A research project by Director, Ngā Wai a Te Tūī, Deborah Heke, which aims to enhance Mana Wāhine wellbeing, was one of forty projects successful in obtaining grants from Health Research Council (HRC).

HRC announced on 19 August that it had invested $71.4 million in exceptional and innovative research to tackle a range of pressing issues affecting New Zealand’s health system.

Associate Professor Heke’s project Developing a model of wāhine (well)being and belonging in and with te taiao received $400,000 over three years.

The aim of her project is to enhance the wellbeing and belonging of Māori women by reconnecting their practices and stories to the natural environment.

It reframes poor health statistics of Māori, influenced by colonization and systemic issues, and provides a safe space to elevate mana and capability.

The study uses traditional and contemporary storytelling—Korikori Kōrero, wānanga, and creative exhibitions—to develop a wellbeing model based on Ngā Pou Māreikura: five pou representing wāhine relationships to atua, taiao, and themselves.

“I’m really excited to continue this work, that stemmed from my PhD and recent mahi funded by Ngā Pae o Te Māramatanga,” Assoc. Professor Heke explains.
“Doing Kaupapa Māori research, like this, is a reminder that indigenous knowledge systems live in our stories, our movements, our creativity, and in our taiao. This rangahau is an opportunity to explore wāhine Māori wellbeing from all those perspectives.”

Assoc. Prof. Heke’s project officially starts on 1 September and spans three years.

“I will be recruiting a Research Assistant before the end of the year to help with the project and am currently advertising for a summer intern to conduct a literature review.”

Deb hopes to conduct a wānanga before the end of the year to introduce the Kaupapa and start developing relationships with stakeholders and potential contributors. That will likely look like a creative exhibition at a marae similar to this.

Find out more about Assoc. Prof. Heke’s research.