Whanau takes centre stage at health research hui

20 July 2006

Whanau takes centre stage at this year’s Mâori health research hui

Whanau Tu, Whanau ora, meaning ‘Strong and Healthier Families’ will be the key theme underpinning the Health Research Council of New Zealand’s (HRC) annual hui for Mâori health research – ‘Hui Whakapiripiri 2006’.

Mâori health research leaders will gather from 9 to 11 August in Wellington to discuss ways of building Mâori knowledge and development and improving Mâori health outcomes to achieve whanau ora.

The hui also provides an opportunity to promote current Mâori health research and researchers, to encourage the participation of emerging Mâori researchers and to create linkages and networks between the Mâori health sector and research developments.

This year brings with it a number of exciting, internationally renowned keynote speakers, including opening keynote speaker Mâori Pro-Vice Chancellor at Victoria University of Wellington, Professor Piri Sciascia. He will officially open the hui at a powhiri on 10 August 2006.

The hui has also attracted international guest speaker Kekuni Blaisdell, who is Professor Emeritus of Medicine and a consultant in the Department of Native Hawaiian Health and Native Hawaiian Center of Excellence in the John A. Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawaii.

Professor Blaisdell has played a key role in Hawaiian health care improvement. In 1985, he helped to draft the E Ola Mau Report on Kanaka Maoli health, which became the basis for the 1988 U.S. Congress Native Hawaiian Health Care Improvement Act and Native Hawaiian Health Professions Scholarship Program. Professor Blaisdell was also head of hematology at the U.S. Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan from 1959 to 1961.

Other keynote speakers include, Professor Mason Durie, Assistant Vice Chancellor and Professor of Mâori Research and Development at Massey University, Mr Moana Jackson, lawyer of Ngati Porou and teacher in the Mâori Law and Philosophy degree programme at Te Wananga o Raukawa, Hon. Tariana Turia, co-leader of the Mâori Party and former Associate Minister of Health and Hon. Mita Ririnui, Labour MP and current Associate Minister of Health.

Dr Fiona Cram will be leading the Ministry of Health training day, ‘Journeys in Mâori health research’ on 9 August 2006.

Hui Whakapiripiri 2006 will be held at Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington and is hosted by the Health Research Council of New Zealand in conjunction with the Ministry of Health, the Health Services Research Centre and Te Kawa a Mâui of Victoria University.

About the Health Research Council of New Zealand (HRC)

The HRC is the Crown agency responsible for the management of the Government’s investment in public good health research. Ownership of the HRC resides with the Minister of Health, with funding being primarily provided from Vote Research, Science and Technology. A Memorandum of Understanding between the two Ministers sets out this relationship.

Established under the Health Research Council Act 1990, the HRC's statutory functions include:

* advising the Minister and administering funds in relation to national health research policy

* fostering the recruitment, education, training, and retention of those engaged in health research in New Zealand

* initiating and supporting health research

* undertaking consultation to establish priorities in health research

* promoting and disseminating the results of health research to encourage their contribution to health science, policy and delivery

* ensuring the development and application of appropriate assessment standards by committees or subcommittees that assess health research proposals.
About the Health Services Research Centre

The Health Services Research Centre, based in the School of Government at Victoria University of Wellington, is a multi-disciplinary research centre which is committed to Mâori health and disability research. The centre’s Mâori researchers are involved in a number of projects involving Tangata Whaiora, Whanau Ora, Mâori disability and the evaluation of the implementation and Intermediate outcomes of the Primary Health Care Strategy.

ENDS

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