Ageing Well Newsletter
September 2019
Our Mission: to add life to years for all New Zealanders
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Co-Director's Update
Tēnā koutou,
Welcome to our September newsletter.
Ageing Well was delighted to announce the successful Ageing and Māori research programmes “Tai Kaumātuatanga Older Māori Wellbeing and Participation: Present and Future Focus" led by Dr Catherine Love and “Kaumātua Mana Motuhake Pōi: Enhancing Wellbeing, Social Connectedness and Cultural Identity” led by Prof Brendan Hokowhitu. We were impressed with the quality of the two research teams, and we are looking forward to seeing the impact these programmes will have to achieve health and wellbeing equity for kaumātua. Ngā mihi atu ki nga rōpū e rua.
We hold our national conference "Ageing Well Together: Science, Policy and Translation" on 15 November at Te Wharewaka on the waterfront of Pōneke-Wellington. The programme will highlight research conducted during 2014-2019, and will provide an opportunity for attendees to engage with researchers, community partners, end-users, and Ageing Well's leadership teams. Registrations are now open and limited to 120 people.
One of the greatest rewards as Co-Director Māori has been seeing science done differently and the incredibly positive impact that it is having on our communities. Mihi atu kia koutou ngā whānau o Kia Eke Kairangi ki Te Taikaumātua – thank you to everyone involved in Ageing Well for your ongoing commitment to harness science to sustain health and wellbeing into the later years of life for all New Zealanders.
Ngā mihi,
Dr Louise Parr-Brownlie
Co-Director, Ageing Well |
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Ageing Well National Conference - REGISTER NOW!
Ageing Well is delighted to announce that registrations are now open for our National Conference. Our theme this year is: Ageing Well Together: Science, Policy, Translation. Our national conference will be held on Friday, 15th November, at Te Wharewaka, in Wellington.
This conference is a celebration of the research undertaken by Ageing Well researchers and stakeholders in the first phase of funding. Coming together in this way will allow us to develop our networks, celebrate our progress and collaboratively navigate the way forward to translating this research into policy and impact. We are honoured that the Hon Tracey Martin will open, and Hon Nanaia Mahuta will close, the conference.
You can find information about our speakers, a draft programme and registration forms at our conference website here.
We look forward to welcoming you at Te Wharewaka in November.
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Community Engagement
Ageing Well at the Kaumātua Olympics, Hamilton
Earlier this month Ageing Well Co-Director, Māori Dr Louise Parr-Brownlie and Communications Manager, Dr Vanisha Mishra-Vakaoti attended the Kaumātua Olympics in Hamilton. Rauawaawa Kaumātua Charitable Trust first ran the Kaumātua Olympics in 2005 and has continued to coordinate the event annually, with the support of community based organisations and grants.
The event is open to all Kaumātua throughout the North Island. This year saw about 320 participants from the Waikato, Rotorua, Auckland, Manawatu-Whanganui, Taranaki and Gisborne regions. The games and activities for the day are prepared in partnership with Rototuna Senior High School. Kaumātua have the opportunity to participate in active and passive recreational activities, depending on their ability.
Ageing Well took three elements of our Well Balanced Exhibit and were able to engage with around 200 people about who we are and what we do. The balance beam, hula hoop and nimble fingers unit proved popular with whole teams trying out the different elements. We were able to provide information on the importance of balance and coordination as we age, as well as suggesting simple exercises that Kaumātua can do at home to help strengthen balance and coordination.
You can read more about the Well Balanced Exhibit here. Our goal is for as many groups as possible to use the exhibit and experience the benefits of this entertaining and educational resource. The exhibit is now fully transportable, either in part or in full. If you are interested in using the Well Balanced Exhibit, please contact us.
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In the Media
Professor Brendan Hokowhitu was featured in this article about the "Kaumātua Mana Motuhake Pōi" project that he heads, funded by Ageing Well.
Ageing Well NSC Strategic Advisory Group member, Associate Professor Elana Taipapaki Curtis as a 10 year old, signed a contract with her cousins that she would become a doctor. This article explores the discrepancy between Māori population numbers and the percentage of Māori doctors.
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Staff Movement
After almost a year our Assistant Research Fellow, Dr Mandeep Kaur is moving on, not just from Ageing Well, but from New Zealand. Mandeep is taking up a very competitive postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Virginia. We would like to take this opportunity to wish Mandeep all the very best in this new and exciting chapter of her life and career. She will be sadly missed for her work ethic, her knowledge and her humour. Jasmine, in particular will miss their tradition of sharing a cinnamon scroll.
Haere tū atu, hoki tū mai.
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Other Items of Interest
Hope Foundation for Research on Ageing
Knowledge Exchange October 18th, 2019 - Auckland
An opportunity for young/new researchers to present their research work, from any discipline, related to ageing. Targeted at students, Masters/PhD researchers and anyone interested in the field of ageing research. There is no cost to this event.
Register your interest to: MareeT@adhb.govt.nz
Māori Health Review
Māori Health Review is a regular update that features the latest research in the area of Māori Health. The review is free to subscribe to and is available for health professionals and anyone with an interest in Māori Health. You can subscribe via their website, and read the latest issue here.
Ngāti Whātua - Education Aspirations
Report prepared by A Better Start E Tipu e Rea researchers, Terina Raureti and Justine Camp
This report reflects on the success of education for Ngāti Whātua ki Orākei, an iwi based in Auckland, New Zealand. It focuses on programmes/initiatives the iwi has chosen to invest in. It was found that in order to understand the needs of the community, it has been vital to first reflect on the Ngāti Whātua worldview, and how education is framed in a way which is unique to Te Ao Māori. You can read the report here.
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Share Our Work
We hope you find our newsletters useful. You can always send feedback and suggestions to: comms.ageingwell@otago.ac.nz
If you enjoy our newsletter, please consider sharing it with a friend or colleague. In between our newsletter updates, you can keep in touch with Ageing Well news via our social media channels: Twitter @ageingwellnz Facebook @ageingwellnz
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