The research team from Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou Taurite Tū Limited in Otago, a rūnaka-based, kaupapa Māori research unit led by pioneering Māori physiotherapist and researcher Katrina Pōtiki Bryant (pictured, centre), have received two awards at the prestigious Asia Pacific Eldercare Innovation Awards in Singapore.
For the past seven years, Taurite Tū Ltd have worked in partnership with kaumātua to research, design, and implement evidence-informed programmes that support active ageing and hauora aspirations. Their robust research programme blending physiotherapy, mātauranga Māori movement practices, kaumātua engagement, and public health expertise has been supported by Ngā Kanohi Kitea Health Research Council funding.
Taurite Tū Ltd was named a finalist in five categories at the Asia Pacific Eldercare Innovation Awards, taking out two awards: one for best programme innovation that inspires active ageing with music, culture and dance, and the other for best programme innovation that empowers people to live well and age with dignity.
Katrina says the awards reflect international acknowledgement of kaupapa Māori-led solutions and the strength of community-driven innovation emerging from Aotearoa New Zealand.
"This recognition also signals growing global interest in indigenous models of ageing well that centre mana, whanaungatanga, and collective wellbeing," she says.
Taurite Tū Ltd was the inaugural recipient of the Health Research Council's 2025 Catalyst in the Community Award for their Tāurite Tū programme, which has significantly reduced falls risk and injury rates for Māori aged 55-plus, with consistently high participant retention and attendance rates.