Research Team

Our Whakapapa

Powering this research is a team of young Māori health professionals and students who have all contributed significantly to the development of this kaupapa.

Kapowairua is from Te Uri o Tai, Pawarenga, and was one of the first health students to coordinate the research activities within the foundation. She is completing her 6th year of medical school through the University of Otago in the hpe to one day return to Kaitaia as a Māori doctor.
Kapo Wairua Stevens 2017
Kapo Wairua Stevens
Rhiian Smith, currently at medical school in Otago, also spent a year working at WKTT to have a break from university life and spend some time giving back to the people of Te Taitokerau. She was instrumental in initiating phase one of the CREBRF genetic study in Kaitaia and also refining the work of the “Huka I roto I nga kura” project.
Rhiaan Smith 2018
Rhiaan Smith
Dr Pirini is a passionate Maori health professional invaluable to the community of Te Hiku, and we were lucky enough to have his clinical oversight across our team in 2018 and 2019. Due to his intense role of serving our whanau as a hospital GP, he has had to return to the frontline but still offers his support whenever the team is in need.
Dr Joel Pirini clinical director (2017-2019)
Dr Joel Pirini
My experience of growing up Māori within a community such as Kaitaia has given me the passion to want to do something meaningful with my career. I have always been fascinated with the many factors relating to health care and how we as a society strive to prioritise this for everyone, but in reality this is not the case. Therefore my passion lies with anything to do with Māori health, and I want to play my little part in seeing that improve.
Conor Watene O’SullivanHealth Research Coordinator
Conor Watene O’Sullivan
Corbin is a proud representative of the Waikato-Tainui iwi and Kirikiriroa is where he grew up before moving to auckland and completing a Bachelor of Health Sciences majoring in Population Health. Wanting experience within a rural Māori setting where he could apply his knowledge attained from university, he directed the Huka I Roto I Nga Kura project over 2019.
Corbin Whanga2019
Jessica Jones has whakapapa to the Far North through Ngai Takoto iwi and wanted to reinforce that by spending a year in the Far North working on the projects offered through the MOKO Foundation. Taking time off from her Biomedical degree at the University of Auckland, through WKTT she continued on with the CREBRF project and also supported the Huka I Roto I nga Kura project.
Jessica Jones2019

Join us

We are looking for a new research co-ordinator to join our team. You will co-ordinate the roll out of some awesome innovative research projects that will contribute to the future of Maori health.

If you are keen or know someone who would be interested call us on 09 408 8805 for more info, or send us your CV

Send us your CV
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