Pūtahi Manawa - Healthy Hearts for Aotearoa NZ

21/04/2026

𝐇𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐮𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐜 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞

The Pūtahi Manawa Integrated Research Module, Our Heart, our genes, our story, led by Dr Polona Le Quesne Stabej, has recently published a paper in the European Heart Journal that will save lives around the world. It changes guidelines for identifying a potential genetic cause of sudden cardiac death.

The research has already provided answers for families in Aotearoa and Australia, and identified previously unknown at-risk relatives, enabling them to receive the preventative care they need.

Cardiac Inherited Disease Group -CIDG
Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland
Centenary Institute

Read the TVNZ story - https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/04/21/hidden-genetic-culprit-found-for-sudden-cardiac-deaths-of-young-people/

13/04/2026

06/03/2026

𝐏ū𝐭𝐚𝐡𝐢 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐰𝐚 𝐈𝐧𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐌ā𝐨𝐫𝐢 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞

Pūtahi Manawa celebrated its first Summer Research Awards, honouring Māori and Pacific students for outstanding research in heart health, equity, and community wellbeing. Held at University of Auckland - Waipapa Taumata Rau, in early February, this is a proud milestone recognising emerging talent.

Congratulations to our Special Award winners: Angel Hillman, Jayda Matara, Waimania Papuni, Jaxson Murphy-Winterstein, Lisi-Malia Pereira, Oaklea Bowden, Te Paea Ma'u, Arihia Waitai-Morehu, Pooja Rattu, and Carmel Ah Chong

The Kura Raumati prize was a Pekapeka (bat) taonga by Te Arawa, Te Ati Awa artist, Kereama Taepa - Artist.

The Fatu Malosi prizes were from a Tongan vendor in South Auckland.

Link to full story in comments

02/03/2026

𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬

Māori and Pacific students in Kura Raumati and Fatu Malosi lead identity‑driven heart health research, strengthening equity, celebrating cultural values, and empowering communities through innovative summer projects across Aotearoa.

The two programmes celebrated the student's success over two days of presentations, a dinner and awards at Waipapa Taumata Rau University of Auckland at the beginning of February.

A huge thank you to everyone who attended over the two days and who made the event a success.

We are grateful for the beautiful and lively performance on the night by the talented Anuanua Dance Troupe - Cook Island Entertainment

Link to full story in comments

16/02/2026

𝐏ū𝐭𝐚𝐡𝐢 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐰𝐚 𝐚𝐭 𝐖𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐢 𝐃𝐚𝐲: 𝐓𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬, 𝐀𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞

Pūtahi Manawa’s presence at Waitangi Treaty Grounds on Waitangi Day 2026 highlighted its commitment to heart health equity and Te Tiriti o Waitangi by engaging with communities, representing Māori & Pacific in research, & strengthening relationships to support long‑term wellbeing in Aotearoa.

The team this year included Pūtahi Manawa staff, members, former Kura Raumati graduates, and current funded researchers. It was an awesome day, hosted by Ngāti Hine Health Trust, and we thank everyone who made this event possible.

The team: Linda Fotherby, Francesca Higgins, Assina Te Paa-Kolio, Matua Joe Pihema, Dr David Crossman, Dr Faasisila Savila, Joshua Matenga, and Nicola Stanton.

Link to full story in comments

13/02/2026

Soteria Ieremia, our Co-Director Pacific, and Jaxson Murphy-Winterstein, Fatu Malosi student from Otākou Whakaihu Waka University of Otago, spoke to William Terite on 531 Pacific Mornings yesterday about how Fatu Malosi is contributing to better health outcomes for Pacific.

26/01/2026

𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐑𝐄𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞: 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐢

Pūtahi Manawa and fellow Centres of Research Excellence met with Minister Shane Reti in November 2025 to discuss upcoming reforms to Aotearoa New Zealand’s research system, highlighting opportunities for greater alignment, impact, and collaboration as the national review progresses.

Link to the full story in the comments

On 5 November 2025, the Centres of Research Excellence (CoREs), of which Pūtahi Manawa is one of ten, met with Hon Dr Shane Reti, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, to discuss the Government’s proposed reforms to Aotearoa New Zealand’s research, science and innovation system. Pūta...

23/01/2026

𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐡 ‘𝐎𝐭𝐮𝐤𝐨𝐥𝐨: 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐃𝐨𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫

When Serah missed out on medical school, she never imagined the setback would open the door to cutting-edge heart research.

Today, she’s a Pūtahi Manawa Pacific doctoral scholarship recipient, preparing to work on a world-first pacemaker project.

Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland
Māori and Pacific Admission Scheme - MAPAS

Link to the full story in comments

14/01/2026

Lineni Tuitupou and Ed the cameraman from Te Ao Māori News captured some of our Kura Raumati tauira and leaders involved in the programme this week at Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Whai Maia.

Watch online from 3pm today - https://www.teaonews.co.nz/

08/01/2026

𝐊𝐮𝐫𝐚 𝐑𝐚𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢: 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐌ā𝐨𝐫𝐢 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞

Returning for the summer of 2025/26, Kura Raumati is growing the next generation of Māori heart health researchers through Kaupapa Māori leadership, national partnerships, and long-term investment.

Read the full story

Systemic barriers persist that affect entry, retention, and progression in health research and health careers for Māori, resulting in significant underrepresentation in the New Zealand research and health workforce. Māori also bear the burden of worse heart health outcomes in a health system where...

06/01/2026

🌺 𝐏𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐨𝐨𝐧

Kia orana, Mauri, Bula Vinaka, Ia ora na, Mālō e lelei, Fakaalofa lahi atu, Tāloha ni, Tālofa, and Warm Pacific Greetings.

If you are a Pacific student about to undertake postgraduate studies that include research in heart health in Aotearoa New Zealand, don’t miss out on this chance to step into a meaningful future in research.

🚨 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝟏𝟔 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

The scholarship offers:

✅ Financial support for up to a two-year period, with a stipend of $24,000 per annum
✅ $7,000 p/a in research expenses and payment of tuition fees
✅ Opportunities to make a real impact in your field

🌺 See the full details, conditions, and criteria - https://www.putahimanawa.ac.nz/our-research/funding-opportunities -postgraduate-scholarships

To apply for the Māori Postgraduate Scholarship, see the full details, conditions, and criteria - https://www.putahimanawa.ac.nz/our-research/funding-opportunities -postgraduate-scholarships

𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬?
Contact hhanzcoregrants@auckland.ac.nz

06/01/2026

🧑🏽‍🎓 𝐌ā𝐨𝐫𝐢 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐨𝐨𝐧

If you are a Māori student about to undertake postgraduate studies that include research in heart health in Aotearoa New Zealand, don’t miss out on this chance to step into a meaningful future in research!

🚨 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝟏𝟔 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

The scholarship offers:

✅ Financial support for up to a two-year period, with a stipend of $24,000 per annum

✅ $7,000 p/a in research expenses and payment of tuition fees

✅ Opportunities to make a real impact in your field

📋 See the full details, conditions, and criteria - https://www.putahimanawa.ac.nz/our-research/funding-opportunities -postgraduate-scholarships

To apply for the 𝐏𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜 Postgraduate Scholarship: see the full details, conditions, and criteria - https://www.putahimanawa.ac.nz/our-research/funding-opportunities -postgraduate-scholarships

𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬?

Contact hhanzcoregrants@auckland.ac.nz