Research Empowering Whānau: A Culturally Grounded Diabetes Resource for Māori Communities Te Pou Whirinaki o te Mate Huka, in partnership with Ngaa Miro Community Health Centre, has officially launched a new online resource to support Māori whānau living with Type 2 Diabetes. This HRC-funded project has been a deeply collaborative journey with the Ngāruawāhia community, weaving together clinical knowledge, lived experience, and mātauranga Māori. Led by Primary Investigator Rebekah Crosswell, under the expert guidance of Anna Tiatia Fa’atoese Latu, the website — www.matehuka.info — provides practical, culturally relevant tools and information designed to resonate with Māori whānau. It includes: Personal stories from whānau navigating diabetes Resources grounded in te ao Māori and community values Tools to support understanding and self-management of Type 2 Diabetes This rauemi reflects the voice of the people it was built for. It is a taonga born out of community connection and kaupapa Māori research. “With this website, we aspire for a healthier future where Maaori whaanau thrive.” The site is live and ready to explore. We encourage you to share it with your networks and provide feedback to help strengthen this platform for future users. You can also keep an eye on their YouTube channel, where video rauemi will be added soon. We extend our deepest gratitude to all the dedicated participants, the wider Ngāruawāhia community, and every individual who offered their unwavering tautoko and contributed their expertise to making this important resource a reality for our whānau. The team welcomes any feedback, suggestions, or ideas for improvement to strengthen the mahi further. You can contact Rebekah Crosswell directly at rebekah.crosswell@waikato.ac.nz
