On 18 July 2023, Whakauae was invited to speak at the Kanapu Hui Hihiri hosted by Te Kaahui o Rauru, Whanganui. Kanapu can be translated as lightening or instantaneous glow and is the name of an initiative designed and led by Ngā Pae o te Maramatanga (NPM) Māori Centre of Research Excellence (CoRE). The aim of Kanapu is to create new, and to renew, research connections across te ao Māori. The initiative, hosted by Te Ngira: Institute of Population Research at the University of Waikato is funded by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE). The intent of Kanapu is to “connect and nurture a diverse puna (pool) of Māori talent in the wider RSIi (Research, Science and Innovation) system and expand the impact of Vision Mātaurangaii”. They have led this initiative and committed to delivering six hui convened regionally between May and July 2023. Kanapu Hui Hihiri Whanganui was facilitated by Hinerangi Edwards of Aatea Solutions, in association with Jude Cornelius (Te Kaahui o Rauru).
The hui was attended by over 40 people from community, iwi and research organisations with an interest in learning about diverse research developments occurring locally and connecting with like-minded people from the wider Whanganui rohe. The first of five presentations was delivered by three rangatahi, Te Miringa Parkes, Macy Duxfield and Peter Druskovich, who spoke about their aspirations and learnings so far in RSI spaces and the challenges they encounter as they navigate their RSI pathways. A key message from this presentation was don't ask rangatahi what they think if you're not going to listen to what they have to say.
The next presentation was delivered by Brigham Anderson and Miriama Cribb of Te Atawhai o Te Ao who described the range of research projects that their organisation is currently undertaking. Miriama described how proud they had been to be a successful recipient of Independent Research Organisation funding from the HRC since 2014 and how that funding had contributed to their ongoing research programme.
The third presentation was from Awhina Cameron, the CE of Tū Tama Wāhine o Taranaki, based in New Plymouth. You can find out more about that here.
She spoke about the inspirations, fruits and challenges of delivering their hapori-based rangahau in Taranaki. Awhina drew on the kōrero of Taranaki kāumatua and the influence it had on her development as a researcher.
The first presentation after lunch was delivered by Pou Whirinaki (Ngātirangitanga and Te Ao Turoa Manager), Deana Wilson and Ngā Waihua o Paerangi Pou, Arahi Helen Leahy. They spoke to their RSI related mahi in Ngā Whiri Hua and their Te Waiaroaro cultural monitoring programme. Deana's kōrero on what they are doing in the environmental space sparked interest from the audience particularly their work with the Awa Tupua.
The final presentation was by Gill Potaka-Osborne, a senior researcher with Whakauae Research Services, an iwi owned Māori health research organisation located in Whanganui. Gill spoke about how Whakauae was initially established as the research arm of Ngāti Hauiti and the subsequent journey of the organisation over the last 18 years. She went on to describe how, under the leadership of Dr Heather Gifford, Dr Amohia Boulton and Dr Tanya Allport, Whakauae had grown from humble beginnings to eventually become an internationally respected Kaupapa Māori research organisation. Gill told the story of her pathway as a researcher from being a kaiāwhina at a Kōhanga Reo, to a Ministry of Social Development Case Manager then contracts manager at a Māori Development organisation prior to her employment at Whakauae. She described the positive influence her father, Mike Potaka had on that journey through his own research on the Whanganui River Claims. Gill went on to describe the current research projects being undertaken by Whakauae including:
Whakauae wishes to congratulate everyone involved in the organisation of this event and looks forward to the next one!
[i] Research, Science & Innovation
