<p style="text-align:center"><em><span style="font-size:12px">Opportunities for whanaungatanga.</span></em></p>

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<p>Whakauae and Te Atawhai o Te Ao: Independent M&#257;ori Research Institute for Environment and Health (TAOTA) had the privilege of co-hosting the second Ng&#257; Pae o Te M&#257;ramatanga Annual Principal Investigators&rsquo; W&#257;nanga held at R&#257;nana Marae on the awa Whanganui from the 11th - 14th February.</p>

<p>The opportunity to work closely with the team at TAOTA further strengthened our bond as the two community/iwi based independent research centres located in Whanganui. Planning the W&#257;nanga meant we could think about how we wanted to reflect the tikanga and kaupapa of both organisations and of course reflect the M&#257;ori leadership inherent in Te &#256;tihaunui a P&#257;p&#257;rangi. Invited Whanganui speakers included Che Wilson, Gerard Albert and Turama Hawira; reflecting the Ng&#257; Pae themes of Te Tai Ao, Te Reo me Ng&#257; Tikanga and Mauri Ora. To further build on these themes and that of Whai Rawa, a trip was organised to Morikau Station, an exemplar of M&#257;ori business development located close to R&#257;nana Marae. The formal part of the programme was rounded off with a lively debate on Wh&#257;nau Ora with guest speakers; Richard Steedman, Wheturangi Walsh-Tapiata and Amohia Boulton.</p>

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<p style="text-align:center"><img alt="Whanau Ora Panel; Amohia Boulton, Richard Steedman and Wheturangi Walsh-Tapiata." src="/uploads/images/whanau-ora-panel-2019.jpg" style="height:433px; width:650px" /><br />
<span style="font-size:12px"><em>Wh&#257;nau Ora Panel; Amohia Boulton, Richard Steedman and Wheturangi Walsh-Tapiata.</em></span></p>

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<p>More than thirty of Ng&#257; Pae o te M&#257;ramatanga&rsquo;s senior researchers including the NPM leadership team and new Board Chair, Kerensa Johnston, came together for the four days to discuss the research themes and programme of research, further develop research alliances and talk through the key questions and focus for the forthcoming Centre of Research Excellence (CoRE) funding round NPM will be going through later in 2019. The goal of the w&#257;nanga was to reflect on the past year and continue planning with a focus on the future.</p>

<p>As one of the hosts of the hui, Whakauae were delighted with the outcomes; the venue and environment was fabulous and conducive to the mahi we needed to engage in, the formal part of the programme was stimulating and reflective of M&#257;ori excellence more generally and participants engaged fully with each other and took advantage of the opportunities provided by the W&#257;nanga. Thank you to Ng&#257; Pae o Te M&#257;ramatanga for the opportunity to co-host this W&#257;nanga and we would encourage others to support and host future similar events. &nbsp;</p>

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<p style="text-align:center"><img alt="Powhiri at R&#257;nana Marae" src="/uploads/images/powhiri-ratana-marae-2019.jpg" style="height:433px; width:650px" /><br />
<span style="font-size:12px"><em>Powhiri at R&#257;nana Marae.</em></span></p>

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