Award for Challenge Board member

Congratulations to A Better Start National Science Challenge Board member Associate Professor Papaarangi Reid who received the prestigious Dr Paratene Ngata Te Ngākau Ora Award at the Te ORA(Māori Medical Practitioners Association) hui held at the Papakura Marae recently.

The award honours service, mentoring and support to Māori doctors and medical students “Tautoko, Aroha, Awhi”. It recognises Māori doctors continuing the work of late Dr Paratene Ngata who passed away in 2009.

A Better Start kahui member Dr David Jansen presented the award. His speech highlighted Papaarangi’s achievements and contribution to the growth and development of the Māori health workforce; and the waiata tautoko, Rerenga Wairua, was sung by all doctors and medical students there, leaving her teary eyed.

Papaarangi is Tumuaki, Deputy Dean and Head of Te Kupenga Hauora Māori – Department for Māori Health at the faculty and specialises in Public Health Medicine. She has tribal affiliations to Te Rarawa in the Far North of Aotearoa and her research interests include analysing disparities between indigenous and non-indigenous citizens as a means of monitoring government commitment to indigenous rights.