Wednesday 13 May 2015 2:47pm
Symposium co-organiser Associate Professor Jacinta Ruru
A biennial Māori Research Symposium that showcases Māori academic research excellence at the University of Otago starts tomorrow at the Hutton Theatre, Otago Museum.
The theme for Hui Poutama 2015 is Māori research collaborations. The two day symposium encompasses 18 in-depth presentations on innovative new research focused on the health, cultural, educational, environmental and economic wellbeing of Māori. Hui Poutama will also include a snapshot of the work of eight current Māori postgraduate students.
Among the presentations from Otago academics, Professor John Broughton from Otago's Faculty of Dentistry describes his international collaboration which looks at whether or not the implementation of a culturally-appropriate early childhood dental caries intervention programme reduces dental disease burden and major oral health inequalities among tamariki Māori (Māori children); and details of an investigation by Dr Emma Wyeth from the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine identifies the predictors of disability for Māori 24 months post-injury.
Symposium co-organisers Associate Professor Jacinta Ruru and Janine Kapa-Blair say Hui Poutama will be of interest to all community members and the University of Otago's students and staff interested in research being done by Māori academics.
“This is a very real opportunity for our communities to gain a greater understanding of the research collaborations involving and benefiting Māori that are being conducted here at Otago,” says Dr Ruru.
“The symposium aims to provide a greater awareness and appreciation of the breadth and depth of Māori research collaborations occurring across the University of Otago and between national and international tertiary institutions, iwi and Māori communities.”
Following the conclusion of Hui Poutama at 1pm on 15 May, the University – alongside representatives of Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whātua and Te Huinga Rōia Māori o Aotearoa (the New Zealand Māori Law Society) – will be presenting the inaugural Jolene Patuawa-Tuilave Māori Leadership in Law Scholarship at 2pm. To cap off an eventful two days, Otago's Māori Pre-graduation Ceremony will be held at 3pm in the University Union.
For more information, contact:
Janine Kapa-Blair
Manutaki Tuarua Māori, Associate Dean Māori,
University of Otago
Tel: 03 4794916
Associate Professor Jacinta Ruru
Faculty of Law
Tel: 03 4798833
Email: Jacinta.ruru@otago.ac.nz
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