Wintec academic joins top 100 Māori health leaders

Wintec academic and clinical psychologist Andre McLachlan has been named one of the top 100 Māori leaders, joining a list which recognises people who are doing extraordinary work in their everyday lives.

Wintec academic and clinical psychologist Andre McLachlan has been named one of the top 100 Māori leaders, joining a list which recognises people who are doing extraordinary work in their everyday lives.

Māori are often under-represented amongst those who contribute to the health of New Zealanders. The online resource, 100 Maori Leaders created by Te Rau Matatini responds to the need to build the capacity of the Māori healthforce by honouring its leaders and motivating aspiring Māori healthcare professionals.

Andre joins other Māori health leaders including Eugene Davis, who delivers post graduate programmes at Wintec. Other well-known Māori health professionals on the list are Moe Milne, Mike King and Witi Ashby.
He says he is extremely honoured to have been included in this group.

“I have looked up to many of these leaders during my own development and I was fortunate to have worked with, and been mentored by several of them in last 25 years, through my work with Māori health and social services in the Waikato.

“The way I think about the world and my cultural identity have been shaped by my work, and my roles and participation at home in Ngāti apa. I have been fortunate and I am grateful for the support of my whānau, hapū and iwi in the Rangitikei in completing my studies and PhD, and I am deeply humbled to be acknowledged as a Māori health leader.”

Wintec Centre for Health and Social Practice director, Dr Angela Beaton says it’s great to see Wintec students benefiting from working alongside Māori health leaders like Andre and Eugene.

“Their leadership styles are distinctive and reflect perspectives shaped by tikanga Māori. Andre and Eugene are catalysts for positive change and student achievement and success, particularly for our Māori students.

"The recognition of these two Wintec educators links strongly to the work Wintec is doing to encourage more Māori students into health careers and become our future Māori leaders.”

Read Andre McLachlan’s profile here.

Read Eugene Davis’ profile here.

Read this story online.

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