Hei Āhuru Mōwai and partners represent Aotearoa at the 2024 World Indigenous Cancer Conference
A large contingent of over 100 Hei Āhuru Mōwai whānau members and whānau Māori from across the public health sector came together to represent Aotearoa New Zealand at the 2024 World Indigenous Cancer Conference, 18 - 20 March in Naarm/Melbourne, Australia.
Our whānau members featured heavily in the three-day programme of presentations on leading research, plenary sessions, panel discussions, ‘yarning circles’ and more on a wide range of topics in the indigenous cancer control space.
Hei Āhuru Mōwai was also proud to support three rangatahi Māori to attend this conference to share their perspective and experiences as cancer survivors at the Youth Forum held as part of WICC 2024 on Sunday 17 March. Ngā mihi nui Ranui Renata, Toihi Mahuika-Wright and Pounamu Smith for your valuable contributions and for representing Aotearoa with incredible mana and grace.
Huge mihi also to our co-chair Dr Nina Scott for her role as an editor of a new book ‘Indigenous and Tribal Peoples and Cancer’ which was acknowledged at a pre-launch reception at WICC 2024. Nina was presented with a plaque for her valued contribution by Professor Gail Garvey OAM, Professor in Indigenous Health Research at the University of Queensland.
Hei Āhuru Mōwai members and whānau Māori in the cancer control space who presented at WICC 2024.
Sunday 17 March
Elders & Youth Forums
Ranui Renata, Toihi Mahuika-Wright and Pounamu Smith. Cancer survivors representing youth/rangatahi Māori, Aotearoa New Zealand.
Monday 18 March
Overall theme: PROCESS
Mr Rami Rahal (CEO) and Ms Sasha Webb (Equity Director), Te Aho o Te Kahu, NZ Cancer Control Agency. "Prioritising equity in Aotearoa New Zealand’s National Cancer Plan 2019-2029".
Screening 1: cervical
Professor Bev Lawton, Director, Professor, Te Tātai Hauora O Hine National Centre For Women's Health Research Aotearoa & Mr Charles Lambert, Research Assistant, Te Tātai Hauora O Hine—National Centre For Women’s Health Research Aotearoa. "He Tapu Te Whare Tangata: Empowering rural solutions for cervical screening - point of care testing for HPV in Aotearoa".
Dr Tania Slater, Senior Research Fellow, Te Tatai Hauora O Hine - National Centre For Women's Health Research Aotearoa. “'I am not only doing it for me, I’m doing it for my whānau as well'. Qualitative findings from Te Ara Waiora – Implementing HPV self-testing in Aotearoa New Zealand".
Racism and cultural safety
Ms Fofoa Pio-Bentley, PhD Candidate, University of Auckland & Associate Professor Donna Cormack, Senior lecturer at Te Kupenga Hauora Māori, University of Auckland. "Exploring the experiences of racism and discrimination for Samoan cancer patients and their aiga (families) going through cancer care pathways”.
Mr Rawiri Blundell, Trustee, Hei Āhuru Mōwai & Ms Hayley Arnet, Āhuru Pou Rukuruku, Hei Āhuru Mōwai Māori Cancer Leadership Aotearoa. "A mātauranga Māori exemplar in health – an anti-racism case study from Aotearoa New Zealand".
Mr Brad Devery, PhD Candidate, University of Otago. "Making the jigsaw fit: intertwining mātauranga Māori and immunology to pursue research equity for Māori".
Diagnosis and treatment
Associate Professor Jason Gurney, Director, Cancer And Chronic Conditions (c3) Research Group, University of Otago. "The Road We Travel: The complex impact of cancer treatment centralisation on Indigenous Māori in Aotearoa New Zealand".
Ms Gill Potaka-Osborne, Senior Researcher, Whakauae Research Services & Dr Amohia Boulton, Research Director, Whakauae Research Services. "Using indigenous power to co-construct better primary care for Māori Cancer patients".
Ms Danielle Sword, PhD Candidate, Malaghan Institute for Medical Research, Whakauae Research Services, Otago University & Dr Amohia Boulton, Research Director, Whakauae Research Services. "E ara e te rā: Shedding light on a kaupapa māori CAR T-cell (cancer) therapy research journey".
Ms Helena Abolins-Thompson, PhD candidate, University of Otago, Wellington. "Development of 3D patient-derived tumour models for Wāhine Māori with breast and ovarian cancer: incorporating Tikanga Māori".
Partnership and engagement
Miss Paige Sami, Project Manager - Pou Ārahi, Te Whatu Ora, Health New Zealand - Te Toka Tumai Auckland & Mrs Troydyn Raturaga, Quality And Equity Manager, Te Whatu Ora. "Pou Ārahi: A Māori leadership project to address inequities in cancer care at an Auckland Hospital, Aotearoa, New Zealand."
Mrs Stella Williams-Terei, Nurse Consultant, Te Whatu Ora Waitematā & Mrs Te Hao Apaapa-timu, Rsearcher, Te Hao Consultancy Ltd.
"Te Rōpū Kāwanatanga – Establishing a Māori Governance Group for a Northern Region Māori Lung Cancer Cohort (MLCC): Māori power for Māori progress through Māori process."
Panel discussions
Dr Nina Scott, Director Rangahau Hauora Māori, Te Aka Whai Ora. Panel: Improving cancer trial participation for First Nations people.
Mr Shane Bradbrook, Director, Te Ao Hurihuri. Panel: Reducing the impact of tobacco. "Kia Whakatōmuri Te Haere Whakamua: Māori sovereignty in smokefree Aotearoa – learnings for decolonising Australian tobacco policy".
Dr John Waldon, Research Development Advisor Maori, Massey University. Panel: Support and survivorship. "Manaakitanga - a challenge for NGOs".
Ms Jeannine Stairmand, Senior Lecturer, University of Otago. Panel: Support and survivorship. "Titiro Whakarongo Kōrero: Development of a Supportive Care Needs Assessment Tool for whānau Māori experiencing cancer".
Professor Bev Lawton, Director, Professor, Te Tātai Hauora O Hine National Centre For Women's Health Research Aotearoa. Chair of the Panel for Screening 2, cervical and breast.
Tuesday 19 March
Overall theme: PROGRESS
Screening 3: lung, bowel and general
Dr Catherine Meerkerk, Medical Officer, Te Whatu Ora Waikato & Mrs Te Waimaarino Patena, Registered Nurse, Te Kohao Health Ltd.
"The Lung Hauora Programme at Te Kōhao Health: New Zealand experience”.
Governance, partnership and policy
Ms Cindy Dargaville, Chief Executive/Tumuaki, Hei Āhuru Mōwai Māori Cancer Leadership & Ms Sasha Webb, Tumutuarua Mana Taurite | Equity Director, Te Aho O Te Kahu. "Embedding partnership into cancer control in Aotearoa New Zealand: the journey of Hei Āhuru Mōwai / Māori Cancer Leadership Aotearoa and Te Aho o Te Kahu / Cancer Control Agency." Watch presentation.
Mrs Lydia Rickard, Kaikōkiri Kaupapa Mana Taurite | Project Manager Equity, Te Aho O Te Kahu & Ms Karen Keelan, Kaikōkiri Kaupapa Mana Taurite / Project Manager Equity, Te Aho O Te Kahu / Cancer Control Agency. "Engaging with whānau Māori affected by cancer: a kaupapa Māori approach involving whānau (family), hapu (kinship group) and iwi (larger extended groups or tribe)."
Support and survivorship 2
Ms Vonda Nepia, Primary School Teacher Y3-Y8, NZ Consumer Blood Cancer Survivor. "A Blood Cancer Survivor Journey; interpretation of Dr Mason Durie's Te Whare Tapa Whā model in a hospital setting; implementation of Indigenous principles to enable the restoration of Mana and Tapu."
Ms Tira Albert, Kaiwhakahaere/Manager, Mana Wāhine Incorporated - Te Mauri & Mrs Janis Awatere, Kaitiaki, Te Mauri.
"What has Te Mauri meant to me?"
Miss Renee Wood, Physiotherapist, ĀKI Innovations. "He Puāwaitanga - An ĀKI approach to wāhine Māori with mate pukupuku".
Professor Chris Cunningham, Director Research Centre for Hauora & Health, Massey University. "Wrangling the Health System - Māori as Exceptional Survivors of Cancer".
Service innovation and improvement 1
Miss Eva Morunga, Clinical Lead, Health Psychologist, Awhinatia Te Tangata, Te Puriri O Te Ora, Te Toka Tumai, Te Whatu Ora & Ms Papi Moka, Team Administrator, Te Whatu Ora. "Addressing Cancer Health Care Inequities for Maori with a Kaupapa Maori Approach".
Dr Nina Scott, Director Rangahau Hauora Māori, Te Aka Whai Ora & Dr Myra Ruka, Te Whatu Ora. "Cancer WHIRI research: developing and testing an early cancer pathway by Māori and for Māori in Aotearoa". Watch presentation.
Miss India Mikaere-Girvin, Radiation Therapist, Te Whatu Ora Waitaha - Christchurch Hospital. "Strengthening Māori Health in Radiation Oncology: The Evolution of a Maori liaison role in Aotearoa".
Professor Sue Crengle, Division of Health Sciences, University of Otago. Plenary: Advocacy, Leadership, Influence. "Leadership and advocacy for lung cancer screening in Aotearoa New Zealand".
End of life and palliative care
Dr Tess Moeke-Maxwell, Senior Research Fellow, University of Auckland. "‘Living their best Life’: Indigenous experiences of cancer and assisted dying in Aotearoa New Zealand" & "A horrible time to die: Bereaved Indigenous families' lived experiences of cancer, palliative care and death during COVID-19 Lockdowns in Aotearoa New Zealand".
Wednesday 20 March
Overall theme: POWER
Developing and supporting the Indigenous workforce.
Chair: Dr Nina Scott, Director Rangahau Hauora Māori, Te Aka Whai Ora.
Dr Amohia Boulton, Research Director, Whakauae Research Services & Ms Danielle Sword, PhD Candidate, Malaghan Institute for Medical Research, Whakauae Research Services, Otago University. "Poipoia te kakano kia puāwai, nurture the seed and it will blossom: Supporting the career development of emerging Māori health scientists".
Dr Georgia Mae Rangikahiwa Carson, Tautotoro Māori Engagement Advisor, Malaghan Institute of Medical Research. "Whāia te Iti Kahurangi: A Journey to Māori Equity and Power in Cancer Research".
Dr Kimiora Henare, Research Fellow, The University of Auckland & Dr Nicole Stanton, Research Manager, Te Kahui Matepukupuku O Aotearoa/Cancer Society Of New Zealand. "Ka whati te tai, ka pao te tōrea - Seize the opportunity: Māori Cancer Researcher Awards through a Tiriti-partnership between Hei Āhuru Mōwai and Te Kāhui Matepukupuku o Aotearoa / Cancer Society NZ".
Service innovation and improvement 2
Ms Dardy Motu, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Auckland Hospital & Ms Marino Edwards, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Te Whatu Ora, Auckland Hospital. "Perspective from the Māori Clinical Nurse Specialists (Kaiārahi Nāhi) working in Cancer Care at Te Toka Tumai (Auckland Hospital), in Aotearoa, New Zealand".
Cancer epidemiology
Dr Nicole Satherley, Senior Researcher, iNZight Analytics. "Novel methods for using linked data to study Indigenous and ethnic cancer outcomes".
Mr Andrew Sporle, Managing Director, iNZight Analytics. "Stomach cancer in the Maori population - a good news cancer story?".