Pūtahi Manawa Centre of Research Excellence was well-represented at the Cardiac Society of New Zealand (CSANZ) 4th Indigenous Cardiovascular Health Conference held in Gadigal Country, Sydney, on the 18th and 19th of June. 

Twenty-six oral presentations and thirteen posters by Pūtahi Manawa researchers and leadership covered various interventions, findings, and Māori and Pacific Peoples-led solutions in action. 

Pūtahi Manawa proudly sponsored the conference, with staff in Sydney forging connections, launching an international Indigenous travel grant, and sparking momentum for cross-cultural research collaborations to improve heart health outcomes for Indigenous communities.

"I don't think 'sponsor support' does true justice to the contribution made by your people and the people you helped to attend. It made the conference a lot richer, a lot stronger, a lot more important for us",  expressed Professor Alex Brown (Wadi Wadi, Yuin Nation), Co-convenor of this year's conference and a leader in Aboriginal health equity. 

Across Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand, and the broader Pacific, cardiovascular health outcomes remain a stark reflection of systemic inequity. Despite decades of targeted research and intervention, Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, Māori, and Pacific communities continue to experience disproportionate rates of heart disease.

The 2025 CSANZ Indigenous conference was a powerful catalyst for change. This two-day gathering championed Indigenous-led models of care, grounded in cultural knowledge, and driven by communities that conventional health systems have long underserved.

With a focus on bold solutions and transformative innovation, the conference amplified research, practice, and dialogue that disrupts the status quo. It showcased how Indigenous leadership is not just enriching the heart health landscape but redefining it entirely.

"It's a time where we can come together and talk about our stuff in the context of cardiovascular health inequities and what we need to do to overcome them", said Professor Alex Brown (Wadi Wadi, Yuin Nation), Co-convenor of this year's conference and a leader in Aboriginal health equity.

Held during the week of Matariki, Māori New Year, Matua Joe Pihema (Ngāti Whātua Ōrakei), Pūtahi Manawa Pou Tikanga spoke about Umukohukohu Whetū, an ancient Matariki ceremony that offers food to the Matariki star cluster. Once the food is cooked and the umu (underground oven) is opened, the steam rises to feed the stars for plentiful growth for the following lunar calendar year. 

"As the Umukohukohu feeds the stars, the knowledge sharing, connections, and learnings over the next two days will feed everyone here so they can continue to do their important mahi (work)."

Empowering young people and embracing a future-focused mindset ensures that Indigenous leadership, innovation, and wellbeing thrive today and shine forward for future generations. One Pūtahi Manawa undergraduate student was selected to make an oral presentation. Fatu Malosi student, Carmel Ah Chong (Samoa), presented her summer research work, where she developed a resource to support much-needed culturally safe and relevant conversations with Pasifika women about the long-term cardiovascular risks after complications in pregnancy. 

Equitable Outcomes in Heart Health 

Heart health equity is what those attending live and breathe. The Pūtahi Manawa Concurrent session: Equitable outcomes in Heart Health, chaired by Professor Julian Paton, Pūtahi Manawa Co-Director, and Matua Pihema, highlighted five projects from the impressive array of indigenous-driven solutions from the research centre that are in action across Aotearoa. Read about these below.

Flourishing Mindsets

Dr Anna Rolleston, Managing Director of Manawaora, The Centre for Health, showcased the multi-faceted Te Ara Poutama Integrated Research Module, co-funded by the Heart Foundation New Zealand, and several projects directly initiated by the community from an in-depth co-design process. One highlighted project that arose from the community is called Flourishing Mindsets.

"We learnt from the co-design process that there were some members of the community who consistently don't engage in health initiatives. We asked them why they had decided not to participate. They told us that it was because they didn't want to stuff up our research by being unable to do it. 

This kaupapa (project focus) is for the portion of our community who feel disconnected,  who have been oppressed and suppressed and have been told they are not good enough for so many years, so many generations, that they don't think they could have better heart health. Flourishing mindsets is a Kaupapa Māori – on marae delivery – of a flourishing approach to life so that people can engage in the health system without fear."

Racism came up in every hui and every consultation with community members. Te Ara Poutama will develop the participants' experiences into stories to share with health providers for improved understanding and care.

Doctor Rolleston is looking for an expert in this area to join the project on collecting and sharing experiences of racism in the health system, which she will be developing at the end of 2025.

Co-Design of an Integrated Health and Educational Initiative at a Pacific STEM Academy in Aotearoa New Zealand

Professor Andrew Lowe (Auckland University of Technology), from the Integrated Research Module, Sweet Pressure with Dr Fiona McBryde (University of Auckland), shared what it means to co-design an Integrated Health and Educational Initiative at a Pacific STEM Academy in Aotearoa New Zealand. 

The co-occurrence of hypertension and diabetes ("Sweet Pressure") has 8.4% prevalence in Pacific people in Aotearoa New Zealand, which is more than double the national average prevalence (4.1%). Pacific communities' lived experience underpins a deep desire to improve related health outcomes for future generations. Amanaki STEM Academy (ASA) leadership expressed their aspirations to the researchers.

Success looked like transferable STEM skills for the students, improving STEM education outcomes, inspiring students to do research, and increasing health literacy for students and families. Growing confidence for families to access health resources when they felt challenged or unable, or not a good fit with the health system around them, and then access and exposure for the wider Pacific community as a whole to research. 

Co-design initiatives

• Visits to university research groups and visits from leading Pacific scientists.
• Instigated and supported an ASA science fair.
• Set up a heart health station at the ASA learning environment where students can check blood pressure, blood glucose and body composition.
• Delivered nutrition education for the ASA community, students, and families.

"We've seen the scope for a much deeper relationship from a research perspective", said Professor Lowe, "it's not just about listening and responding, but feeling for the problems that these communities are facing."

Our heart, our genes, our story: first Māori genetic counsellor in Aotearoa. 

Inherited heart conditions significantly impact Māori and Pacific families, often affecting multiple generations and causing a lot of uncertainty. However, current genetic tests don't give as many answers for Māori and Pacific patients as they do for people of European descent in New Zealand.

Saraya Hogan presented the work of the Integrated Research Module (IRM): Our heart, our genes, our story, led by Dr Polona Le Quesne Stabej (University of Auckland) who has worked together with The Cardiac Inherited Diseases Group (CIDG) to uncover a genetic cause for a previously unexplained sudden cardiac death in one family in Aotearoa as well as identify two other families in Australia with Associate Professor Richard Bagnall at the Centenary Institute in Australia.

Ms Hogan, supported by the IRM, completed her master's in genetic counselling at the University of Technology, Sydney, as the qualification is not available in New Zealand. Ms Hogan is New Zealand's first qualified Māori genetic counsellor. [LF1] 

Finding the genetic cause is crucial because it helps guide treatment and support for the patient and their immediate and extended family.

This project has built on CIDG's trusted relationships with communities to create culturally appropriate approaches and use the latest genetic tools to uncover causes that have remained a mystery until now. Ms Hogan said designing research studies with clinical services is the best way. "We're able to provide delivery of clinically relevant outcomes, but also with the best updated care possible."

The IRM is supporting a Pacific student in 2025 to qualify as the first Pacific genetic counsellor in New Zealand. 

Equity-focused discharge planning for heart failure 

Heart failure patients and their whānau have a strong desire to remain connected to the health system after a diagnosis or a hospitalisation; they don't want to feel that they are out there on their own. Currently, there is no process to ensure discharge management with an equitable lens, and the results are shameful.

Dr Sandra Hanchard (UoA), Pūtahi Manawa inaugural Pacific Fellow, co-funded by the Heart Foundation, presented her community-based research project to guide improvements in discharge planning and post-discharge management for Māori and Pacific heart failure patients. "This work is critical, Māori and Pacific patients face significant inequities in hospitalisations, readmissions, and mortality rates for heart failure in Aotearoa", said Dr Hanchard, leading the equity-focused discharge planning work.

Providers remarked that there is a need to look at heart failure management across Aotearoa for increased consistency of care. While the investigation found that some equity-focused pathways do exist, these aren't always implemented, and in some places, it depends on whether an equity champion is present. One provider reported an appropriately resourced Hauora Māori team who were proactive, ensuring an equity lens on discharge planning that works well for whānau.

Dr Hanchard said there needs to be a balance allowing for localised service models whilst ensuring a high standard of care and attention to equity regionally and nationally.

"The cardiology profession must take an active role in grassroots training for championing an anti-racist workforce…Despite known, long-standing inequities in heart failure outcomes, the New Zealand health system lacks robust systemic approaches to equitable discharge planning."

Researchers are now undertaking a follow-up project involving co-design with Māori and Pacific patients and their whānau to strengthen post-discharge engagement.

Te Kāika DiRECT: Local Innovation in Diabetes and Obesity Care Shows Promising Results

A critical new study led by Te Kāika Health and the University of Otago has shown that locals in Ōtepoti, Dunedin, have embraced a primary care-led weight management programme that has had success internationally. The programme dramatically improves outcomes for people living with type 2 diabetes and obesity.

The pilot programme, Te Kāika DiRECT, trialled a structured weight loss approach already successful in the UK to determine its acceptability and effectiveness in Aotearoa. The initiative was born from the voices of Te Kāika patients, many of whom were seeking better ways to manage their weight and health, dissatisfied with existing options.

Te Kāika Health, a Māori-led health provider serving 5,200 predominantly Māori, Pacific, refugee, and low-income whānau in South Dunedin, collaborated with researchers from the University of Otago on this community-driven project. The research team, including Dr Andrew Reynolds, Associate Professor Justine Camp, and Dr Kim Ma'ia'i, represented a unique partnership of Pacific, Māori, and Pākehā researchers.

Participants had significant results following a structured plan: three months of total meal replacement, followed by food reintroduction and supported weight loss maintenance. An average weight loss of 6.9kg after three months, with most of the weight still off after 12 months, far outpaced those receiving standard care, who lost just 0.8kg in three months and 2.3kg after a year.

Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive, with many saying the fast initial results helped them stay motivated. One participant noted, "You see results quickly, and those results motivate you to keep going." Others appreciated the focus on sustainable change: "This study's just allowed me to hone in on that long-term lifestyle change as opposed to quick fixes."

"This is more than a diet – it's about changing lives," said Dr Reynolds. "What's special about Te Kāika DiRECT is that it's rooted in primary care and driven by community needs. It shows what's possible when whānau, clinicians, and researchers work together."

The pilot study was co-funded by Pūtahi Manawa and the Ministry of Social Development, and plans are now underway for a nationwide trial — one that could influence national guidelines for diabetes and obesity care in New Zealand.

These are just a sample of projects illuminating a pathway towards culturally grounded, equity-driven heart health care for Māori and Pacific Peoples in Aotearoa and beyond. 

Pūtahi Manawa funded research