<p style="text-align:center"><em><span style="font-size:12px">Review Panel members, Ng&#257;ti Hauiti wh&#257;nau, Whakauae staff and supporters at R&#257;t&#257; Marae.</span></em></p>

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<p>Following a recent review of its Independent Research Organisation (IRO) funded entities, the Health Research Council (HRC) has announced awarding a further three years of funding to Whakauae.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.hrc.govt.nz/news-and-publications/news-media#long-term-funding-brings-major-gains-to-health-sector" target="_blank">You can read the full media release here.</a></p>

<p>We are delighted to have been successful in our IRO funding bid and&nbsp; extend our congratulations to the other three organisations also awarded further funding. We would&nbsp; like to acknowledge the work of the HRC review panel, co-chaired by Dr Clive Aspin and Professor Richard Bedford, and the HRC for their ongoing support and commitment to our mahi.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The opportunity to present highlights of what has been achieved, in our first four years of IRO funding, was welcomed by the Whakauae team. Together with Ng&#257;ti Hauiti wh&#257;nau, we hosted a review team site&nbsp; visit to R&#257;t&#257; Marae on 08 March 2018.&nbsp; The review additionally provided an opportunity to document, in a comprehensive report, the outcomes achieved with the support of inaugural IRO funding. &nbsp;Our strategic direction, over the next three years, was also discussed with the review panel during the course of the review process.</p>

<p>In their written review report, the HRC &nbsp;panel noted &ldquo;Whakauae provided ample evidence of how their research has contributed to health and well-being of M&#257;ori and how this benefits all New Zealanders, especially in the reduction of health and social disparities.... the primary focus of their core business is to produce excellent research.&rdquo;</p>

<p>We were particularly pleased that the panel also observed &ldquo;for a small research team, Whakauae punches well above it&rsquo;s weight in terms of the range of collaborations it has with other research groups and policy agencies, as well as the impact it has on health related impacts.&rdquo;</p>

<p>We look forward to continuing to develop innovative and effective strategies to disseminate our research results to better reach target audiences. Our goal, after all, is to translate our research findings into forceful action which will result in positive change in the lives of M&#257;ori.</p>

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