Te ORA 2013 Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference.
The Te Ohu Rata o Aotearoa Board (Te ORA) is hosting the 2013 Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference at Massey
University, Mount Cook Campus, Wellington from 27-30 June 2013. The theme for this year’s conference is “Mā pango, mā
whero, ka ora ai te iwi. With your contribution alongside others, our people will be well”.
As Māori doctors Te ORA has a vision for Hauora Māori, of a Māori population that is healthy, with iwi, hapū and whānau
empowered to reach their full potential in accordance with their own aspirations. Yet, the determinants of Māori health
and the drivers of inequity are complex and deep-rooted. While some determinants lie within the health sector, many
relate to social, political, economic and environmental conditions. As the determinants are legion, so too are the
levels that we need to work at to achieve our vision of Hauora Maori. The conference will focus on how this vision could
be realised.
Māori health professionals from throughout the country will be attending this year’s Te ORA Hui-ā-Tau and Scientific
Conference. CEO Terina Moke (Waikato, Te Rarawa, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngai Tahu) says she is pleased with the number of
Māori medical students, doctors and their whānau that have registered to attend this year’s hui-ā-tau and scientific
conference.
Te ORA is also pleased to host Associate Professor Kelvin Kong qualified as the first Aboriginal Fellow of the Royal
Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS), specializing in Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Dr Tammy Kimpton
President of the Australian Indigenous Doctors Association (AIDA); Dr Ray Warner, Board Member (AIDA) and Dr Shaun Ewen,
Deputy Director, Centre for Health and Society, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health.
The Hui-ā-Tau will conclude with the holding of its annual Awards Dinner, this year to be held at Te Papa Tongarewa on
Saturday 29 June. The awards dinner celebrates and acknowledges Māori Medical Graduates who have attained their Bachelor
of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB). Special acknowledgements will also be made to those Māori doctors who have
attained their Medical College Fellowships. The evening will culminate in the presentation of two supreme awards. The
first award is the Dr Maarire Goodall Award, which acknowledges and honours long service and unrecognised commitment to
Māori health by a Māori health worker and the the Dr Paratene Ngata – Te Ngakau Ora Award honours service, mentoring and
support to Māori doctors and medical students. The two recipients will be announced at the dinner.
ends