Major study into the health and well-being of Māori War Veterans underway
Hemana Waaka JP, of the project team
Professor Te Kani Kingi, Executive Director of Research and innovation
A collaboration between Te Parairoa A Tumatauenga Company Limited and Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiārangi will explore the health and well-being perspectives of Māori War Veterans.
Funded through a Health Research Council grant, the investigation aims to better understand the wide range of health concerns experienced by Māori Veterans across various theatres of war and the strategies used by them to maintain their well-being during times of conflict, and when returning home.
The research will focus on Veterans who served in Vietnam, Malaysia and Korea and will involve undertaking detailed interviews with Veterans and their whānau.
Professor Te Kani Kingi, Executive Director of Research and innovation at Awanuiārangi, says that a number of reports, including those from the Waitangi Tribunal, will be used to bolster the investigation, capture descriptive and anecdotal accounts of the war impacts on health, and conceptualise these from a Māori perspective “The ultimate aim is to be able to offer evidence-based advice on developing strategies to better support Māori War Veterans,” says Professor Kingi.
Hemana Waaka, who is a part of the project team and a veteran himself, notes that this research is incredibly important and will provide a valuable lens into the health and well-being of Māori War Veterans. “We have known for some time that returning Māori soldiers experienced health concerns which were somewhat different to that of non-Māori,” explains Mr Waaka. "These were often emotional, psychological, or physical. However, for many, health concerns were also related to spiritual matters, wairuatanga, as well as other cultural tensions and conflicts.
“This study aims to explore these issues and to ensure that a more comprehensive profile of the health and well-being of Māori Veterans is established.”
Initial work on the study has already begun, with data collection and interviews scheduled for early next year.
For interviews or further information, please contact:
Te Reo Māori media contact: Hemana CCK Waaka JP +64 27 255 2333
English media contact: Professor Te Kani Kingi +64 27 204 0383
Related News
Indigenous food system a pathway to the good life
Published date : Fri, 28 February 2020 04:00 PMFaren Taylor was 26 and a newly single mum when she made her first foray into the world of sustainable food production. She enrolled three years ago in a Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi programme called Kai Oranga, which teaches an indigenous system of growing and producing food.
Whakaari (White Island) eruption – Awanuiārangi offers support to whānau
Published date : Tue, 10 December 2019 02:54 PMKai te tangi nei te ngākau ki ngā whānau kua pākia nei i te parekura inanahi nei. Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi is deeply saddened by the tragic events at Whakaari (White Island) on Monday 9 December. We offer our sympathies and prayers to the whānau impacted by this tragedy. We also acknowledge the devastating impact for Ngāti Awa, as kaitiaki (steward) of Whakaari.
Ten finalists announced for NZ’s Tertiary Teaching Excellence Awards
Published date : Thu, 10 October 2019 12:02 PMThe ten tertiary teachers finding success in New Zealand’s Tertiary Teaching Excellence Awards for 2019 have been announced including Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi Academic, Associate Professor Mera Penehira, of the School of Indigenous Graduate Studies.
The finalists will celebrate at parliament on the 30th of October, with guests from across the tertiary sector, at a ceremony hosted by Hon Chris Hipkins, Minister of Education.Kaupapa Māori category awards have been awarded to two outstanding teachers this year; Dr Ngarino Ellis from The University of Auckland, who is the only Māori art historian teaching in a New Zealand university, and Associate Professor Mera Penehira, a Kaupapa Māori teacher from Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi.
Rongoā Māori scholars to study traditional health system in India
Published date : Wed, 09 October 2019 04:19 PMA multi-disciplinary team of senior scholars, practitioners and members of the community will undertake a six-week indigenous health and entrepreneurship scholarship programme in India, supported by the Prime Minister’s Scholarships for Asia.
Based in the foothills of the Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu, Southern India, the inaugural scholarship programme will focus on Ayurveda, a traditional Indian system of science, health and medicine. It aims to advance scholarship and research in Māori and indigenous health, wellbeing and knowledge, and give rise to insights that will support the resurgence of Rongoā Māori in New Zealand.The Rongoā Māori and Ayurveda scholarship programme is a collaboration between Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi, the Giles Brooker Academy, the Arya Vaidya Pharmacy Training Academy, and the Prime Minister’s Scholarships for Asia programme.