About Us
Our vision is to ensure that all hapū māmā (pregnant woman/person), and importantly their pēpi (babies), across Aotearoa will be protected from preventable diseases such as whooping cough and the flu.
Our Kaupapa Māori research methodology is underpinned by Māori values. We have developed Te Whariki o te Pūnaha Hauora as a framework for improving health outcomes for Māori and addressing health inequities through interventions and sustainable changes across multiple levels:
This framework includes:
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System-level changes
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Individual and whānau-level changes
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Health service-level changes
These are strengthened by Kaupapa Māori values:
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Whānau ora: recognising that the wellbeing of pēpi occurs within the context of a healthy whānau
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Whakapapa: Protecting each generation within a whānau and ensuring pēpi are healthy and well
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Manaakitanga: Ensuring that health services provide access to immunisations and support whānau ora
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Tino rangatiratanga: Whānau are empowered to make decisions about their own health and wellbeing
Meet the team
Amber Young
Amber is a pharmacist who works as a Pukenga Mātua (senior lecturer) at He Rau Kawakawa (School of Pharmacy), Ōtakou Whakaihu Waka (University of Otago).
Amber investigates vaccine uptake, with an aim to increase information and vaccine access for Māori and Pacific whānau. She talks to hapū māmā and whānau about access to vaccine services and their decision-making around vaccines. She also works with health providers and health policy makers to improve people’s ability to be vaccinated and understanding around why we should be vaccinated to protect ourselves, our whānau, and community.
Gabrielle McDonald
Gabrielle is a public health doctor who works at Kōhatu – Centre for Hauora Māori at Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka (the University of Otago). She researches ways to keep mums and children healthy, including through maternal vaccination. Her work is focused on improving access to the care that people need.
Pauline Dawson
Pauline is a midwife of 20+ years’ experience and a Senior Lecturer at the Dunedin School of medicine. She is focussed on improving outcomes and experiences for families through their childbearing journey.
Anna Howe
Anna is an epidemiologist in child and maternal health with a focus on immunisation and vaccine preventable disease. Her research is concerned with equitable health outcomes for New Zealanders, with a particular focus on using big data to answer wide ranging questions.
Esther Willing
Esther Willing (Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Koata, Ngā Ruahine, Ngāi Tahu) is an Associate Professor in Hauora Māori at Kōhatu Centre for Hauora Māori at Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka – University of Otago. Her research focuses on health policy and health systems changes to improve Māori health outcomes and address health inequities.
Lukas Marek
My research is driven by the idea that combining (health) geography and data science can advise public health interventions. As a member of Te Taiwhenua o te Hauora | GeoHealth Laboratory (UC), I study how physical and social environments where people live affect their health and well-being. I apply advanced computational methods and statistical tools to analyse and interpret a range of traditional and spatial datasets, often including large datasets consisting of detailed individual-level records that cover entire populations. I enjoy creating clear and effective data visualisations and maps to help inform decision-making and increase public understanding of complex findings.
Peter McIntyre
Peter specialised as a paediatric (kids) doctor, but his research work is in vaccines for people of all ages. He is a professor at the university and has done work for the World Health Organisation in vaccines.