Pūtahi Manawa - Healthy Hearts for Aotearoa NZ

31/08/2026

𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡

From raising a family to health research, Pūtahi Manawa Fellow Penina Hitti brings a lifelong commitment to community and wellbeing to her PhD, exploring how childhood experiences shape health later in life.

Massey University Pacific Massey
Massey University - Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa

Read the full story -

Penina Hitti came to health research after years of raising her family and contributing to her community. When she began looking for a way back into the workforce, a friend and Professor at Massey University suggested she take on project management roles in Pacific health research.

16/08/2026

𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞: 𝐀 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫-𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬-𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐛𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲.

Dr Wilda Laux from the Our Heart, Our Genes, Our Story Integrated Research Module at University of Auckland - Waipapa Taumata Rau is on a mission to make science more accessible, and the Bento Lab is enabling hands-on DNA discovery for students in remote areas of New Zealand

For Dr Laux, hands-on genomics belongs in the classroom, not as an advanced extra for the few, but as an accessible way for all students to understand the science shaping health, medicine, and their own futures.

Read the full story by Bento Lab - https://bento.bio/story/making-genomics-visible-a-teacher-led-approach-to-hands-on-molecular-biology/

Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland

Wilda Laux is on a mission to make science more accessible, and the Bento Lab is enabling hands-on DNA discovery for students in remote areas of New Zealand.

14/08/2026

By the end of 2026, Auroiana Etelei will become the first Pacific and Samoan genetic counsellor in Aotearoa New Zealand, graduating with a Master of Genetic Counselling from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS).

Auroiana’s Master’s research has focused on Pacific perspectives and attitudes towards genetic testing for inherited cardiac conditions.

She hopes the findings will contribute to the development of culturally appropriate resources that make genetic information more accessible and meaningful for Pacific families.

“There’s a huge gap between best practice in genetic testing, and what our Pacific communities understand,” she says.
“As a Samoan woman, I understand the importance of communicating in ways that respect Pacific cultures, values and ways of connecting. People deserve information that makes sense to them and reflects who they are.”

Her research was recognised last week at the Human Genetics Society of Australasia Conference in Ōtautahi Christchurch, where she received the Best Student Presentation award.

Listen to her interview with Pacific Mornings' Will Terite about her unique career interest - https://pmn.co.nz/read/health/samoan-researcher-wants-genetic-heart-care-to-work-for-families

PMN News
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07/08/2026

Mary-Ann Moller (Rarotonga, Rakahanga), a 2025 Pūtahi Manawa Pacific Doctoral scholarship recipient studying at Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka | University of Otago, is exploring lagoon bathing as an ecologically valid therapy to potentially lower blood pressure and support broader wellbeing in the Cook Islands.

Read the full story in the comments

06/08/2026

𝐓𝐞 𝐊𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐢 𝐏ū𝐭𝐚𝐡𝐢 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐰𝐚 𝐊𝐚𝐩𝐚 𝐇𝐚𝐤𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭

𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝟕 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭.

You don't need to have everything worked out at this stage, just your "who".

To submit your intention to apply, email your research team details to [email protected]

Lineni Tuitupou from Whakaata Māori put this story together, demonstrating the importance of this kaupapa and how Māori-led solutions can drive mainstream health practices.

A new Māori-led research project aims to back up traditional understanding with clinical data on heart health and cardiorespiratory fitness.

06/08/2026

04/08/2026

🚨 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐬

𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬:
𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞: 𝟓𝐩𝐦 𝟏𝟒 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔
Programme Starts: 23 November 2026
Programme ends: 12 February 2027

𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭?

The Pūtahi Manawa Māori and Fatu Malosi Pacific summer research programmes aim to provide opportunities for Māori and Pacific students studying at a tertiary level to participate in a heart health equity programme of research over the summer holidays.
Projects can be submitted for either the Fatu Malosi Pacific summer research programme or the Māori summer research programme, which will be run in partnership with Pūhoro STEMM, or for both.

If you are community-based and have a project in mind, we can support you in developing a research project.

Find out more about our summer research programmes - https://www.putahimanawa.ac.nz/our-research/research/summer-research-programmes

Apply through the link in the comments.

04/08/2026

🚨𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐅𝐚𝐭𝐮 𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐢, 𝐏ū𝐭𝐚𝐡𝐢 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐰𝐚'𝐬 𝐏𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐞.

Fatu Malosi provides Pacific students with the opportunity to gain hands-on research experience, work alongside leading researchers, and contribute to projects that are improving heart health outcomes for Pacific peoples in Aotearoa.

Whether you're considering a career in health or research, or want to make a meaningful difference for your community, Fatu Malosi offers a supportive environment to develop your skills, build your networks, and explore the impact of Pacific-led research.

📅 Applications are now open.
📅 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞: 𝟓𝐩𝐦 𝟏𝟒 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

Find out more and apply through the link in the comments.

31/07/2026

Join us for an interactive showcase of MedTech innovations, from life-saving medical devices and AI-powered diagnostics to wearable technologies and digital health solutions shaping the future of healthcare.

📅 Thursday 27 August 2026
⏰ 10am–3.30pm
📍 AUT South Campus, MH Building
640 Great South Road, Manukau City Centre, Auckland
🎟 Free entry | Open to everyone

Register now via the link in our bio or here: MedTech Explorer Showcase 2026

Tag someone who should come along! 👇