Symposium to address Healthy and Prosperous Families.

Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga (NPM), New Zealand’s Indigenous Centre of Research Excellence, in partnership with Tauranga Moana Iwi, is holding its 2013 Annual Research Symposium; Fostering Te Pā Harakeke; Healthy and Prosperous Families of Mana 25th and 26th of November 2013. The symposium theme is wide ranging and critical to New Zealand families and whānau and their future. The symposium will examine the NPM research priority - Fostering te pā harakeke – understanding, achieving and maintaining healthy and prosperous families of mana and the lessons this may hold for New Zealand families overall.

Professor Charles Royal states, “Families are the cornerstone of a healthy and functioning society, economy and culture. For historical and contemporary reasons, barriers to the health and wellbeing of Māori people and inhibiting their creative potential can be partially attributed to the situation in which some Māori families find themselves. Fostering Te Pā Harakeke is concerned with understanding what keeps a family well and prospering and the barriers that exist.”

Presentations over the two days will address the understanding of what keeps a family well and prospering, the barriers that exist and research being undertaken to help families and whānau flourish. This theme stems from the relationship between education and Te Pā Harakeke; whānau and cultural practice, family violence, deprivation and poverty. The research presented through this symposium analyses the positive role of Māori and mātauranga Māori in achieving and sustaining te pā harakeke; healthy and prosperous families.

The programme includes high profile speakers presenting on their perspectives and current research contributing to te pā harakeke; healthy and prosperous families, these speakers include:
 
• Ngāhuia Dixon – Ngāti Ranginui. Tauranga Moana Iwi researcher.
• Ngāreta Timutimu – Ngāi Te Rangi. Tauranga Moana Iwi researcher.
• Dr Tracey McIntosh Tuhoe Co-chair Child Poverty Action Group. Senior Lecturer Sociology the University of Auckland
• Distinguished Professor Graham Smith - Ngāti Apa, Ngāti Kahungunu, Kai Tahu and Ngāti Porou. CEO and Vice Chancellor of Te Whare Wānanga O Awanuiārangi: indigenous-university.
• Mereana Pitman - Ngāti Kahungunu. Community Researcher.
• Associate Professor Leonie Pihama - Te Atiawa, Ngā Mahanga a Tairi, Ngāti Mahanga. Director of Te Kotahi Research Institute, the University of Waikato.
• Associate Professor Paul Kayes. Academic Registrar and Director of Te Whare Taiao – Institute of Indigenous Science at Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi.
• Hon Tāriana Tūria - Ngāti Apa, Ngā Rauru, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Whanganui. Member of Parliament for Te Tai Hauauru. Minister Whānau Ora and Co-Leader Māori Party.
• Associate Professor Te Kani Kīngi - Ngāti Pukeko. Director of Te Mata o Te Tau Academy for Māori Research and Scholarship at Massey University.
• Mr Mohi Rua - Ngāi Tuhoe. Lecturer at the University of Waikato and Professor Darrin Hodgetts - Kai Tahu and Kati Mamoe. Professor at the University of Waikato.
• Dr Kepa Morgan - Ngāti Pikiao. Senior Lecturer at the University of Auckland.
• Professor Angus MacFarlane – Ngāti Whakaue. AVC Māori to the University of Canterbury.
 
For more information regarding the symposium please visit NPM’s website www.maramatanga.ac.nz

Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga (NPM) is a Centre of Research Excellence consisting of 16 participating research entities and hosted by The University of Auckland. NPM conducts research of relevance to Māori communities and is an important vehicle by which New Zealand continues to be a key player in global indigenous research and affairs. Its research is underpinned by the vision to realise the creative potential of Māori communities and to bring about positive change and transformation in the nation and wider world. Visit www.maramatanga.ac.nz

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