<p style="text-align:center"><em><span style="font-size:12px">Dr Heather Came, Kiterangi Cameron &amp; Dr Heather Gifford</span></em></p>

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<p>The International Union for Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE) hosts an international conference every three years bringing together leading professionals from all corners of the world. The conference provides opportunities to learn from each other, build knowledge and consider future challenges to enable developments in health promotion and planetary health.</p>

<p>The conference this year was held in Rotorua, Aotearoa New Zealand from 07 &ndash; 11 April. A team of Whakauae researchers (Dr Heather Gifford, Dr Lewis Williams, Gill Potaka-Osborne and Lynley Cvitanovic participated in conference activities. &nbsp;Dr Heather Gifford, a member of IUHPE since 2004 previous co-ordinator of the Indigenous Network for IUHPE and a member of the South West Pacific network, was involved in the conference planning as a member of the National Scientific Committee. &nbsp;</p>

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<h2>The themes for the conference reflected the significant challenges facing the world currently -</h2>

<h3>Health equity</h3>

<p>Ensure health equity throughout the life course, within and among countries, making each member of the global society an empowered lifelong learner;&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Inclusive habitats</h3>

<p>Make all urban and other habitats inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable and conducive to health and wellbeing;</p>

<h3>Climate change adaptation strategies</h3>

<p>Design and implement effective and fair climate change adaptation strategies; and,</p>

<h3>Build effective, accountable and inclusive governance</h3>

<p>Build effective, accountable and inclusive governance at all levels that promotes, peace, justice and respect of human rights.</p>

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<p>Key highlights of the conference were the strong presence of indigenous knowledge and practice along with the focus on confronting and disrupting racism. We noted, in particular, the presence of a new generation of M&#257;ori health promoters and academics who inspired us with their grasp of te reo, their passion and leadership. A great symposium on &ldquo;Health Equity through Health Activism on Racism&rdquo; was facilitated by Dr Heather Came-Friar (Auckland University of Technology) and Professor Derek Griffiths (Vanderbilt University). Whakauae was privileged to be able to sponsor the symposium participation of two Taranaki community activists, Kiterangi Cameron and Glenn Bennett who held the audience captive with a moving story of combating racism and decolonising practice in Taranaki.</p>

<p>The calibre of the keynote speakers, in particular Professor Sir Michael Marmot, Dr Trevor Hancock and Professor Fran Baum, was outstanding. These speakers were inspiring as they captured the global challenges we all need to face. However, they also presented options for moving forward along with examples of local innovation.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>On the closing day of the conference, Gill Potaka-Osborne and Lynley Cvitanovic presented the Aotearoa New Zealand results of the STEPS (Strengthening Evaluation Strategies and Practices in Indigenous settings in Australia and New Zealand) study during a well-attended session on Indigenous evaluation. Dr Lewis Williams delivered two presentations during the conference; Climate change, colonialism and women&#39;s wellbeing in Canada and Solidarity building for sustainable development: making decolonial pedagogy count.</p>

<p>A further conference highlight was the production of an Indigenous Global Statement, a joint effort by a number of indigenous scholars and practitioners. The statement is intended to be read alongside the Rotorua Global Statement and challenges the health promotion community and the wider global community to &ldquo;make space for and privilege Indigenous peoples&rsquo; voices and Indigenous knowledges in promoting planetary health and sustainable development for the benefit of all&rdquo;.</p>

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<p style="text-align:center"><img alt="Indigenous forum participants editing the final draft of the Indigenous Statement on the closing day of the IUHPE Conference" src="/uploads/images/IUHPE-conference-2019_2.jpg" style="height:361px; width:650px" /><br />
<em><span style="font-size:12px">Indigenous forum participants editing the final draft of the Indigenous Statement on the closing day of the IUHPE Conference</span></em></p>

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<h3>View the Indigenous Global Statement and the Rotorua Global Statement here:</h3>

<p><a href="/uploads/files/Indigenous%20Statement%20for%20Plenary%20Revised.pdf" target="_blank">Indigenous Global Statement</a></p>

<p><a href="/uploads/files/Rotorua%20Statement%20For%20Closing%20Plenary%20Revised%20(1).pdf" target="_blank">Rotorua Global Statement</a></p>

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