Te Whāriki Manawāhine o Hauraki Shares Research at International Gathering
Te Whāriki Manawāhine o Hauraki showcased the outcomes of four significant research projects during the International Network of Indigenous Health, Knowledge and Development (INIHKD) forum, themed “Reclaiming Indigenous Ecologies of Love for Future Generations” in Rarotonga, Cook Islands, from November 9 to 13, 2026.
Continuation of Research Initiatives
This presentation follows the earlier INIHKD gathering in Tamaya, New Mexico, where in April 2025, Te Whāriki introduced preliminary findings from Tīhei Wāhine Ora: Wāhine from Gang Whānau Healing Intergenerational Trauma. This event marked a historical moment as wāhine gang whānau leaders engaged on an international platform. The finalized monograph was subsequently launched at Parliament in August 2026.
Attendance and Acknowledgement
The event in Rarotonga attracted approximately 650 participants from various Indigenous nations, notably featuring a robust representation from Hauraki. Te Whāriki expressed gratitude to INIHKD for organizing a well-executed gathering, supported by the Indigenous Wellness Research Institute at the University of Washington.
Interconnected Presentations
The presentations were structured as a cohesive series of interconnected works. The agenda began with He Whare, He Taonga, followed by Hauraki Māori Weathering Cyclone Gabrielle, which highlighted the role of wāhine-led initiatives in protecting families when governmental responses fell short. The third presentation featured Tīhei Wāhine Ora, concluding with Indigenous Intelligence Systems Critiquing AI Prediction, which examined ancestral knowledge and predictive insights.
Impact and Future Research
Tīhei Wāhine Ora arose from the understanding that the Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry inadequately represented wāhine perspectives from gang whānau. During a hui in February 2023, wāhine voices were confined to four of the forty pages in their submission, largely dominated by tāne narratives. Paora Moyle, the Director of Research at Te Whāriki, identified the necessity for focused research to amplify the experiences and knowledge of wāhine within gang whānau, an effort funded by the Health Research Council of New Zealand through its Rangahau Hauora Māori Researcher First Grant.
Presenters and Key Findings
In Rarotonga, Paora Moyle opened the panel for Tīhei Wāhine Ora with a PowerPoint presentation summarizing key findings. Paula Ormsby contributed lived experience narratives, while Denise Messiter ONZM, CEO of Te Whāriki, emphasized insights gained from the Pouhine wānanga. Te Whāriki board member Toko Muaulu ensured that tikanga was respected throughout the presentations.
Core Analytical Framework
Each presentation commenced with an introduction to Pū-Rā-Ka-Ū, the analytical framework guiding all four research projects. The phases of this framework draw from the concept of pūrākau: Pū symbolizes the source, Rā represents light, Ka encompasses past, present, and future, while Ū reflects inner wisdom. For Tīhei Wāhine Ora, Paora highlighted the most impactful findings from each phase:
- Pū: “Grief became collective power.”
- Rā: “Survival produced expertise.”
- Ka: “The state builds the evidence it needs to justify their containment.”
- Ū: “Pouhine works because the relationships are the system.”
Authenticity in Representation
Paora emphasized the importance of authenticity in representation. “Researchers often sanitize the voices of the whānau to appease funders or stakeholders,” she stated. “Our approach is to present the raw truth of whānau narratives; otherwise, what purpose does it serve?”
Future Developments
The insights gained from Tīhei Wāhine Ora have paved the way for a new research initiative aimed at documenting emerging programs and wāhine leadership. These findings will converge in an upcoming publication.
Commitment to Whānau Voices
Paora concluded with a powerful message: “Our whānau asserted that researchers who lack insider knowledge are not qualified to speak on our lived experiences. At Te Whāriki Manawāhine o Hauraki, we strive to ensure whānau voices are present alongside us in every research endeavor.”
Access to Research
The complete study, Tīhei Wāhine Ora: Wāhine from Gang Whānau Healing Intergenerational Trauma, is available at this link.
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