The question of how to get the findings and significance of Māori research across via the media was at the core of a two-day “Media Savvy” workshop attended by Dr Amohia Boulton and Dr Tanya Allport from Whakauae Research.  Run by the Science Media Centre through Nga Pae O Māramatanga, and attended by a rōpū of Māori researchers from a range of diverse areas, the workshop focused on how Māori researchers can best communicate what are often complex messages to the media, with the aim of contributing key messages on issues that affect Māori lives.

Two Master's students, Maihi Potaka (Ngāti Hauiti, Ngāti Manawa, Te Ātihaunui-ā- Pāpārangi) and Emma Rawson (Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui and Ngāti Raukawa) who were awarded Whakauae Scholarships have reached significant milestones with their mahi. 

Ko Tom Johnson tōku ingoa, and I am excited to join the Whakauae research team as part of the Whakauae Summer Scholarship 2020 -2021.

Ngāti Hauiti welcomed three researchers new to the rohe at a pōwhiri held at Rātā Marae on 29 September 2020. Dr Tanya Allport (Te Ati Awa) recently joined the team at Whakauae Research as a Senior Researcher based in Tāmaki Makaurau. COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, in place off and on since March 2020, led to an unavoidable delay in formally welcoming Tanya before now. She was supported during her pōwhiri by Hector Kaiwai (Ngāti Porou, Ngai Tuhoe, Maniapoto), her former colleague and now Director at Wai Research (Te Whānau o Waipareira Trust).

Today Whakauae launches a new forum for original research, review, commentary and reflective essays on issues of relevance to whānau, hapū and Iwi Māori. 

Te Pūtake – Whakauae Raro Occasional Paper Series explores the aspirations, challenges and important new issues arising for Māori and is intended to address a wide audience of national and international change-makers.

Produced by Whakauae Research, and featuring a range of contributors, these peer-reviewed papers are designed to circulate formative thinking, early research findings, critical commentary and ideas to promote discussion and engagement on creating positive outcomes for Māori. 

The Public Service Association's Te Pukenga Here Tikanga Mahi post-Covid-19 webinars are being billed by the PSA as an exclusive series “bringing together progressive voices … ”  and  “brightest minds” from across Aotearoa New Zealand. Dr Amohia Boulton (Whakauae Research for Māori Health and Development) and Deb Te Kawa (DTK and Associates) together present a webinar, one in the series of ten, that focus on possible futures for our public and community services.

The findings of a recent Whakauae partnership research project, Te Taniwha I Te Ao Ture-ā-Whānau, Whānau Experience of Care and Protection in the Family Court have now been released. The study highlights the struggles many whānau experience in their dealings with the Family Court. This report is unique in that it presents the views of those whānau who themselves have had recent dealings with the Family Court in relation to child care and protection issues. The experiences whānau shared with researchers are startling, graphic and deeply unsettling.

Whakauae celebrated colleague Gill Potaka-Osborne's (Te Ātihaunui-ā-Pāpārangi) latest academic achievement at a team luncheon on 22 July 2020. Gill recently completed her Master's degree through Te Putahi-a-Toi at Massey University, Palmerston North. The degree will be formally conferred at a Hui Whakahōnore Pōtaetanga Ākonga Māori graduation ceremony, delayed until November 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.  

The team at Whakauae are all delighted that Dr Tanya Allport has joined us as our new senior researcher. With a background in Māori health and wellbeing research, Tanya has a passion for kaupapa Māori research, and research that effects positive change in the community.

Our offices will be CLOSED from Wednesday 25th March for four weeks in accordance with the Prime Minister's announcement that the country will move to Alert Level 4. During this time our research team will continue, as much as possible, to undertake the tasks required to deliver excellent research results and fulfil our research obligations, and our administration team will support them to do so.

Tracey Wilkie (Whakatōhea), a PhD student based at Te Herenga Waka, Victoria University of Wellington recently successfully completed the studentship which involved upskilling the Whakauae research team in their use of the software reference library, EndNote.

Late in 2019, after a long hunt for suitable new office space, Whakauae moved from 60 Ridgway Street to number 19 Ridgway Street, Whanganui adjacent to Pakaitore and the Whanganui River. Te Āti Haunui-ā-Pāpārangi kaumatua John Maihi, Gina Maihi and Pastor Gavin Brooks opened the new office with karakia and a blessing on the morning of 29 November 2019.

Whakauae was recently privileged to host the Taupua Mana, Taupua Waiora: Lifting health by enhancing mana research symposium in Whanganui showcasing the work of several of our Kaupapa Māori research colleagues.

Whakauae was recently privileged to host a research symposium in Whanganui showcasing the work of several of our Kaupapa Māori research colleagues.

Whakauae researcher, Dr Aria Graham (Ngāti Kahungungu, Ngāti Pōrou, Samoan) has recently been awarded a prestigious Māori Health Research Postdoctoral Fellowship. The Fellowship was the only award made in this category by the HRC in the 2019 funding round.

A recently released Special Issue of the International Journal of Human Rights Education includes a paper written by Whakauae Director, Dr Amohia Boulton in partnership with colleagues, Dr Glenis Mark (Ngā Puhi, Tainui, Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Koata) and Donna Kerridge (Ngāti Tahinga, Ngāti Mahuta, Ngāti Maniapoto).

Whakauae was well represented at this year's Australian Evaluation Society Conference. Kiri Parata attended in her capacity as AES Board member. Gill Potaka-Osborne, as a member of the Indigenous Excellence Award assessing committee and co-presenter of the award. Teresa Taylor also received a Conference Support Grant.

During September 2019, the Business Manager Sonja Loveridge took part in a workshop titled New conversations about race. The workshop traversed the territory of race, racism, bias and belonging, it took place in Wellington on the six-month anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks and during Te Wiki o te Reo Māori.

Whakauae recently marked Stacey Ranginui's decade with the organisation with mihi and the gifting of a taonga as recognition of Stacey's many and valued contributions she has made to Whakauae since her appointment as assistant office administrator in 2009.

Whakauae Director, Dr Amohia Boulton is one of seven expert members recently appointed to the Data Ethics Advisory Group by Liz MacPherson, the Government Chief Data Steward (GCDS) and Chief Executive of Stats NZ.

On the 7th of August Dr Amohia Boulton participated in a panel of academics and practitioners to discuss how successful public policy may be achieved.

Maihi Potaka (Ngāti Hauiti, Te Ātihaunui-a-Pāpārangi, Ngāti Manawa) has been named the recipient of the 2019 Whakauae Pae Tawhiti Scholarship.

Ena Ying-tzu Chang, a Taiwanese PhD student who is researching Indigenous health issues in Taiwan recently met with the Whakauae team in Whanganui. Ena's doctoral research is focussed on health promotion practice models grounded in Indigenous world views and values as well as on the interface between government sectors, biomedical discourses and Indigenous cultural sovereignty.

Whakauae acknowledges the traditional owners of the land across Australia and pays respect to the Elders past, present and emerging, in particular, the Larrakia people of Darwin the traditional custodians of the land upon which the Lowitja Conference 2019 was held.

We are delighted and honoured that Dr Erica Williams (Te Arawa, Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Pikiao, Te Whānau ā Apanui) has accepted an invitation to join the Whakauae Board of Directors.

In the lead up to Easter, Whakauae joined colleagues from the Health Services Research Centre (Victoria University) in a two-day wānanga at Rātā Marae. Organised by Dr Amohia Boulton, the wānanga focused on exploring the synergies between Indigenous theories and critical realist research approaches.

The Research Centre Director, Dr Amohia Boulton has spent a busy week supporting Ngāti Hauiti in  range of activities relating to iwi business. 

The International Union for Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE) hosts an international conference every three years bringing together leading professionals from all corners of the world. Whakauae's Dr Heather Gifford, Dr Lewis Williams, Gill Potaka-Osborne and Lynley Cvitanovic attended this years event.

A pōwhiri was held at Rātā Marae for Dr Aria Graham (Ngāti Kahungungu, Ngāti Pōrou, Samoan), and members of her whānau, on the beautiful late summer morning of 18 March 2019. 

The Whakauae team recently joined Ngāti Hauiti to support the review of Te Whakauae a Tamatea, the iwi's research strategy, as well as the formulation of a new strategy for the period 2019 – 2029.

After several intensive years of juggling part-time study, a demanding job, a busy whānau and various sports commitments, Stacey Ranginui graduated on 08 March 2019 with not one, but three qualifications.

Whakauae and Te Atawhai o Te Ao: Independent Māori Research Institute for Environment and Health (TAOTA) had the privilege of co-hosting the second Ngā Pae o Te Māramatanga Annual Principal Investigators' Wānanga held at Rānana Marae on the awa Whanganui from the 11th - 14th February.

Esteemed long-time Whakauae colleague, Sharon Clarke (Wergaia, Gunditjmara) travelled to Aotearoa New Zealand in January 2019 to take part in professional development activities as well as to re-connect with family and friends.

Dr Amohia Boulton participated in the first ever international evaluation conference for Indigenous evaluators during February 2019.

On 11 December, Whakauae Research in conjunction with Ngā Pae o Te Māramatanga, launched Cultural, Ethical, Research, Legal, Scientific, Issues of Rongoā Māori, a guideline for researchers and healers engaged in Rongoā research.

During November, the Whakauae team welcomed a week-long return visit from Valdine Flaming of Thompson, Northern Manitoba. 

Te Kete Tū-Ātea (TKTA), research and kōrero were recently shared at the Human Development & Capabilities Association (HDCA) conference held in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Aotearoa New Zealand colleagues Roberta (Bertz) Williams, Maaki Tuatini, Nancy Tuaine and Kiri Parata joined Gill Potaka Osborne and Lynley Cvitanovic at this year's Australasian Evaluation Society (AES) International Conference.

From August 30th – September 1st 2018, Lewis Williams attended the Human Development Capability Association (HDCA) Conference "Human Development and Social Inclusion in an Urbanizing World" in Buenos Aires.

In late August, the Whakauae team visited the former Potaka Pā site at Mōkai as part of our commitment to learning more about Ngāti Hauiti, its people and its sites of significance.

Pae Tawhiti scholarship 2017 recipient, Robyn Richardson (Ngāti Hauiti, Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Tuwharetoa, Te Whānau ā Apanui, Ngāti Whanaunga ki Hauraki) recently presented on her research progress to Whakauae staff.

After three years of intensive study, Whakauae scholar Dr Rachel Brown (Te Atiawa, Ngāi Tahu) has been awarded a PhD in Māori health.

This year's ANZEA Conference provided another great opportunity for sharing ideas and extending evaluation networks. Held in Tāmaki Makaurau during July 2018, the Conference showcased a raft of innovative developments in evaluation.

Dr Amohia Boulton is to be a pivotal member of a Victoria University-led team of researchers recently awarded an HRC programme grant to carry out research into the effectiveness of the country's primary health care system.

Iwi development planning is expected to be enhanced through ground-breaking rangatahi wellbeing quantitative research to be carried out over the next three years. Whakauae Research Director Dr Amohia Boulton, along with Andrew Sporle and Dr Reremoana Theodore, has been awarded HRC Rangahau Hauora Māori funding to support the study.

Following a recent review of its Independent Research Organisation (IRO) funded entities, the Health Research Council (HRC) has announced awarding a further three years of funding to Whakauae.

At a workshop hosted by Superu and Ngā Pae o Te Māramatanga on 29 May 2018 Dr Heather Gifford joined Tania Williams-Blyth, Professor Jacinta Ruru, and Horiana Irwin presenting a session titled “Tamariki and Whanau who have come to the attention of Oranga Tamariki and the Family Court”.

In early May two of our team Stacey & Sonja attended a two-day digital workplace conference with a the key note address and a wide range of workshops from thought leadership and business productivity, to hands on implementation.

Recently, Dr Heather Gifford and Dr Amohia Boulton participated in a Wai Research interview series which features “prominent Māori researchers [speaking] on topics that are relevant to their area of expertise and relevant to Kaupapa Māori Research”.

He Tomokanga Hou is a 17-month research study to explore the link between culture and wellbeing by investigating the process of restoring the tomokanga whakairo at Rātā marae.