Following two successful mid-winter conference presentations, our He Waka Eke Noa research team is now preparing to host a spring symposium. Sharing research results with diverse audiences for maximum impact is the driver for all three of these events.
In June this year, Gill Potaka-Osborne addressed health practitioners, policy makers and researchers at the 4th International Indigenous Health and Wellbeing Conference hosted by the Lowitja Institute, held on Kaurna Country in Adelaide, South Australia. This biennial conference attracted a global audience including a strong contingency from Aotearoa New Zealand. This was a golden opportunity to share transformational research grounded in Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing, with colleagues and peers.
With He Waka Eke Noa research now in its fourth and final phase, Gill shared key findings from the first three phases with fellow conference participants. Her presentation underscored the value of the study’s use of a Kaupapa Māori Appreciative Inquiry methodology, which in turn amplified the voice of whānau. See our related article here.
He Waka Eke Noa research team member, Dr John McMenamin then participated in the GP25: Conference for General Practice in in Ōtautahi in late July 2025. The annual conference brought together primary health care and rural medicine practitioners and researchers. Alongside clinical skills workshops, the conference featured a wide range of presentations including plenary sessions and panel discussions.
John’s presentation entitled ‘He Waka Eke Noa: Co-Creating Primary Care That Works for Whānau Māori’ outlined the focus of the research on integrating whānau and primary care perspectives to inform the co-design of Gonville Health service improvements. Ongoing engagement of whānau and Gonville Health staff in implementing a co-design project, Te Korowai Aroha ki te Tangata, has seen an initial focus on three key areas; physical environment, team culture and communication, and the care patients receive.
Given He Waka Eke Noa research is in its final year, the research team are now in planning to share our completed results with Māori primary and community health practitioners, managers and researchers from across Te Ranga Tupua.
The research team will host a full day Regional Rangahau and Primary Health Symposium in Whanganui on 30 September 2025. The symposium will offer participants an opportunity to share their own current Māori health related research projects and kōrero about future research aspirations to improve Māori health through whānau focused care in the primary care setting. Participants will also have the chance to explore further collaboration to maximise rangahau hauora opportunities across Te Ranga Tupua region.
This invitation-only symposium will bring together 25 – 30 participants who, in the first part of the day, will deliver group presentations to collectively energise us with ideas and actions currently underway. Participants confirmed to date include Helen Leahy (Pākehā) from Ngā Waihua o Paerangi Trust; Katarina Hina (Ngā Waiariki Ngāti Apa, Te Atihaunui a Pāpārangi, Ngāti Porou) from Te Rūnanga o Ngā Wairiki Ngāti Apa; colleagues Dr Rachel Brown (Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Mutunga ki Wharekauri, Kāi Tahu, Kāti Mamoe) and Dr Ainsleigh Cribb-Su'a (Ngāti Maniapoto) from the National Hauora Coalition; and Dr Katie McMenamin (Pākehā) from the Health and Research Collaborative (HARC) in Whanganui.
We are keen to work with symposium participants to consolidate our collective aspirations and a collaborative style of working towards achieving these.
