We are very pleased to announce that we have recently awarded a total of 41 Summer Research scholarships. 15 Fatu Malosi Pacific students and 26 Kura Raumati Māori students.

Students gather together before their research projects start for relationship building, research upskilling with experts, connecting with their supervisors. Fatu Malosi students are meeting in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland with acknowledgment of tangata whenua, Ngāti Whātua.  New 2024/25 Māori students will meet in Tokomaru Bay, hosted by tangata whenua, Ngāti Porou.

Congratulations to all our awardees, we wish you all the best in your studies and your research careers.

2024/25 Kura Raumati Māori Scholarship Awards

Caleb Smith, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu. Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB), University of Auckland.  Project title: Say, Sing, Pray Hauora: A literature review of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei mōteatea or karakia regarding Hauora. Supervised by Rowena Dunn & Erina Korohina.

Casey Akuhata Brown, Ngāti Porou, Rongowhakaata, Te Aitanga a Mahaki, Tamanuhiri, Ngāti Kahungunu. Bachelor of Oral Health, University of Otago.  Project title: Exploring Ngāti Porou Oranga's rangahau programme. Supervised by Tyler Grey.

Holly Kewene, Waikato-Tainui, Ngāti Hauā, Te Arawa, Ngāti Whakaue. Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery, University of Auckland.  Project title: RF rangahau or co-design persona training package. Supervised by Kataraina Davis & Erina Korohina.

Jade Keelan, Ngāti Porou. Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery, University of Otago.  Project title: A love letter from my pharmacist. Supervised by Mariana Hudson & Tyler Grey.

Jade Tau Manuel, Ngāti Pōrou, Ngā Puhi, Ngāti Tahu Ngāti Whaoa, Kai Tahu. Bachelor of Pharmacy, University of Otago.  Project title: Hauora Manawa mō ngā Kaumātua me ngā Whānau. Supervised by Dr Andree Pearson.

Jamie Rose Anderson, Ngati Ranginui. Bachelor of Medicine, University of Otago.  Project title: Kete of Knowledge. Supervised by Dr Anna Rolleston & Erina Korohina.

Joshua Matenga, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāpuhi, Waikato Tainui, Ngāti Porou, Kai Tahu, Ngāti Tama, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa. Bachelor of Health Sciences, University of Auckland.  Project title: KM Cardiac rehab programme. Supervised by Anita Rangitutea.

Kaiah Arona, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga, Ngāti Tuwharetoa.  Bachelor of Health Science, University of Otago. Project title: Reimagining Dissemination: Utilising co-design and kaupapa Māori to create a dissemination outcome. Supervised by Dr Jade Tamatea.

Kate Johnstone, Waikato Tainui - Ngāti Maniapoto. Māori Health Sciences, University of Otago.  Project title: Taiao to Tepu - tāmariki gardening project. Supervised by Takiwai Russell Camp.

Marcus Hughes, Ngāti Maru, Te Atiawa. Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery, University of Otago.  Project title: Environmental Pulse IRM. Supervised by Prof Jim Cotter & Dr Brendon Roxburgh.

Maia Lockyer, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Porou, Rongomaiwahine. Bachelor of Medicine, University of Otago.  Project title: Wahine IRM - health literacy resource development. Supervised by Assoc Prof Justine Camp.

Neave Burgess, Ngāruahine, Taranaki and Te Atiawa. Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery, University of Auckland.  Project title: Advanced knowledge of heart health complications in diabetes. Supervised by Assoc Prof Kim Mellor.

Ondre Hapuku-Lambert, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Raukawa, Tainui. Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery, University of Auckland.  Project title: Understanding the barriers for Māori & Pasifika patients in attending clinic appointments for Cardiac Ultrasound. Supervised by Helen Walsh & Georgina Dew.

Piri Tohu-Hapati, Ngāpuhi / Ngāti Hine / Te Orewai. Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, University of Otago.  Project title: Mauri as a measure of heart health. Supervised by Assoc Prof Justine Camp.

Raukura Ruha Hiraka, Ngati Awa, Te Arawa, Tuwharetoa. Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery, University of Otago.  Project title: Rongoā Māori use in everyday life. Supervised by Dr Riripeti Haratuku.

Shane Ormond, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Rongomaiwahine. Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery, University of Auckland. Project title: Completion of literature review on gestational diabetes. Supervised by Dr Anna Ponnampalam & Erina Korohina.

Te Rangi Eruera Watts, Ngati whatua Orakei, Ngati Ranginui, Tuhoe, Tainui, Ngati Porou. Bachelor of Science, (Nursing), Auckland University of Technology.  Project title: A Heartful of Intervention: A study of Hauora initiatives provided by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei. Supervised by Rowena Dunn & Erina Korohina.

Thaya Shaw, Waikato Tainui, Ngāti Kahungungu ki te Wairoa, Ngati Porou, Ngati Rongomawahine, Rongowhakaata. Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago.  Project title: Kete of knowledge. Supervised by Dr Anna Rolleston & Erina Korohina.

Tori-Lee Brown, Ngāpuhi. Bachelor of Physiotherapy, University of Otago.  Project title: Exploring beliefs around access and barriers for rural/urban Maori and Pasifika aged 35-65 to CVD screening and management in Northland. Supervised by Dr Aniva Lawrence.

Elaijah Tuivaiti, Ngāti Rangiwewehi, Ngāti Whakaue, Taranaki, Samoa, Upolu: Savaia - Lefaga, Levi – Falelātai. Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, University of Auckland.  Project Title: Haumanu Hauora: A population-based cohort study of all patients who have had bariatric surgery in Aotearoa New Zealand compared by ethnicity assessing cardiovascular disease risk burden and remission of CVD disease among all New Zealanders. Supervised by Dr Jamie Lee Rahiri.

Kairangahau - Returning students

Akuira Whaanga, Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Awa, Te Arawa, Tainui . Bachelor of Dental Surgery, University of Otago.  Project Title: The importance of oral health on heart health. Supervised by Dr Karen Brewer & Sam Carrington.

Danae Tait, Te Rarawa, Ngāpuhi. Certificate of Health Sciences, University of Auckland.  Project Title: VARIENZ CVD risk profiles. Supervised by Prof Rod Jackson, Prof Matire Harwood.

Nicola Stanton, Ngā Rauru, Te Atiawa. Bachelor of Health, University of Waikato.  Project title: Review of KM cardiac services provided by Te Toi Ora ki Whaingaroa. Supervised by Maine Tito & Anuj Bhargava.

Noah Appleby, Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki. Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, University of Auckland.  Project title: Bariatric surgery provision and outcomes for Aotearoa. Supervised by Dr Jamie Lee Rahiri.

Simone Ada, Ngāpuhi, Ngāi Te Rangi. Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery, University of Otago.  Project title: Cardiothoracic surgical outcomes: A Māori perpsective. Supervised by Dr Jamie Lee Rahiri.

Makayla Kahi, Ngāti Kauwhata, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Kahungungu ki Wairarapa, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Te Ati Hau. Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, University of Auckland.  Project title: Surgical Inequities. Supervised by Dr Jamie Lee Rahiri.

2024/25 Fatu Malosi Pacific Scholarship Awards

Carmel Ah Chong, Samoa. University of Otago.  Project title: Heart health / cardiovascular risk after pregnancies complicated by diabetes/preeclampsia. Supervised by Dr Charlotte Oyston

Haytham Aumua, Samoa. University of Otago.  Project title: Technologies that empower patients to manage their chronic cardiovascular conditions. Supervised by Professor Andrew Lowe.

Jesse Winter, Tonga, Fiji. Auckland University of Technology.  Project title: Technologies that empower patients to manage their chronic cardiovascular conditions. Supervised by Professor Andrew Lowe.

Irris Etches, Fiji, Rarotonga. University of Otago.  Project title: Increasing community research literacy on cardiometabolic genetic research among Pacific peoples.

Emeline Manako, Tonga. University of Auckland.  Project title: Gout content analysis on Tik Tok. Supervised by Dr Siobhan Tu'akoi and Dr Samuela 'Ofanoa

Mele Ha'unga, Tonga. University of Auckland.  Project title: Characterising the molecular differences in carotid bodies and placental tissues (Rodents). Supervised by Dr Anna Ponnampalam, Dr Audrys Pauza, Dr Pratik Thakkar, and Dr Igor Felippe, 

Poyer Reihana-Finau, Samoa. University of Otago.  Project title: Flower power to lower blood pressure in hypertension. Supervised by Dr Fiona McBryde and Professor Julian Paton.

Jaxson Murphy-Winterstein, Samoa. University of Otago.  Project title: Investigating the potential association of a genetic variant in the cardiac ryanodine receptor (RyR2) with diabetes. Supervised by Professor Pete Jones and Dr Megan Leask.

Sebastian Tui, Samoa. University of Otago.  Project title: Can a loss of 'hunger' hormone increase CVD in Pacific peoples? Supervised by Assoc. Professor James Fisher.

Tangimaiala Ekueta, Tuvalu (Funafuti/Niutao). University of Auckland.  Project title: Understanding the barriers for Māori & Pasifika patients in attending clinic appointments for Cardiac Ultrasound. Supervised by Georgina Dew, Helen Walsh, and Dr Andrew To.

Te Paea Ma'u, Tonga, Māori. University of Auckland.  Project title: Wahine experiences in atrial fibrillation in Aotearoa. Supervised by Professor Johanna Montgomery.

Tebi Tabokaai, i-Kiribati. University of Waikato.  Project title: Gout content analysis on Tik Tok. Dr Siobhan Tu'akoi and Dr Samuela 'Ofanoa.

Sinclair Mcgaffin, Wallis & Fortuna. University of Auckland. Project title: Measuring subjective well-being according to Pacific Models of Health. Supervised by Dr Debbie Zhao.

Returning

Tausi Tausi, Tuvalu, Kiribati. University of Otago. Project Title: A Closer Look at Heart Failure: CK2 Phosphorylation and RyR2 Clusters. Supervised by Professor Pete Jones.