Greetings from the Mana Whakahaere
Kia ora taatou,
The end of August signals what would have been the date Te Niwha would have handed to MBIE our Final Report. Due to the delay in getting projects going largely due to establishing rapidly a platform from scratch, we received (all of us) an extension. That said, even with the extension of time – our researchers have toiled heartedly and with such commitment to achieve what Te Niwha has asked for in our Mission and certainly make gigantic contributions to the Vision of Strong, Prepared and Unified.
It is timely therefore to reflect and express gratitude to the team members that gave to their best to mobilising Te Niwha. I acknowledge Inaugural Programme Manager – Meaghan House, Meaghan’s successor Sonia Varma. Inaugural Pouaarahi – Tegan Porima-Friend. Executive Assistant and Business Support – Wendy Organ. Establishment Research Engagement Managers – Penny Neave, Rafaela Cost Camoes Rabello and Communications leads – Chelsea McRae and Kim Thomas. Nei raa ahau e mihi aroha ki a koutou.
As we turn our focus to the next five months, I am cognisant of the constant question I am asked: Will Te Niwha will continue beyond this period? While I have no official information confirmation of this, what is mostly understood across the sector and as many of you have shared with me - is that there are infectious disease/pandemic research funds.
What will be important and the true test for us all going forward, will be to hold on to the massive strides forward of a Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Kotahitanga – Unity, values, Maatauranga AND Science excellence platform foundation. This must not be lost. To do otherwise, would unravel the goodwill, commitment and hard work of partnerships. To do other than the foundations that we have all laid, would be to rebuild on an unstable ground not fit for sustainable growth, relationships or resilience.
Kia kaha taatou, enjoy the snippets the team has prepared for you, register for the Summit and send in your abstracts.
Na te aroha,
Te Pora
Reminder to submit your abstract (deadline extended!)
Aotearoa, New Zealand Pandemic Preparedness & Infectious Diseases Summit 2025
📅 10 - 13 November 2025
📍 Tuurangawaewae Marae, Ngaaruawaahia (~ 20 km from Hamilton)
We are looking forward to returning to Tuurangawaewae Marae for the 2025 Summit, it has been three years since we launched Te Niwha. Tuurangawaewae Marae is an enduring reminder of the Maaori lives that were impacted by infectious diseases, pandemics and endemics. A symbol of Mana Motuhake, a symbol of Kotahitanga.
Beginning with our Pōwhiri and first speaker the late afternoon of Monday 10 November, this year’s Summit will present findings from Te Niwha research, international, regional and local research experts, Workshops in motion (Tira Hoe, Rangiriri and Community visits). The conference dinner will be held on Wednesday the 12th and the Summit will conclude 1pm Thursday the 13th. Click here for the draft programme outline.
All abstracts from within the field are welcome - click here to make your submission by 15 Aug.
Summer Studentships remain available
Due to a technical issue, it's possible you didn't receive our previous notification about the latest round of scholarship opportunities. Te Niwha currently has 3 Māori Studentships/Internships remaining. If you have a student in mind, please reach out to the Manaaki team via the Te Niwha inbox at teniwha@otago.ac.nz for application support.
Te Niwha Science Review
At the end of July, Te Niwha hosted our Science Review, bringing together four expert reviewers to meet with teams from 14 Te Niwha-funded research projects across Aotearoa. Over the course of the review, each team had the opportunity to present their work and engage in in-depth, face-to-face conversations with the panel. The discussions were rich, passionate, and forward-looking, highlighting both the depth of expertise within the Te Niwha community and the potential for meaningful global impact in infectious disease preparedness and response.
We are grateful to our reviewers – Dr Katherine Gottlieb, Dr Michelle Linterman, Prof Paul Kelly and Prof Jason Trubiano – for their generosity of time, insight, and collaboration, and to all the project teams for the energy and openness they brought to the process.
Ngātahi
After our initial Ngātahi Forum held in June, we are looking forward to strengthening our pandemic resilience and infectious diseases research capability and capacity at the August 20 Ngātahi Forum. Ngātahi will be held in the Grand Hall, Parliament. Our focus is looking at the national, regional and global situation, gaps and opportunities.
Full Scholarship awarded to Teinatangi Ringi
Lia Heremia, Ngāi Tūhoe
Topic: Uncovering drivers of viral spillover
Lia is proudly Ngai Tuhoe and Te Niwha is especially proud to award her the Maaori PhD Scholarship.
Lia’s study will contribute significant impact to pandemic resilience by drawing on both mātauranga Māori and One Health approaches which are effectively one in the same for more inclusive and locally informed disease surveillance. Strengthening community capacity for monitoring zoonotic threats will support proactive responses to potential outbreaks. In an era of accelerating environmental change, this work aims to advance our understanding of viral ecology while enhancing preparedness for future pandemics.
Lia is a team member of the Avian Bird Influenza project, guided and supported by Prof Jemma Geoghegan and Dr Alana Alexander.
Tūhoe moumou kai, moumou taonga, moumou tangata ki te pō - Kia mau tonu e Hine
Publications:
Follow Te Niwha’s Google Scholar page to keep up to date with new publications from our researchers.
Here the latest from July 2025:
Effect of hydrocortisone on mortality in patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia
Colin McArthur et al., Intensive Care Medicine 2025
Corticosteroids for adult patients with non-viral community-acquired pneumonia: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Colin McArthur et al., Intensive Care Medicine 2025
A systematic review of the efficacy and feasibility of rifamycin-based post-exposure chemoprophylaxis for leprosy
Nick Douglas et al., Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases
Upcoming conferences & webinars
Lunchtime webinar series: "Insights from past pandemics and preparing for the future"
18-22 August (excluding Wed 20 August), 12.00-1.00pm each day
Webinar 1: Monday 18th August:
Insights from ancient pandemics: What the Black Death and other pandemics of the past can teach us
Webinar 2: Tuesday 19th August:
Insights from the 1918 influenza pandemic: Still more to learn
Webinar 3: Thursday 21 August:
Insights from Covid-19: Emerging clarity
Webinar 4: Friday 22 August:
Future pandemic threats and how we can protect ourselves
Registration and programme: https://events.otago.ac.nz/hparc-webinar-series/registration
Event hosted by: The Health Protection Aotearoa Research Centre (HPARC), a University of Otago Research Theme
Antimicrobial Resistance Satellite, QRW
2-3 September 2025, Christchurch
Aotearoa New Zealand Immunisation Conference 2025 and pre-conference workshop
3-5 September 2025, Hamilton
Pacific Islands Health Research Symposium 2025
10-12 September 2025, Suva, Fiji
Water New Zealand Conference and Expo 2025
29 September- 3 October 2025, Christchurch.
Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases (ASID) - New Zealand Annual Scientific Meeting
27-29 November 2025, Wellington
