The Regional Rangahau and Primary Health Care Symposium was held in Whanganui on 30 September 2025. This targeted, invitation-only event brought together 25 Māori primary health care service managers, practitioners and researchers from across Te Ranga Tupua as well as National Hauora Coalition representatives. First up, invited contributors shared current developments in the rangahau and primary health care space during 15 minute presentations. The afternoon session explored further opportunities to work more closely together. Hosted by the He Waka Eke Noa research team (Whakauae Research) the symposium offered a unique opportunity to collaboratively identify what is already working well along with aspirations for building on the wins.
He Waka Eke Noa research project is one of three research projects in the Health Research Council-funded, Kia Puāwai Ake Ngā Uri Whakatupu research programme. The symposium built on a series of hui that the research team initiated with the primary health care and rangahau sector, during 2024, to share their Dream Phase research findings. With He Waka Eke Noa research now in its final year, the research team wanted to explore follow on Design and Delivery Phase results with the same audiences with a view to maximising shared rangahau and primary care aspirations.
Whakauae Pou Āwhina, Luke Enoka opened the symposium event. Dr Heather Gifford introduced the first presentation of the morning delivered by Tiffany Ihaka-Candy and Katarina Hina (Ngā Wairiki Ngāti Apa). The two outlined the history, development, and structure of their organisation, which includes Te Kōtuku Hauora and the recently acquired Stewart Street rural general practice in Marton. Challenges surrounding the integration of a mainstream general practice, how these challenges were being identified and collaboratively worked through, adopting a research approach, were also covered. Tiffany and Kat’s work stimulated enthusiasm with participants welcoming the positive developments for whānau in the southern Rangitīkei.
Tania Bailey (Te Atawhai o Te Ao Independent Māori Research Institute for Environment and Health) followed. She introduced Te Wero research project which explored the experience and impacts of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout and mandates on whānau Māori, hapū, and iwi across our rohe as well as implications for vaccine readiness and uptake in the future. Te Wero places the voices of Māori and iwi at the centre; integral to better understanding Māori and iwi experiences and to championing Māori-led solutions.
The National Hauora Coalition, represented by Dr Ainsleigh Cribb-Su’a (Lead, Research and Evaluation) and Donna Kielar (Director of Nursing) shared development of a Māori maternal mental health and wellbeing assessment tool and care pathway. Hauora Hinengaro o te Whaea aims to equip primary health care providers to better assist hapū māmā, with mental health and wellbeing issues, at an early stage. The tool is being collaboratively developed through a research partnership between the NHC and Māori health researchers at the Universities of Auckland and Waikato, Te Rau Ora and Te Puawaitanga ki Ōtautahi Trust.
Whānau focus group interviews have been central to tool development. Whānau insights include a necessary emphasis on the ‘right’ people making use of the tool and in the context of their relationships with māmā. Knowing what to do next to support mama who identify an issue or who have pātai is equally important. Symposium participants were keen to explore the application of the tool with Ainsleigh and Donna, including its ‘fit’ with a wider systemic analysis of factors impacting the lives of hapū māmā.
The four phases of the He Waka Eke Noa research project, which is utilising a Kaupapa Māori Appreciative Inquiry (KMAI) approach, were outlined in the fourth presentation led by Dr Heather Gifford. Heather highlighted the significant contributions made by whānau throughout the research, with their voices playing a significant role in shaping meaningful change at Gonville Health. The research itself represents a successful collaboration between whānau, Gonville Health (a primary health care service provider) and Whakauae Research working together for enhanced service access for whānau.
A final presentation was delivered by Dr John McMenamin. He spoke to the various research collaborations that the Health and Research Collaborative (HARC) is involved in across Te Ranga Tupua rohe. John’s presentation highlighted the ways in which research and primary health care collaboration have the potential to amplify Māori-led health solutions and link with broader systems of change.
The symposium stimulated kōrero with the afternoon session providing a space to further connect. Facilitated by Dr Heather Gifford, the session began with sharing aspirations for the sector drawing on an Appreciative Inquiry approach with its nod to identifying dreams as a starting point for shaping transformation. Over the course of the afternoon, participants framed up actionable goals to advance the rangahau and primary health care intersect across the rohe. Goals include:
Acknowledgements
Grateful thanks to all our presenters and other participants for their invaluable contributions to the symposium’s success.
