<p style="text-align:center"><em><span style="font-size:12px">Leonie Pihama, on behalf of Tainui, hands over the mauri of the conference to Hawai&rsquo;i</span></em></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a busy week for Whakauae, whilst some of the staff was supporting Ng&#257;ti Hauiti at week one of the Wai2180 - Taihape: Rangitikei ki Rangipo District Inquiry substantive hearings, others were presenting research at the He Manawa Whenua Indigenous Research Conference in Kirikiriroa. The theme of the four-day conference, hosted by Te Kotahi Research Institute, was Mana Motuhake (Indigenous Sovereignty) and therefore the conference showcased the great diversity of Indigenous thinking, scholarship and activism from Aotearoa and beyond.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Whakauae staff participated in three separate presentations. Rachel Brown presented with colleagues Bridgette Masters-Awatere (University of Waikato), and Donna Cormack (University of Otago), on the collaborative study <em>Hospital transfers: wh&#257;nau involvement in the healing equation</em> project. This Ng&#257; Pae o te M&#257;ramatanga-funded project seeks to understand how M&#257;ori are involved in care of, and decisions about, a wh&#257;nau member, when that wh&#257;nau member is transferred to a hospital outside of their home area. While only in its early stages, Rachel presented some preliminary findings from interviews with wh&#257;nau, which identified a number of barriers that prevent wh&#257;nau members from providing the support they would wish to their ill relatives. The team will conduct further interviews in order to gain a complete understanding of the issues facing wh&#257;nau in this situation.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Gill Potaka Osborne conducted a roundtable discussion, ably supported by Maaki Tuatini and Roberta Williams from Raetihi Pah, on the <em>Te Puawai o Te Ahi Kaa</em> project. Gill outlined the project and the positive outcomes that were becoming evident now this Ministry-funded innovation initiative is in its third and final year. Whilst there have been a number of positive developments arising as a consequence of this project, one of the most exciting is that all the men who had participated in this initiative had become smoke-free. Gill commented that the challenge now is to secure further funding so that the initiative can become sustainable in the long-term, and continue to build on its successes.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p style="text-align:center"><img alt="He Manawa Whenua Conference, Hamilton, 5-8 March 2017" src="/uploads/images/He-Manawa-Whenua-Conference2.jpg" style="height:263px; width:650px" /><br />
<em><span style="font-size:12px">Gill Potaka Osborne presents the evaluation of Te Puawai o te Ahi Kaa</span></em></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Finally, Amohia Boulton and Tania Williams-Blyth presented a paper entitled <em>E tipu E rea: The Care &amp; Protection of M&#257;ori Children</em>. Based on the research conducted by Tania through Whakauae in 2015-2016, the presenters outlined the research findings and discussed an intervention that arose directly from the research. The intervention, Mokopuna Ora, is currently being trialled by Waikato-Tainui in partnership with Child Youth and Family Services. The intervention aims to reduce the number of Waikato-Tainui mokopuna entering state care; increase the number of mokopuna already in state care being placed within wh&#257;nau, hap&#363; and iwi; support wh&#257;nau into the role of primary caregiver; and, connect mokopuna to their tribal identity.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Other highlights of the conference included some truly inspirational keynote speakers, who covered topics as diverse the occupation of Mauna Kea in Hawai&rsquo;i and the tangata whenua&rsquo;s fight to prevent the construction of a telescope on their sacred maunga; through to presenters who questioned our progress towards self determination as M&#257;ori and as Indigenous peoples; and how we translate critical concepts such as mana motuhake into meaningful strategies for our everyday lives?</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>The conference concluded with a ceremony that handed over the Mauri of the conference to a delegation from Hawai&rsquo;i, who will host the next He Manawa Whenua in 2018.</p>
