Tohu Rangahau Award

NZSTA would like to recognise research in speech-language therapy celebrating mātauranga and kaupapa Māori.
Mātauranga Māori speaks to the combined knowledge systems developed by our ancestors who travelled across Te Moana Nui a Kiwa and Māori living within the environment of Aotearoa.

Kaupapa Māori research and evaluation is done by Māori, with Māori and for Māori. It is informed by tikanga Māori or Māori ways of doing things.

This award will recognise practice-based projects and formal research through a tertiary institution or wānanga.

Value: $1,000
Each nominee will receive a certificate recognising their commitment to rangahau.

Selection Criteria:

Applicants will have completed research or a project in the last 12 months.
The research / practice-based project benefits Māori whānau, hapū and iwi.

Evidence:

Evidence will take the form of reference/nomination detailing how the individual has demonstrated rangahau.

Award Process:

The winner of the Tohu Rangahau Award will be determined by the Māori rōpū and will be announced in September.

Applications close at 5pm on 30 June annually.

Apply now

Any queries, please contact culturaldevelopment@speechtherapy.org.nz

Awarded in 2024 to Nicky-Marie Kohere-Smiler, Marie Malone
and 'Te Aitanga a Mahaki Researchers' with 'Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki iwi'

Nicky-Marie Kohere-Smiler, Marie Malone, and 'Te Aitanga a Mahaki researchers' with Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki iwi have conducted research with and for Te Aitanga a Mahaki to understand what they know about SLT, what needs to change, and how the space can be transformed to nurture the wellbeing of tamariki-mokopuna.

We commend and celebrate the guiding framework that they have developed for speech-language therapy, working with whānau and kaiako of Te Aitanga a Mahaki, supporting tamariki with complex speech language communication needs, titled: “Te Koekoe o te Tui: A Guiding Framework Towards Indigenizing Speech, Language, and Communication Support for Tamariki-Mokopuna of Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki iwi”, published in May 2024.

We also celebrate the development of a kete-rauemi (resource pack) for whānau and kaiako who support tamariki with mild-to-moderate speech-language communication needs. This will help ensure that whānau and kaiako of Te Aitanga a Mahaki hapū/iwi have access to information and learning support to nurture the holistic well-being of tamariki.

This is an incredible example of how Māori SLT researchers can conduct research with and for their own iwi. It will undoubtedly be an invaluable resource to SLTs across the motu and an inspiration for Māori SLTs in other iwi.