The Kia Puāwai research team, with representatives from all four projects, came together in Whanganui on the 18th and 19th October 2023, for our annual wānanga to:
- reflect on the previous year’s progress,
- explore opportunities for moving forward,
- talk about systems change within the context of each research project,
- discuss integration of research results, and
- update their individual project evaluation frameworks.
The Kia Puāwai Programme of research is motivated to explore how best to lever for systems change supporting whānau to flourish. With this in mind we actively discussed what the research is finding after just two years, and how these findings may contribute to the positive changes required to support improved health and wellbeing for Māori.
Presentations from each of the four projects within the programme gave an opportunity to celebrate the collection of dissemination accomplishments, including a number of videos speaking to the kaupapa of the research, a card game, infographic posters, pānui, booklets, international conference presentations and published articles. The dedicated Kia Puāwai website continues to be a great repository for these Translation, Uptake and Impact (TUI) activities.
There was also time to reconnect with other team members through understanding the strengths of our diversity and thinking, taking a hikoi along Te Awa Tupua, the Whanganui River, and sharing ideas, over kai and kōrero. The team, who are spread across Aotearoa New Zealand and overseas, meet regularly over Zoom. Having this hui face to face was invaluable for deeper kōrero to occur and to allow for teasing out ideas during the kai breaks. As one researcher commented, “often gold is struck during this time, we’re able to network, and connect with opportunities through whanaungatanga”.
