Manukura | Mau Te Rangimarie Clark

He toka tū moana – a rock standing firm in the sea.

The whakatauikī speaks to the amazing wāhine who stand alongside me. Both in the professional and personal spaces I occupy. The support systems enable me to stand firm in the sea. 

Mau Te Rangimarie Clark – Assistant Research Fellow, Department of Māori Indigenous Health Innovation, University of Otago Christchurch. 

Ko Taupiri te Maunga  

Ko Waikato te awa  

Ko Waikato te Iwi  

Ko Ngāti Tiipa te Hāpu  

Ko Te Kotahitanga te Marae 

I am Mau Te Rangimarie Clark (takatāpui), an Assistant Research Fellow at the University of Otago’s Department of Māori Indigenous Health Innovation (MIHI). I am nearing the completion of my master’s degree in health science – endorsed in mental health. My research is dedicated to advancing Māori health sovereignty. I utilise Kaupapa Māori research methodologies to validate the lived experiences of Māori communities in Aotearoa.

With a background in Anthropology and Māori Indigenous Studies, I strive to ensure that healthcare research aligns with Indigenous values and meets community needs. My research journey began in 2017 when I joined MIHI as a Research Assistant, contributing to studies on Māori experiences of eating disorders and bipolar disorder. Since then, I have worked on projects like Te Pūkorokoro, which explores physical health outcomes for individuals with psychosis, and Tupuānuku, which focuses on nourishing the physical health of people with mental health and addiction issues. I am currently working on the media smart project which aims to adapt the eating disorder prevention program to better fit the needs of Māori and other communities in Aotearoa. My master’s is focused on outreach primary healthcare services for Indigenous people experiencing homelessness.

In future projects, I would like to explore the role of Rongoā Māori as a treatment modality for Māori with mental health and substance use conditions. I have had the privilege of working under the mentorship of several remarkable wāhine who have guided and inspired my research. Together, they have greatly shaped my understanding of Māori health education, mental health, and culturally informed healthcare approaches.

Professor Suzanne Pitama, Dr Tracy Haitana, Dr Jenni Manuel, Professor Jenny Jordan, Professor Marie Crowe, Dr Maira Patu, Amber Philpott, and Juanita Kane. Their collective expertise has enabled me to lead and co-author multiple peer-reviewed publications, collaborate with Kaupapa Māori services, and engage deeply with the Māori eating disorders rōpu. One of my greatest achievements has been working alongside Keri Opai as a member of Te Tira Māuiui Kai (the Māori eating disorders network) to create “Ngā Māuiui Kai”—a glossary of te reo Māori terms for several types of eating disorders. This resource is designed to provide mana-enhancing language that is reflective of Māori experiences, supporting culturally appropriate care and enriching the discourse around eating disorders in Aotearoa.

My goal is to complete a Ph.D. that will further empower community organisations to undertake meaningful research that addresses systemic healthcare inequities.