Associate Professor Elana Taipapaki Curtis (Ngāti Rongomai, Ngāti Pikiao, Te Arawa) is a Public Health Physician currently working as Senior Lecturer Medical at Te Kupenga Hauora Māori, University of Auckland. Read her Open Letter to New Zealand's Government. Elana is a NPM researcher and member of Te Rōpu Whakakaupapa Urutā - the National Maori Pandemic Group. In an 'Open Letter to the New Zealand Government published in E-Tangata [5th April, 2020] she writes:
So, with respect for everything you’re facing, please take a moment to stop and realign yourselves to health equity and your Treaty responsibility to uphold the indigenous rights of Māori. ...It may slow you down and it may be inconvenient. But I know that it is needed. And I know that you can do it. Let Aotearoa show the world how indigenous rights and health equity can be meaningfully upheld and respected as we face this crisis together.