Byron’s blog post on Embracing attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder through the pīwakawaka: A Māori perspective on education and ADHD was the most-read post of 2024 on Ipu Kererū, the website of the New Zealand Association for Research in Education.

In his blog post, Byron gives a Māori perspective on ADHD and neurodiversity more broadly, using the piwakawaka as a culturally resonant symbol.

Bryon was diagnosed with ADHD in May 2023 and since then, has published two papers about his experiences with ADHD: Flighty like the pīwakawaka! Personal reflections on mid-life ADHD diagnosis and the beginnings of a framework for conceptualising the condition from a Māori perspective and Reflections on being an academic with ADHD.

"We are not broken—we are pīwakawaka, moving swiftly through life with curiosity, energy, and resilience,” says Byron. 

“ADHD is not a deficit but a different way of being, one that deserves understanding, accommodation, and celebration. 

“It’s time to break the silence, challenge the stigma, and demand better support, especially for Māori and Indigenous communities. Let us honour our neurodiversity and create spaces where all minds can thrive,” he says.

Byron also featured in a recent TVNZ documentary titled ADHD: Not Just Hyper which follows New Zealand comedian Guy Williams through an ADHD diagnosis, and explores the ADHD experience of a diverse range of New Zealanders.

He has just completed a national survey which sought to understand the experiences of adults with ADHD in Aotearoa New Zealand, including Māori and Pacific perspectives. 

The study aims to gather detailed information about a respondent’s ADHD journey, treatments, challenges and support systems. The insights will help researchers and health professionals identify which activities to prioritise in their conversations with Government and stakeholders across the health sector.