Māori Health Research Given A Boost By The HRC

Future Leaders In Māori Health Research Given A Boost By The HRC

Improving the health and well being of Māori is a key priority for a group of emerging Māori health researchers.

The Health Research Council of New Zealand (HRC) announced today that it has awarded $0.93M towards the development of the Māori health research workforce through its career development programme.

Among the awardees are two new HRC Postdoctoral Fellows: Dr Cherryl Smith from Te Atawhai o Te Ao in Whanganui and Ms Emma Wyeth from the University of Otago.

Dr Smith has been awarded the Erihapeti Rehu-Murchie Research Fellowship in Māori Health. This is a senior research fellowship which honours the work of kaumatua Dr Erihapeti Rehu-Murchie. It is awarded to a health researcher working in either Māori women’s and children's health; whare tapa wha (holistic health); health promotion or health policy including Māori and indigenous human rights. Dr Smith will be examining the health of grandparents who have become full time care givers of their grandchildren due to a break down in parenting. No health research has been undertaken in this area before.

Ms Wyeth has been awarded the Eru Pomare Research Fellowship in Māori Health. This fellowship honours the legacy of Professor Eru Pomare and his contributions to gastroenterology.

Ms Wyeth will investigate the health experiences and perspectives of Māori through projects that will include looking at the experiences heart and lung disease, injury-related disability and Ngai Tahu views of health-related genetic research. Part of Ms Wyeth’s work will also include investigating Māori health outcomes from the HRC-funded Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Research Unit, headed by Professor Richie Poulton.

HRC Group Manager, Māori Health Research and Health Sector Relationships Ms Aroha Haggie says, Māori health research development is an important priority and HRC Postdoctoral Fellowships, PhDs and Masters projects are designed to help build a research workforce to address the growing disparity in health statistics between Māori and non-Māori

“An important part of our mission is to foster the Māori health research workforce in New Zealand and advance knowledge relevant to Māori health,” Ms Haggie says.

ENDS

© Scoop Media