<p><em>From left:&nbsp; Tania Allport, Peter Fraser, Dr Heather Gifford and Raymond Hall.</em></p>

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<h3>WAI Research and Whakauae Research Services sign MOU</h3>

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<p>On 7 August 2015 representatives from WAI-Research, the research unit of Te Wh&#257;nau o Waipareira Trust and Whakauae Research Services signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to cement a partnership in research. Waipareira Chair, Raymond Hall, expressed how the partnership will not only support WAI Research&rsquo;s 25 Year Strategic Plan but also advance the wellbeing of Waipereira wh&#257;nau. Peter Fraser, the Chair of Whakauae&rsquo;s Board of Directors concurred with Mr Hall&rsquo;s sentiments, noting the great opportunities for collaboration that this relationship presented for both organisations. Earlier, in an interview with Radio W&#257;tea, Whakauae Director Dr Heather Gifford spoke of&nbsp; the synergy between the two organisations and how the possibilities of joint work together would contribute towards turning research findings into tangible results for wh&#257;nau.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.waateanews.com/waateanews/x_story_id/MTAxNDI=/National/x_story/Waipareira-sign-MOU-with-Whakauae." target="_blank">You can listen to the interview here.</a></p>

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<p>In an interview with Te Karere WAI Research Director Tanya Allport spoke of research aligning to &nbsp;outcomes and how both organisations could benefit from joint funding applications.</p>

<p>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InVd63H2yZ4&amp;feature=share</p>

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<p>While the MoU was only signed at the beginning of August, already the two organisations are seeing the fruits of a collaborative research partnership. WAI Research has just been awarded Ng&#257; Kanohi K&#299;tea (NKK) funding for a project entitled <em>Catalysts of Health and Wellbeing: A Retrospective Study of West Auckland Wh&#257;nau</em>. The project is due to begin later this year. The two organisations are also collaborating on a further NKK grant application, and discussions are being held in September regarding other research projects of interest to the two organisations around the theme of &ldquo;Wh&#257;nau Ora&rdquo;.</p>
