Often Kaumātua and elders generally, are seen as vulnerable and passive recipients of services throughout the ongoing Covid 19 pandemic. However, in the village of Ohinemutu and as citizens of their iwi Ngāti Whakaue, Kaumātua have been active leaders in the response of the village, initially during the first four-week lockdown in 2020. However, that leadership was a continuation of their ongoing active participation in village activities. Feed the Pā brought together members of the village and others living outside who engaged the principles of awhi, tiaki and manaaki in responding to the needs of their community. The research provides an opportunity for the Kaumātua and their whānau to tell the Feed the Pā story using narrative and photos taken at the direction of the participants. The stories will be shared with the community in a short exhibition at a venue in the village. Participants will have ownership of their picture and narrative. Feed the Pā is a part  of the National Science Challenge Ageing Well funded research Kaumātua Futures: Ko te pae tawhiti, whāia kia tata.

RESEARCH TEAM

Dr Teorongonui Josie Keelan, (Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Awa, Tūhoe) and Karyn Okeroa McRae (Ngāti Whakaue, Tainui) are the two researchers. They are both working on the larger Kaumātua Futures Project which this is part of.