Hokia ki ō maunga kia pūrea e koe ngā hau a Tāwhirimātea
He mihi maioha tēnei ki a koutou i tae atu ki Te Whare Wānanga o Raukawa, ki te whakamana i tō tātou Hui-ā-Tau 2025.
With more than 150 members, tauira, sponsors, whānau and supporters gathered at Te Wānanga o Raukawa, the hui was an overwhelming success.
Across the four days we created space for attendees at every stage of their journey, from local kura students exploring medicine for the first time, to our senior leaders guiding the next generation. The weekend was filled with warmth and pride in the excellence of our people. Together we showed once again why Hui-ā-Tau is the heartbeat of Te ORA.
Te Rā Tūhura filled the first day with energy. Colleges joined us to share pathways in medicine with tauira, junior doctors and local kura students. A number of our members participated behind the booths and each spoke to their specialties and journeys. The Shark Tank brought humour and sharp kōrero as college representatives and our members pitched our junior doctors and tauira on why more Māori doctors are needed in their respective fields. The day ended with a powerful address from Ani Mikaere on Te Tiriti o Waitangi and maintaining integrity within a colonial space.
On Friday, we were warmly welcomed by Meihana Durie, Tumuaki of Te Wānanga o Raukawa, who reconnected us with the legacy of his Papa’s framework, Te Whare Tapa Wha. Members then came together for wānanga around the Ngākau Ora RMO Report, looking at how Te ORA can strengthen support for Māori RMOs. At the AGM we thanked Wiremu MacFater for his contributions to Te ORA as a Board member from 2023 – 2025 and welcomed Hohepa Cumming onto the Board. Members also voted unanimously in favour of the changes to Te ORA’s constitution.
The Scientific Conference across the weekend highlighted emerging and experienced Māori voices. Presentations covered equity, screening, maternal health and the challenges faced by Māori doctors. Arihia Waaka opened the conference with a keynote panel on Māori responses to global and local crises, and Diana and Mark Kopua reminded us of the responsibilities shared between teachers and learners with Ka mā te ariki, ka mā te tauira to close the conference on Sunday.
On Saturday night we came together at Tatum in Manakau for the Awards Dinner. It was a night of kai, music and celebration, and a chance to recognise the achievements of our tauira, graduates, fellows and leaders. The room was full of pride and aroha as we acknowledged excellence across our Te ORA whānau and celebrated the impact Māori doctors are making for our people.
Te ORA 2025 Award Recipients
The Maarire Goodall Supreme Award
Sponsored by Maarire Goodall Charitable Trust
Associate Professor Bridget Robson
(Ngāti Raukawa)
Pictured here with her whānau.
Ngākau Ora Award – in memory of Dr Paratene Ngata
Sponsored by Medical Assurance Society
Dr Katrina Kirikino-Cox
(Ngāti Porou)
Pictured here with Suzie Cromb from MAS and her whānau.
Iwi Health Award – in memory of Dr Tony Ruakere
Sponsored by Medical Assurance Society
Dr James Te Whare
(Tainui Waikato, Ngāti Rereahu, Ngāti Maniapoto)
Pictured here with Suzie Cromb from MAS.
Ngā Rangatira Matahīapo o te Hauora Award
Dr Jamie-Lee Rahiri
(Ngāti Porou, Te Ātihaunui-a-Pāpārangi, Ngāti Whātua)
Pictured here with her whānau.
Te Tohu Whaioranga Rangahau – Excellence in Research Award
Sponsored by PHARMAC
Tanira Kingi
(Te Whakatohea)
Pictured here with Te Rato Leach, Tumuaki of Te Oranga.
Te Tohu Whaioranga Hautūtanga – Excellence in Leadership Award
Sponsored by PHARMAC
Joshua Matenga
(Ngāti Porou, Te Ātihaunui-a-Pāpārangi, Ngāti Whātua)
Pictured here with Te Rato Leach, Tumuaki of Te Oranga.
Te Rā Tūhura – Best Exhibit Award
Dr Delamy Keall
(Taranaki)
Palliative Medicine
Pictured here with Te Rato Leach, Tumuaki of Te Oranga.
We would like to acknowledge our members who recently became Fellows and completed PhD’s
From left to right: Ngaire Keenan, Kopa Manahi, Lance Buckthought, Hohepa Cumming, Nina Bevin.
Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners
Dr Hohepa Cumming
(Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga, Ngāti Toarangatira, Ngā Rauru, Te Ātihaunui-a-Pāpārangi)
Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
Dr Lance Buckthought
(Ngāti Pikiao (Te Arawa), Tainui)
Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
Dr Kopa Manahi
(Te Arawa, Ngāi Tūhoe)
New Zealand College of Public Health Medicine
Dr Nina Bevin
(Waikato)
Dr Ngaire Keenan (Te Ātiawa) for achievement of the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Medicine from the University of Otago
We would like to acknowledge our members who recently graduated Medical School
From left to right: Jaxson Abraham, Timoti Te Moke, Papaarangi Reid, Stacy-Ria Te Kurapa-King, Patrick Macaskill-Webb, Hotene Ngaropo-Tuia.
Medical School Graduates
University of Auckland
- Dr Stacey-Ria Te Kurapa-King (Rongowhakaata, Tūhoe, Ngāpuhi)
- Dr Patrick Macaskill-Webb (Ngāti Awa)
University of Otago
- Dr Hotene Ngaropo-Tuia (Te Rarawa, Ngāpuhi)
- Dr Jaxson Abraham (Ngā Rauru, Ngāi Tūhoe)
- Dr Timoti Moke (Ngāti Rangitihi, Tapuika)
With Gratitude
This hui was only possible through the efforts of many.
We thank our sponsors for their generous support:
- Pharmac
- Medical Assurance Society (MAS)
- Te Whatu Ora
- Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
- The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
- Australasian College of Emergency Medicine
- The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists
- The Royal Australasian College of Physicians
- The Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists
- New Zealand College of Public Health Medicine
- The College of Intensive Care Medicine of Australia and New Zealand
- The Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators
- Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners
- The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists
- The Maarire Goodall Charitable Trust
- Royal New Zealand College of Urgent Care
- Psychiatry Interest Forum (RANZCP)
Ngā mihi to Te Wānanga o Raukawa and their entire team for welcoming us and providing such strong manaaki throughout the weekend.
Thank you to the Te ORA staff, Jared Vinnicombe and Margaret Walsh (MJM), for your organisation and commitment, to our Board — Dr Kasey Tawhara, Dr Wiremu MacFater, Dr Arihia Waaka and Tania Te Whenua — for your leadership, to Dr Jaclyn Aramoana for your efforts in organising the programme and to everyone who donated their time in helping across the four days.
Finally, thank you to every member, tauira, whānau and supporter who attended. Your presence and contributions made Hui-ā-Tau & Scientific Conference 2025 the success that it was.
