew relationship agreement

Last week, Whakauae Research and Wai Rangahau (as part of Te Whānau o Waipareira) signed a new relationship agreement, He Kaupapa Mahi Ngātahi  to affirm a working partnership towards shared research goals. The agreement focuses on collaborative efforts to build and nurture a mutually beneficial approach to our research with whānau, hapū, iwi and the wider community in the Rangitīkei and Whanganui regions, as well as Tāmaki Makaurau and across the nation.

Whakauae Research and Wai Rangahau first committed to a collaborative research partnership in 2015, when they signed an initial memorandum of understanding. Recognising the shared values and purposes of each research unit has meant that the partnership has been successful in working across several joint projects, authoring various journal papers and reports, and supporting each other both formally and informally through staff mentoring and opportunity exchanges. Going forward, both research organisations commit to building on their already solid relationship.

The specific aims of the agreement are to:

1. Enact collaboration on mutually beneficial research projects and open pathways for future research endeavours;
2. Prioritise research collaborations that focus on contributing to the improvement of hauora Māori for whānau, hapori, hapū and Iwi; and
3. Provide opportunities for Māori health research capacity and capability development, both internally and external to the organisations.

He Kaupapa Mahi Ngātahi was signed by Dr Amohia Boulton, Research Director Whakauae Research and Hector Kaiwai, Director of Research for Wai Rangahau as part of a workplan wānanga in Tāmaki Makaurau on 24 September 2023.