An Ōtautahi catch-up

Te Ārai now has three researchers based in Ōtautahi Christchurch, with Associate Professor Jackie Robinson, Dr Nic McKenzie and Dr Wendy English strengthening our presence in Te Waipounamu (the South Island) and creating new opportunities for collaboration and engagement.

Earlier this month, a small group of us came together in Ōtautahi for an evening catch-up. It was a welcome opportunity to reconnect in person, share updates on our ongoing research, and discuss ideas for future projects - as well as eat some great food!

Among the topics explored was the further development of our research on palliative and end of life care for people with learning disability, an area in which our preliminary work has highlighted significant unmet need. We discussed current grant applications under review that would enable us to progress this work in both Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) and Ōtautahi. Fingers crossed these applications are successful and enable us to keep advancing this important work across both Te Ika-a-Māui (the North Island) and Te Waipounamu.

Stella, Jackie, Merryn, Wendy and Nic catching up in ōtautahi