Miraka Named As Sponsor Of National Cervical Screening Campaign

Taupō based, Māori owned low-carbon dairy
processing company, Miraka, has been named as the key
sponsor of the 2023 ‘Smear your Mea’ campaign which
raises awareness about cervical (and prostate) cancer,
including early screening to detect and treat cancer in
wāhine (women) and tāne (men).

Miraka CEO, Karl
Gradon, said that “as a values-based, whānau orientated
organsiation, the strategic goals of the Smear your Mea
Trust are a good fit with our social and community
objectives.”

“We’re delighted to once again have
the opportunity to support the mahi (work) of the Smear your
Mea Trust – which strives to protect the hauora (health)
of current and future generations.”

Smear your Mea
Trustee, Hon Te Ururoa Flavell, said the ‘centre piece’
of the Trust’s 2023 campaign is a group of 17 cyclists who
will ride from Wellington to Auckland between 14 to 21
February to arrive in time for the start of the national
kapa haka festival, Te Matatini 2023.

“The world’s
largest kapa haka festival, Te Matatini, is being held at
Eden Park between 21 to 25 February for the first time,
following a two-year hiatus because of the COVID-19
pandemic.”

“The Smear your Mea Trust was
established as a legacy and in memory of the late Talei
Morrison – a young mother, teacher and a well-respected
Māori performing arts exponent. Talei passed away in 2018
from cervical cancer,” said Mr Flavell.

Karl Gradon
added “When the cyclists ride into Tūrangi, and then
Taupō on 17 February, Miraka will provide extra support
beyond our financial sponsorship. We’ll help raise local
awareness about cervical cancer and the importance of early
screening.”

“Miraka has one of the world’s
lowest manufacturing carbon-footprints, emitting 92% less
carbon into the atmosphere compared to coal fired plants.
That is equivalent to taking 7,000 cars off New Zealand
roads for one year.”

“The fact the Trust
volunteers are cycling from Wellington to Auckland is a good
match for our low-carbon manufacturing status,” said Mr
Gradon.

Miraka will organise two (2) community events
in Taupō (Friday, 17 February) and the following day,
Saturday 18 February in Tokoroa as the cyclists ride enroute
to Auckland.

The cycling group will be accompanied by
a support crew and a mobile testing clinic which people can
avail themselves to and take a screening test during stops
in towns on the cycling route from Wellington.

Miraka
Chairman, Kingi Smiler added his support – “Miraka is an
international business established, funded and operated by a
workforce which includes a large number of
wāhine.”

“Cervical cancer remains one of the most
common forms of cancer, particularly among our wāhine
Māori in Aotearoa New Zealand.”

“I am pleased
that Miraka is doing our bit as a values and socially
focussed enterprise to support initiatives like this which
are for the greater benefit of the community and indeed the
nation,” said Mr Smiler.

TVNZ One News once
described the work of the Smear your Mea Trust as ‘one of
the most successful Māori health campaigns
ever’.

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