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Māori research roopu at TVNZ’s “Midday News” studio

 

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.

The workshop taught practical skills around preparing timely responses and commentary on Māori research, interviewing skills, the pitfalls of engaging with media, and how to make research findings relevant not just to policy and decision-makers, but to people’s everyday lives. A visit to the TVNZ studios in Auckland provided an ‘insider view’ from Māori reporters and producers from shows such as Te Karere, and reiterated the importance of getting Māori stories into the media. 

The workshop culminated in a ‘pitching session’ of research findings to a panel of established Māori journalists, including Yvonne Tahana (TVNZ), Atakohu Middleton (AUT) and Arana Taumata (Māori TV).  For Whakauae, the learnings from “Media Savvy” are a welcome addition to the research ‘kete’, as part of ensuring that our research is part of the public spotlight, debate and discussion on important Māori health matters.

Maihi Potaka standing in front of his piece entitled Mutunga Kore (sold).

 

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.

 

Maihi Potaka (Ngāti Hauiti, Ngāti Manawa, Te Ātihaunui-ā- Pāpārangi) held a solo exhibition at the Thermostat Gallery in Palmerston North for his Masters of Māori Visual Arts. The exhibition marks Maihi’s final year at Massey University since beginning his Bachelor’s degree in 2014. The exhibition, entitled Whakarongo comprises a body of work which focuses on the balance of symmetry within kōwhaiwhai. 

The title Whakarongo is used to compel the viewer to sense or feel the works. Maihi notes that, with this exhibition he envisioned to create a series of works that invoke a positive state of mind, based on the feel of the colours and the patterns contained within the works. As such, the works may be considered a form of Rongoā Māori. The patterns are intended to assist in the connection between the many aspects of wellbeing with the hopes that the shapes and patterns contained within can help re-balance and strengthen people so that they blossom and realise their full potential. Maihi’s exhibition runs until November 21st 2020.

 

Emma Rawson (Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui and Ngāti Raukawa) who is undertaking a Master’s in Public Health recently submitted her thesis for examination. Emma had an abstract and poster presentation based on her thesis findings accepted and displayed at the 16th World Congress on Public Health 2020 - Public health for the future of humanity: analysis, advocacy and action. Emma was also co-host of a World Leadership Dialogue and a Pre-Conference Workshop run by the Indigenous Working Group of the World Federation of Public Health Associations during the congress. Both events focused on the unique contributions of Indigenous people to public health and sustainability with a specific focus on working with Indigenous people and learnings from Covid-19. 

 

 

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

 

I whānau mai au i raro i te maru o te Koro o Ruapehu.
Ko au te taitama o te waiu oranga o Whanganui.
E mau ana au ki te kakī o te hoe o Takitimu.
He kākano ahau o Ngāti Kahungunu.
He uri ahau o Tamatea Pōkai Whenua.

 

I grew up with my Granny at Te Kaihau a Maui, playing scrabble in the sunroom, selling bags of feijoas and living a pretty joyous life. Then secondary school came and all that I thought was important in life was rebuked and so began a long period of un-wellness.

I did my postgraduate study at Victoria University on Rangatahi motivation and started to notice the dire statistics, which suggested we underperform yet there is a lack of cohesive sustainable solutions proposed. I began to wonder if there were lessons and tools from our tupuna in Maramataka, Taonga Puoro, and takaro.

As a 30 year old man I returned home to where I grew up and noticed the men in my life were actively trying to be well, yet this was largely unseen in the reports and statistics on the health and wellbeing of Māori men in Te ao Hurihuri. This did not match what I was seeing around me. Seeing all this has led to my interest in exploring how Māori men keep themselves well- what are the conditions for fostering self determination, efficacy and resilience. How do we as men move through obstacles toward wellbeing?

My studentship with Whakauae is helping me to explore some of these questions. I am undertaking a literature review, which will look for solutions in the academy as well as on the ground to find out what is happening in the space of tane wellbeing. 
When there is a movement of Māori men, who are experiencing wellness through their own activities outside of the mainstream health settings I wonder if their stories of success are being recorded? Mainstream services would need to engage their kōrero as all services designed are only effective when the user is involved in the creation of the service. This is the same for effective policy for government departments. 

‘Ngā manga iti, ngā manga nui e honohono kau ana, ka tupu hei Awa Tupua’ - The small and large streams that flow into one another form one river. The context of this whakatauki voiced by te awa tupua (the sacred waters of the river) of Whanganui and its people explains the natural lore and value systems reflected in the relationship between river and Iwi. The river is the source of our wellness - I therefore want to explore the small and large streams of wellness that contribute to our wellbeing, the streams that may sit within the small and the large tributaries that feed Te Awa Tupua. 

Following the pōwhiri. From left: Tom Johnson, Hector Kaiwai and Dr Tanya Allport

 

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).  

Also joining the group was emerging Māori researcher, Tom Johnson (Ngāti Kahungunu, Te Ātihaunui a Pāpārangi) the recipient of a Whakauae Summer Scholarship 2020 -2021. Tom holds a Master of Innovation and Commercialisation degree awarded with merit from Victoria University of Wellington. During the term of his Summer Scholarship, Tom will be engaged in a range of research activities and will be supervised by Dr Tanya Allport. Whilst continuing his employment in the Māori health services sector, Tom will concurrently identify his doctoral research topic, prepare a PhD research proposal and complete a relevant literature review. Whakauae looks forward to sharing in the next stage of Tom’s research journey.

 

From left: Tom Johnson, Hector Kaiwai, Dr Tanya Allport, Whakauae Chair Peter Fraser, Neville 
Lomax and Utiku Potaka

 

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 name Te Pūtake – Whakauae Raro reflects the merging of two key concepts central to Ngāti Hauiti’s tradition of pursuing knowledge and applying that knowledge for the benefit of its people. The kupu pūtake refers to the idea of the source or origins; the origins of Hauiti as a people, but also the origins and creation of knowledge.  Te Pūtake is also the name given to Ngāti Hauiti’s own journal, a document launched in 2006 and intended to support Iwi advancements through the provision and dissemination of Hauiti-specific whakapapa, waiata, mōteatea, pūrākau and other scholarly writings. 

Whakauae Raro, meanwhile refers to origins of Whakauae’s name, which is derived from Te Whakauae ā Tamatea (the Jawbone of Tamatea), a hill country range between Mangaweka and Taihape in the Rangitīkei and named by Hauiti tupuna, Tamatea Pōkai Whenua. In Māori tradition, the jawbone holds significant meaning referring both to te kauae-runga (celestial knowledge) and te kauae-raro (terrestrial, or worldly knowledge). Te Whakauae ā Tamatea provides Ngāti Hauiti with a physical and cultural link to ancestral knowledge and traditions. As the Ngāti Hauiti centre for health research and development, Whakauae Research Services is a hub for information and knowledge that strives to improve Māori communities and embody the essence of Te Whakauae ā Tamatea.

Te Pūtake – Whakauae Raro Occasional Paper Series merges these two traditions of knowledge and information. Launched during the time of Puanga, this series of occasional papers also serves to remind us of the need to take stock, to reflect on the past, to make time for wānanga and to re-energise for future challenges. 

Te Pūtake – Whakauae Raro Occasional Paper Series is available here.

 

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 webinar series launched in April 2020 with youth climate advocate, Sophie Handford’s  presentation entitled, Reimagining New Zealand’s journey to a zero carbon future, and is scheduled to conclude in early September 2020. Webinars to date have explored the impact of Covid-19 in a variety of settings along with potential ways of moving forward post-pandemic. In their webinar, Amohia and Deb highlight that Te Ao Māori is well positioned to accommodate the best interests of Māori in the context of a global pandemic that the wider world is poorly positioned to deal with. ‘Raising waka, not just yachts’ proposes that timely and solid state investment in Māori institutions, in Whānau Ora commissioning agencies and in Iwi is a sure-fire way to minimise the inevitable inequitable post-pandemic outcomes for Māori.  

Te Pukenga Here Tikanga Mahi / Progressive Thinking: Ten possible futures for public and community services can be accessed here where  the paper, ‘Raising waka, not just yachts’ can be downloaded here.

 

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.

Whānau involved in the study reported feeling disempowered by Family Court processes that operated as though whānau were not even present in the courtroom. For instance, one study participant recounted: "I put my hand up to say something and the judge said, 'can we hurry up with this, I haven't had lunch'. I had my Pop with me [and] he said, 'excuse me your honour'. The judge just said that the 'next court date is ... court's adjourned'. He then got up and walked out. I just started crying. He just ignored us and took no notice whatsoever”.

Many whānau felt disadvantaged by the legal language used, and by the practices observed that were alien to them and difficult to understand. This was especially problematic for whānau when no explanations were provided about what was going on in the courtroom. As one study participant revealed "We were so broken and destroyed by then. It would have helped if things had been explained what’s going to happen and what's going on. We just couldn't work anything out”.

Almost half of the study participants reported that they were unsure about what the roles of court officials were, including those of the court registrar, social workers and lawyers. There were frequent instances cited by whānau of breakdowns in Family Court-related administration and communication that meant, for example, that they were not told when court hearings were to be held. As a result of all these factors, many felt that they had been excluded from the decision-making process in relation to the care and protection of their tamariki.

The study suggests that Family Court structures, processes and personnel contribute to tamariki Māori making up 68% of children in state care despite comprising only 25% of all children in Aotearoa New Zealand. Findings point to the need for major changes to be made in a number of areas – in the attitudes and approach of Family Court personnel right through to shifts in the way that the system itself operates. Solutions proposed to improve the way the Family Court operates include adoption of a Te Tiriti consistent partnership model, with care and protection proceedings being considered by a Board equally representative of both Māori and non-Māori. The Board model would effectively remove care and protection cases from an already backlogged Family Court jurisdiction.

Te Taniwha I Te Ao Ture-ā-Whānau, Whānau Experience of Care and Protection in the Family Court research was led by Rotorua lawyer, Tania Williams Blyth with research support provided by Whakauae Research. Ms Williams Blyth told the New Zealand Herald, following the release of the report on 27 July 2020, that whilst Oranga Tamariki was a significant player in care and protection practice “the problem is it’s the Family Court which makes [care and protection] decisions not Oranga Tamariki. We have 6500 kids in care. The Family Court made those orders. Ms Williams Blyth later told Radio New Zealand “there is absolutely nothing to stop … a Family Court judge saying, 'kia ora whānau, this is the application, this is what we're here for, do you understand that?’ - and having that conversation. That's not difficult and that would be about respecting the mana of those who appear in your court."

Te Taniwha I Te Ao Ture-ā-Whānau, Whānau Experience of Care and Protection in the Family Court can be accessed at https://www.whakauae.co.nz/publications/technical-reports/5/

Gill Potaka-Osborne and Stacey Ranginui, 22 July 2020

 

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.  

Gill’s Master’s thesis, entitled ‘Cup of tea words’: Experiences of Māori evaluators in externally commissioned evaluations, explores the work of five evaluators all with extensive experience in the programme evaluation space. Her research was inspired by a number of factors including her own work as an evaluator over the past 15 years; her participation in the Ma Te Rae Māori Evaluation Association, the Aotearoa New Zealand Evaluation Association (ANZEA) and the AES (Australian Evaluation Society); and by her previous postgraduate study in the evaluation field. After completing a Graduate Diploma in Māori Development in 2011, Gill progressed to the Postgraduate Diploma in Social Sector Evaluation programme completing the qualification with merit in 2016. Her application to join Massey University’s Master’s programme was then accepted in 2018.

Gill’s research was supervised by Associate Professor Margaret Forster and she submitted her thesis for examination at the close of 2019. Whilst studying for her Master’s degree, Gill continued her research and evaluation work with Whakauae along with her close involvement in whānau-related activity and active participation in both waka ama and rock ‘n’ roll. She is quick to acknowledge the support of her whānau and her Whakauae colleagues throughout her study journey, along with Dr Maureen Holdaway who introduced her to higher study, and Dr Lesley Batten who provided early study inspiration.

 

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. Tanya’s whakapapa is to Te Ati Awa (Whanganui-a-Tara) from her father’s side, and German from her mother’s side. Spending her early childhood years living in Germany, Tanya returned to New Zealand to finish her schooling and attend the University of Auckland, where she gained her PhD in Comparative Literature, writing about a ‘triple trauma’ model in Māori and German literature. Tanya has worked in Māori health and education, Treaty of Waitangi research, and in urban Māori community research before coming to Whakauae. Tanya is a mum to two daughters and lives in the Waitakere ranges with her extended whānau and various assortment of dogs. When Tanya is not busy researching, she practices yoga or visits the West Coast beaches where she is learning to stand upright on a surfboard.

 

 

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. The only difference is that this work will be conducted from our respective homes. While our office will be closed during this time, you can reach us via email and mobile phone. We will review our office closure at the conclusion of the four-week period that is, Wednesday 22nd April 2020. Please stay safe everyone and take care of your whānau members.

Following the November 2019 blessing, from left: Aarona McGregor, Lynley Cvitanovic, Dr Aria Graham, Sonja Loveridge,
Dr Amohia Boulton, Gill Potaka-Osborne, Mel Potaka-Osborne and Stacey Ranginui alongside the weaving commissioned from
Peggy Ranginui-Poutini

 

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 gifted with taonga and John Maihi formally bestowed the name Whakauae Raro on the premises during the blessing. Thanks to our incredibly organised administration team, we were able to move into the new premises straight away and by the following week it was business as usual.

On the evening of Friday 21 February 2020 following our first Board meeting for the 2020 year, Ngāti Hauiti whānau joined the Whakauae team and other guests, in ‘warming’ the new workspace. Utiku Potaka welcomed everyone present before handing over to the Whakauae founding director, Dr Heather Gifford. Heather gave a brief address outlining the successful 15-year history of the organisation, the origins of its name and how the organisation has grown from its humble beginnings. Current Whakauae director, Dr Amohia Boulton concluded the formal speeches. She acknowledged the honour that she had been given by Ngāti Hauiti to lead the Iwi’s research arm. Amohia encouraged Ngāti Hauiti whānau to stay close to Whakauae and to make use of the research opportunities that the organisation has to offer. Additionally, she took the opportunity to formally acknowledge the work of weaver, Peggy Ranginui-Poutini (Te Ātihaunui-a-Pāpārangi) which was commissioned by Whakauae and recently installed in the office foyer. Peggy’s weaving is complemented by a set of four prints by artist and 2019 Whakauae Pae Tawhiti Scholarship holder, Maihi Potaka (Ngāti Hauiti, Te Ātihaunui-a-Pāpārangi, Ngāti Manawa).

Tours of the new Whakauae workspace followed the formalities along with an evening of refreshment and kōrero.

 

At the office ‘warming’: Tracey Hiroa (left) with Whakauae Board Directors, Dr Erica Williams and Anthony Thompson

 

Tracey Wilkie (left) working with research team member, Dr Aria Graham

 

Tracey Wilkie (Whakatōhea), a PhD student based at Te Herenga Waka, Victoria University of Wellington was, in October 2019, awarded a Whakauae 2019 - 2020 Summer Studentship. She recently successfully completed the studentship which involved upskilling the Whakauae research team in their use of the software reference library, EndNote.

EndNote is a research reference storing programme that allows you to create a customised reference library for use in day to day research work. Through its magic, EndNote provides the ease of inserting references into any manuscript one is writing to reference the literature that you have used to tautoko your own rangahau and/or grant application. This means, gone are the days of manually typing every reference into your manuscript and then creating a manual Reference List at the end of your mahi (whakaute nui for those of you that have and do!). The magic of EndNote is you can have the citation of the reference from your literature library, in your manuscript, with a click of a button.

Research team members had varying degrees of capability and knowledge in relation to EndNote use giving Tracey a wide scope to work within. Her extensive teaching experience proved to be a valuable asset in her studentship mahi. The mahi included Tracey teaching some members of the research team “how to use” basic tools in EndNote to insert references from their current library, into their manuscripts; to import references from online databases, such as journals, webpages, books, reports; and to manually enter reference data into their EndNote library. Other members of the team more familiar with the EndNote software greatly appreciated working alongside Tracey to extend their user competencies. In addition to facilitating small group training sessions and one on one sessions with each researcher, Tracey also developed a practical resource guide to support the team to be self-sufficient EndNote users.

Tracey found that in working with Whakauae, in a studentship capacity, she was able to enhance her own EndNote skillset and learn new skills, to then teach the team, the “how to use” of EndNote with more proficiency and more efficiently as a rangahau tool.

Dr Heather Gifford, Professor Denise Wilson and Dr Amohia Boulton during the Symposium

 

Whakauae was recently privileged to host a research symposium in Whanganui showcasing the work of several of our Kaupapa Māori research colleagues. The symposium, Taupua Mana, Taupua Waiora: Lifting health by enhancing mana, held on 21 November 2019, featured a series of four presentations. Following the whakatau and whakawhanaungatanga, three members of AUT’s Taupua Waiora team each discussed aspects of their recent research work.

Professor Denise Wilson (Ngāti Tahinga) outlined the early findings of her Marsden Fund-supported research project, Indigenous women keeping safe in unsafe relationships. The research shifts the narratives about wāhine from the typical view of weakness and victim,  towards an acknowledgement of their mana and strength, and highlights the important role of tāne in building resilient whānau.

Māori health equity and mana motuhake, especially in relation to mate pukupuku Māori (cancer), are the focus of Associate Professor Jacquie Kidd’s (Ngā Puhi) current research. In her presentation, Te Pā Ora: it’s ok on the inside! she explored the whānau ora and health literacy perspectives of Māori with cancer and chronic illness as well as the issue of health literacy, particularly cultural health literacy, for services involving Māori.

Dr Isaac Warbrick’s (Ngāti Te Ata, Te Arawa, Ngā Puhi) research interests include Māori men’s health, traditional health models, and cultural reconnection as motivators for lifestyle change. His presentation, Te Taiao me te tinana – Reconnecting health to the environment included an outline of the development of outcome measures based on Māori knowledge, the link between Indigenous health and our environment, and the use of innovative applications of traditional knowledge, such as te maramataka.

The symposium concluded with a presentation from Emma Rawson (Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāi te Rangi, Ngāti Raukawa) a recipient of the Pae Tawhiti Postgraduate Scholarship awarded by Whakauae in 2016. Emma is currently completing a master’s degree through AUT. She discussed the results of her research which examined barriers and enablers of success for Māori working in mainstream public health units.

The opportunity to hear about cutting edge Kaupapa Māori research, from the researchers themselves, was greatly appreciated by the Whanganui symposium participants. Whakauae received very positive feedback from participants including that their expectations of the day were in almost all instances exceeded. Most believed that research events of this type and calibre are a particularly useful way of sharing research findings. Several participants commented that they would have liked a higher level of symposium attendance from amongst their colleagues as the research presented is so highly relevant to the work that they are engaged in.

 

 

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). ‘Rongoā Māori is not a Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Rongoā Māori is a way of life’, features alongside papers contributed by other Indigenous women worldwide in the Special Issue titled, Indigenous Women and Research: Global Conversations on Indigeneity, Rights, and Education. Among those included in the Special Issue are papers that explore Indigenous language revitalisation, Indigenous women’s approaches to education leadership and the connections between sacred spaces and Indigenous health.

Drs Boulton and Mark, with Donna Kerridge, contributed the only paper included in the Special Issue from Aotearoa New Zealand. The three authors previously worked together on a  Ngā Pae o Te Māramatanga Kia Tō Kia Tipu Seeding Excellence research project. They conducted research with participants representing the rongoā, research, scientific and legal sectors. Selected experts in these fields were consulted to gain an understanding of the issues involved in undertaking Rongoā research in a manner that ensures the integrity of the research for the benefit of Rongoā Māori and for Māori people. The research led to the production of Cultural, Ethical, Research, Legal, Scientific (CERLS), Issues of Rongoā Māori, a guideline for researchers and healers engaged in Rongoā research. Whakauae, in conjunction with Ngā Pae o Te Māramatanga, launched the CERLS guideline for researchers and healers engaged in Rongoā research late in 2018.

 

The Special Issue of the International Journal of Human Rights Education can be found here. 

Dr Aria Graham and whānau

 

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. The award is not only important for Aria and  for her career, but also for her whānau, her community, her iwi and of course for the field of Māori health research. Whakauae is privileged that Aria has sought us out to work alongside. As an organisation, we have benefited from having had the opportunity to support Aria’s research to date. We look forward now to working with her to achieve her postdoctoral research goals including supporting her ongoing development as an emerging health researcher.

Aria’s Erihapeti Rehu-Murchie Postdoctoral Fellowship research will be carried out over a three year term commencing early in 2020. Her research project, Māmā e Mamia - piloting a marae-based wellbeing model for pēpi and māmā Māori will explore the optimising of wellbeing for māmā and their pēpi/tamariki in settings that are congruent with their cultural identity. It will pilot and assess the effectiveness of a culturally grounded model of wellbeing (Māmā e Mamia) for Māmā Māori and their pēpi/tamariki. The model, which emerged from Aria’s PhD research, will be piloted as a marae-based service.

Excited about carrying out this Māmā e Mamia implementation research, Aria is nevertheless realistic about the challenges that lie ahead of her. She is at once, “humbled and proud” to have this opportunity to further investigate a model of care built around listening to the voices of the real experts; the young mums themselves.

L/R: Gill Potaka-Osborne and Kiri Parata  Aotearoa New Zealand, Sharon Clarke, Australia, Kym Hamilton Aotearoa NZ, Emma Walke Australia

 

Whakauae Research acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands, the Gadigal people of the Eora nation. We pay respects to ancestors, elders past present & emerging. We acknowledge the unique cultural & spiritual relationships to land, water and seas.

 

The theme of the 2019 conference was “Evaluation un-boxed”

Evaluation can be a gift – with the potential to strengthen the lives of individuals and communities. This potential is best realised when evaluation is opened up to end users and when evaluators draw on the knowledge and practices of those they work with. Trans-disciplinary approaches and technological advances provide further possibilities. You can find out more here

 

Whakauae was well represented at this year’s Australian Evaluation Society Conference. Kiri Parata (Whakauae sub-contractor) attended in her capacity as AES Board member (reappointed for a further 3 years at this year’s conference). Gill Potaka-Osborne (Whakauae staff member), as a member of the Indigenous Excellence Award assessing committee and co-presenter of the award. Teresa Taylor (Whakauae sub-contractor) received a Conference Support Grant. Both Gill and Teresa presented the Evaluation of He Whetū Arataki through a five minute Ignite session.

 

Members of the AES 19 Evaluation Excellence Awards Assessing Committee (L/R): Gill Potaka-Osborne, Wei Leng Kwok, Kevin Dolman, Farida Fleming, Ian Patrick

 

Highlights included:

First, a ferry ride across Darling Harbour to Luna Park where some intrepid evaluators rode the Ferris wheel prior to the gala dinner.

Second, a gift of a painting by conference support grantee New Zealander Kym Hamilton, Ngā Rauru. This was followed by a resounding rendition of Tūtira Mai Ngā Iwi

Third, presentation of excellence awards by Gill Potaka-Osborne and Kevin Dolman (Indigenous Excellence Award Assessment Panel members).

Fourth, a tribute to Jenny Neale, long time AES stalwart and champion of evaluation who passed away suddenly. AES members spoke of the memories they had of her which was followed by the waiata, Te Aroha. Jenny will be sadly missed.

 

You can download a copy of Gill's AES speech here

 

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.

During the workshop there were opportunities to reflect on the current racial landscape both in NZ and globally and ask ourselves “what can I do?” without having to address that question to someone Indigenous. We identified the importance of “fanning the fires of hope” and identified specific instances where we could intervene, support, align, disrupt, engage and work alongside.

Attendees identified their own experiences of first becoming aware of “otherness” and difference recognising how this had impacted on our world view and interest in this area.

The workshop facilitators used sociodrama as an action method to allow participants to experience greater freedom and flexibility in an area of life that is often fraught with restriction, shame, guilt and silence. The opportunity to work with other non-Māori who work closely with Māori was both constructive and enriching and provided time to reflect on action and impact. The work continues with an extensive reading list and many opportunities to put the learning into practice.

Whakauae recently marked Stacey Ranginui’s decade with the organisation with mihi and the gifting of a taonga. Research Centre Director, Dr Amohia Boulton presented Stacey with the taonga after first reflecting on the many and valued contributions she has made to Whakauae since her appointment as assistant office administrator in 2009. Stacey is currently Whakauae assistant accountant. She is also the IT ‘go to person’ - regularly called upon to ‘troubleshoot’ the various technical challenges the team comes up against.

Over the past few years, Stacey has been juggling her busy Whakauae role with her whānau and sports commitments as well as with tertiary study. Earlier this year she graduated from UCOL Whanganui with the New Zealand Diploma in Business, the New Zealand Diploma in Management and the UCOL Diploma in Accounting. She is now working towards a Bachelor of Business Studies degree as well as studying te reo Māori with Te Wānanga o Aotearoa (Whanganui).

These along with some of Stacey’s many other achievements were highlighted by Whakauae colleagues during the celebration to mark her 10 years with the organisation.

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. Dr Boulton joins Chair, Professor Juliet Gerrard (Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor, Kaitohutohu Mātanga Pūtaiao Matua ki te Pirimia) and five other members. Together group members represent the areas of privacy and human rights law, ethics, innovative data use and data analytics, Te Ao Māori, technology and public policy and government interests in the use of data.

The Data Ethics Advisory Group will play a key role both in optimising the opportunities that new data uses present and in managing its potential risks. It is expected that the Group will provide an independent and critical sounding board for government agencies in the data arena at a time when advances in digital and data environments are increasing impacting on many areas of everyday life. Group members have been selected because of the insights they are able to contribute to considering the innovative and ethical use of data within the unique social context of Aotearoa New Zealand.

The first quarterly meeting of the Data Ethics Advisory Group was held in Wellington in September 2019. Further information, including the Group’s Terms of Reference and membership is available here.

 

Professor Jackie Cumming, Dr Verna Smith and Dr Amohia Boulton at the launch of Successful Public Policy.

 

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. Facilitated by political journalist Colin James, other panellists included Professor Michael Mintrom (Monash University), Dr Verna Smith (School of Government, VUW), and Fiona Ross (Director Joint Venture Family Violence and Sexual Violence, Ministry of Justice).

The panel was organised, and hosted by, the Australia New Zealand School of Government to recognise the publication of the book Successful Public Policy: Lessons from Australia and New Zealand.  The book is a collection of public policy case studies from New Zealand and Australia designed to prompt academics and policy makers to consider successful examples of public policy making and what we can learn from past and present successes. The book includes a chapter on Whānau Ora, co-authored by Dr Boulton with colleagues from the School of Government and the Health Services research Centre at Victoria University of Wellington, and a doctoral student from the University of Auckland.

Later that same day, Dr Boulton joined colleagues at the official New Zealand launch of the book. Diane Owenga of Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and political scientist Jon Johansson, the Chief of Staff for NZ First spoke at the launch summarising the key messages of the text, and outlining their thoughts on regarding successful public policy.

 

An article on the panel, and Dr Boulton’s contribution to it, can be found here.