2024 International Indigenous Research Conference
Keynote Panel: Maybelle McLeod, Eryn Gardiner, and Associate Professor Karyn Paringatai
Maybelle McLeod is the CEO of Kimihauora Health & Research Clinic, based at Tamapahore Marae in Tauranga Moana. She is a trained nurse and using her knowledge in this space was one of four lead whānau researchers who worked collaboratively with cancer genetic researchers at the University of Otago to discover the cause of so many deaths in the McLeod whānau – a variation in the CDH1 gene. Maybelle has oversight of everything that is happening in the CDH1 space within the McLeod whānau and has extended that interest to CDH1 whānau around the country.
Erin Gardiner is the Clinical Manager at Kimihauora Health & Research Clinic, based at Tamapahore Marae in Tauranga Moana. She took over this role from her mother, Pauline Harawira, who was one of the four main whānau researchers in the original research project. Erin primarily helps to coordinate the clinical management of the CDH1 gene within the McLeod whānau, working closely with clinicians at Tauranga Hospital. She has also helped many other whānau throughout Aotearoa New Zealand to navigate through the CDH1 process.
Karyn Paringatai is a member of a CDH1 whānau and an Associate Professor in Te Tumu – School of Māori, Pacific & Indigenous Studies at Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka – University of Otago. She has been working closely with Kimihauora Health & Research Clinic for the last five years to ensure that there is equitable access for CDH1 whānau across the country within the healthcare system, that clinicians are more aware of CDH1 whānau needs that are grounded in te reo Māori and tikanga Māori, and that whānau are empowered throughout their CDH1 journey.