Associate Professor Matire Harwood (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Rangi ki Moerewa), deputy dean of the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at Auckland University and a primary care GP at Papakura Marae, has been made a Companion of the King’s Service Order. She has been acknowledged for her work during the Covid-19 pandemic, where she provided advice to the Government and delivered clinical care in South Auckland. Harwood says she was surprised to be nominated but is humbled and grateful to be acknowledged in this way.
‘I spoke with my whānau and hoamahi about it and they all said ‘about time!’ So accepting this also recognises whānau who have to share me with my mahi, and all the Māori community health workers who spend a lot of time outside paid work advocating, delivering and caring, which is often unrecognised. This is as much for all of them as it is for me. “I love making my kids and whānau proud, including my tupuna who told me to do medicine when I was a seven-year-old.
” Harwood says she is proud of the work she has been involved in that is Māori-led but improves the health and wellbeing of all people. “Māori and our solutions have much to offer everybody. Some examples include our work in stroke, smoking cessation and workforce development.
I strongly believe that if we get it right for Māori, everyone benefits.” Sometimes the challenges of her work can get overwhelming, she says. Still, she is focused on creating an environment w.
