Medical Research Institute of New Zealand - MRINZ

20/09/2025

To close out this , we honour the pathways that bring te reo Māori into the heart of health research.

MRINZ Researcher Bianca Crichton’s connection to whakapapa and whenua has been woven through her mahi in health, and embracing te reo has strengthened her connection to culture, tūpuna, and identity.

“Hoki atu ki ō maunga kia purea koe e ngā hau o Tāwhirimātea” — Return to your mountain to be cleansed by the winds of Tāwhirimātea.

Read Bianca’s story. Kia kaha te reo Māori!

He mokopuna au nō Tainui me Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Pūkeko, he uri au nō Ingarangi, Aerana me Kōtirana hoki. Ko Bianca Crichton tōku ingoa. I was born in Invercargill like my Mum and my Nana, and grew up in the beautiful, cold mountains of Tāhuna Queenstown. Most of my life has been in Te Waipounam...

19/09/2025

This , we celebrate the voices shaping the future of public health and research in Aotearoa.

Jackson Smeed-Tauroa, Assistant Research Fellow at MRINZ, shares how his whakapapa, whānau, and te reo Māori guide his mahi in the ICU — “Hoki whakamuri, kia anga whakamua.”

Read Jackson’s story and discover how whakapapa, whānau, and te reo guide his mahi.

Kia ora, ko Ngaati Korokii-Kahukura tōku iwi, ko Poohara tōku marae, kei te noho au ki Te Whanganui-a-Tara, ko Jackson Smeed-Tauroa tōku ingoa.   I was born and raised in the suburbs of Te Whanganui-a-Tara, surrounded by whānau, friends, and a wider community that has shaped who I am today

18/09/2025

Kupu o te rā: Mākoha (Mah-koh-hah) 😌🌿

Mākoha a beautiful word that speaks to gentleness, compassion, and a quiet strength. Mākoha can describe someone who is considerate, kind-hearted, and calm in their approach. It’s about showing empathy and understanding, even in challenging situations. In a world that often celebrates loudness and speed, mākoha reminds us of the power in being soft, thoughtful, and deliberate.

Let’s carry mākoha with us today in our kōrero, our mahi, and our interactions with others. Aroha mai, aroha atu❤

18/09/2025

This , the MRINZ honours journeys that connect us to heritage, language, and whānau.

Trisha Falleni, MRINZ Māori Advisor, shares her path of discovering identity later in life, embracing te reo, and carrying ancestral wisdom — “I walk backwards into the future with my eyes fixed on the past.”

Read Trisha’s story and be inspired to speak, listen, and live te reo Māori.

Walking Backwards Into the Future     Tēnā koutou katoa, e te whānau.    I am Trisha Falleni, and I am proud to stand as a Māori wahine toa, embracing my heritage and the language of my ancestors. My journey as a Māori, and my relationship with te reo Māori, has b

17/09/2025

Kupu o te rā: Tamāhine (Tah-mah-hee-nay) 🌺👩👱‍♀️

Tamāhine refers to a female child in te reo Māori, often used to describe one’s own daughter. It’s a beautiful kupu that carries deep whānau significance.

Why not try using tamāhine in your kōrero today? Whether you're chatting with friends, writing a journal entry, or teaching your tamariki, every use helps strengthen our reo.

🗣 Example sentence: “Ko Amy taku tamāhine. (Amy is my daughter.)”

16/09/2025

Kupu o te rā: Ngeru (Neh-rroo) 🐈🐾

Ngeru means cat in te reo Māori. Whether you're a cat lover or just admire their graceful independence, it's a great word to sprinkle into your day. Maybe you’ve got a ngeru curled up at home, or you’ve spotted one sunbathing on the footpath, now you’ve got the kupu to match.

🎥 Stay till the end of the video for a special treat… adorable ngeru pics 😍

15/09/2025

Kupu o te rā: Tīmata (tee-mah-tah)🌱

Tīmata means to begin, start or to commence. Whether you're learning your first kupu, joining a new kaupapa, or simply starting your day tīmata reminds us that every journey begins with a single step.

📸 Stay tuned for our upcoming kupu o te rā as we celebrate te reo wiki o te reo Māori together! 😊

14/09/2025

Kia ora, ko tēnei te wiki o te reo Māori! Happy Māori language week😊

Our kupu o te ra is "Mārie" (maa-ree-eh) meaning calm, peaceful and harmonious. Let this kupu guide your day, find a moment of mārie in your mahi, your whānau, or within yourself🌿

This September commemorates the 50th anniversary of Te Wiki o te Reo Māori. Born of activism, the week grew from a single ‘Māori Language Day’ set up in 1972. The seeds of a full week dedicated to te reo Māori were planted in 1974. By 1975 Te Wiki had found its footing and was off! Its growth and gains are what we celebrate 50 years on.

Te Wiki o te reo Māori takes place from 14 – 20 September 2025.
https://lnkd.in/gQZ8kzN

01/09/2025

Our Community Research Spotlight for August 2025 😊

Meet Umang, Joseph and Tina from Unichem Petone Pharmacy! They joined our Pharmacy Research Network in August 2024and have been involved as investigators in our COVID-19 needle length study and the ongoing swabbing study which monitors flu like viruses circulating the community.

Umang is the pharmacy manager and is a familiar face around the pharmacy. Originally from India, he has spent most of his life growing up in Wellington. As the pharmacy manager he ensures everything runs smoothly, whether it's managing daily operations or stepping in to help wherever needed.

Husband and wife duo Tina and Joseph are the owners of Unichem Petone Pharmacy. They’ve always known that their true calling was to run their own pharmacy, where they could truly make a difference. So, they took the leap, moved to Wellington, and found the perfect spot in Petone to bring their dream to life. Over the past six years, they’ve expanded their services, invested in robotic systems, and made healthcare more accessible through services like vaccinations, health checks, and pharmacist consultations. Last year, they took another big step by renovating their pharmacy. It’s all part of their ongoing commitment to providing the best possible care to their community.

We asked the team what they enjoyed most about being part of our MRINZ PRN clinical studies: “We have thoroughly enjoyed the training MRINZ have provided online as well as in-house. It equipped us with new skills, in particular the things a Principal Investigator must be mindful of during participant visits. We have enjoyed being part of the research project itself and the great support that's been readily available.”
“We're so grateful to the people of Petone and beyond for your support. Your trust and feedback inspire us every day. We love what we do and look forward to continuing to serve you and your healthcare needs. Thank you for being part of our journey!”

If you’ve experienced influenza like illness symptoms visit them to participate in our swabbing study.

Check out the Unichem Petone Pharmacy team here: https://www.facebook.com/unichempetone
https://www.unichempetone.co.nz/

Thank you Umang, Tina & Joseph for your work! ❤

26/08/2025

Kia ora Clinicians! We Need Your help!

We are conducting a survey to gain insight into primary health clinicians’ perspectives on participating in clinical trials integrated in general practice. To participate please click on the survey link below:

Survey Link: https://trials.mrinz.ac.nz/surveys/?s=889JM7FXRDYJRYEK

Your responses are anonymous, and you could win a $100 prize for sharing your thoughts!

This survey takes approximately 15-20 minutes, for any questions, feel free to contact karen.oldfield@mrinz.ac.nz.

07/08/2025

Our Community Research Spotlight for July 2025 😊

Ayman Ibousi is the director and pharmacist at Mainstreet Pharmacy in Taupō. Originally from Iraq, he now lives in Taupō with his wife, two children, and their cat. He works alongside pharmacist Jerome Curran-Pacquing, who also resides in Taupō with his husband and two dogs.

Ayman and Jerome joined the MRINZ Pharmacy Research Network (PRN) in February 2025 as investigators on the ILI Swabbing and Needle Length studies. Their involvement has allowed Mainstreet Pharmacy to participate in clinical research that connects directly with the community. Projects like these have enabled the pharmacy to contribute to data collection and patient engagement in a practical setting.

Outside of work, Jerome stays active through fitness and enjoys exploring local restaurants. Balancing professional and personal life is important for both pharmacists as they take on the dual roles of healthcare providers and research contributors.

Ayman and Jerome acknowledge the support of their families and the Mainstreet team. Ayman also extends thanks to Mike Riordan, his mentor and business partner, for his continued guidance throughout his journey into pharmacy ownership.

https://www.facebook.com/unichemmainstreetpharmacy

Thank you, Ayman and Jerome ❤

26/06/2025

Bringing Researchers Together — Ngātahi 2025. 🌐🪢 This week, MRINZ was thrilled to participate in the inaugural Ngātahi Researchers and Emerging Researchers Forum, hosted by Te Niwha in Te Whanganui-a-Tara.

The day was rich with kōrero and connection — especially around transdisciplinary collaboration to strengthen Aotearoa’s infectious disease research infrastructure. From seasoned researchers to emerging voices, there was a strong sense of shared purpose and momentum.

It was brilliant to have MRINZ team members Prof. Alex Semprini (Ngātahi Co-chair), Dr. Collin McArthur, Jackson Smeed-Tauroa, Marina Dzhelali, Melemafi Porter, and Dr. Tom Hills represent our institute and join in these vital conversations.

MRINZ is deeply grateful to Te Niwha for supporting our mahi through funding across three major projects and a Masters Scholarship:

REMAP-CAP Study — Dr. Collin McArthur, Dr. Tom Hills
Influenza Like Illness Study — Prof. Alex Semprini, Kyley Kerse
COVID-19 Needle Length Study — Prof. Richard Beasley, Dr. Gabby Shortt
Masters Scholarship — Jackson Smeed-Tauroa

Ngā mihi nui, Te Niwha — thank you for creating spaces where we can reconnect with each other and the 'why' behind our work.

“Kia niwha te ngākau ki te whakawhiu i ngā mahi atawhai – Be brave and immovable to do the best for the people.” — Tongi of King Tāwhiao