Papaarangi Reid, Public Health Champion 2007

Papaarangi Reid, Public Health Champion 2007
Media release, Friday 6 July

Leading Māori health researcher and advocate Associate Professor Papaarangi Reid has been named the Public Health Champion of 2007. The award recognises individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to public health. It was conferred by the Public Health Association of New Zealand (PHA) at its annual conference, being held this week in Auckland.

PHA Director Dr Gay Keating says Associate Professor Reid is the latest in a long line of Public Health Champions who have made an outstanding difference to public health in New Zealand.

“Papaarangi has contributed immensely to making Māori health a national priority. Against the tide of popular opinion she has had the courage to look at the disparities between the health of Māori and non Māori. She is a strong scientific researcher.

“She has looked at the social determinants of health and the construction of ethnicity and indigeniety, which leads on to options for progressing equity.

“Papaarangi is absolutely clear about the rights of Māori. It follows that those people who are given the Crown resources must ensure these resources make a difference for Māori.”

Associate Professor Reid, who is of Te Rarawa descent, is the Tumuaki (Māori Dean) in the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, at the University of Auckland.

She oversees the development of teaching and research programmes focusing on health issues affecting Māori communities. She was made a Fellow of the Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine (Royal Australian College of Physicians) in 1995 and holds science and medical degrees from the University of Auckland.

Associate Professor Reid has over 20 years experience in the health sector. Prior to her appointment as Tumuaki, she was the Director of the Eru Pomare Māori Health Research Centre at the Wellington School of Medicine and Health Sciences.

ENDS

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