Matire Harwood

{{Infobox scientist

| name = Matire Harwood

| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=NZL|KSM|size=100%}}

| image = Matire Harwood KSM (cropped).jpg

| alt =

| caption = Harwood in 2024

| nationality = New Zealand

| fields = Health

| thesis_title = Understanding and Improving Stroke Recovery for Māori and Their Whānau

| thesis_url = https://ourarchive.otago.ac.nz/handle/10523/2514

| thesis_year = 2012

| doctoral_advisor = Kathryn McPherson
Papaarangi Reid
William J Taylor
Harry McNaughton
Bridget Robson

| alma_mater = {{plainlist|

University of Auckland (MBChB)
University of Otago (PhD)

}}

| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1970}}

}}

Matire Louise Ngarongoa Harwood {{post-nominals|country=NZL|KSM|size=85%}} is a New Zealand clinical researcher and trainee general practitioner.{{cite web | url=https://www.mcnz.org.nz/registration/register-of-doctors/doctor/harwood-matire-louise-ngarongoa/ | title=Harwood, Matire Louise Ngarongoa | date=11 July 2022 }} She is a professor at the University of Auckland. Harwood was the 2017 New Zealand L'Oréal UNESCO For Women in Science Fellow. Her expertise is in Māori health, focussed on reducing health inequity by improving indigenous health and well-being.

Early life and education

Harwood is from Ngāpuhi with whakapapa links to Ngāti Rangi, Te Mahurehure and Ngāti Hine.{{Cite web |title=Dr Matire Louise Ngarongoa Harwood |url=https://100maorileaders.com/leaders/dr-matire-louise-ngarongoa-harwood |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=100 Maori Leaders}}

During her childhood, Harwood moved to Australia with her family, where she and her siblings experienced racism due to being Māori.{{Cite web|url=http://www.viva.co.nz/article/beauty-wellbeing/dr-matire-harwood/|title=The Changemaker: Dr Matire Harwood – Viva|last=Magazine|first=Viva|website=www.viva.co.nz|date=30 December 2017 |access-date=12 March 2019}}{{Citation|last=TVNZ (Television New Zealand)|title=The Good Doctor I Sunday I TVNZ|date=5 November 2017|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHSPg0vbvB4|access-date=5 June 2019}}

Harwood attended high school in rural Victoria, Australia, where she studied maths (statistics and calculus), chemistry, physics and English, and was one of the four first female physics students at her school, despite discouragement from the science department and male students.{{Cite web|url=https://www.curiousminds.nz/profiles/matire-harwood/|title=Matire Harwood|date=29 November 2017|website=Curious Minds, He Hihiri i te Mahara|access-date=12 March 2019}} She credits the encouragement of her female science teacher for the success of the female students.{{Cite web|url=https://thisnzlife.co.nz/dr-matire-harwoods-work-improve-maori-pacific-health-recognised-loreal-unesco-women-science-fellowship/|title=Dr Matire Harwood's work to improve Maori and Pacific health recognised with L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Fellowship|date=3 November 2017|website=thisNZlife|access-date=12 March 2019}}

Harwood moved back to New Zealand to study medicine at the University of Auckland, graduating with an MBChB in 1994. No one in her family had previously attended university.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11939280|title=Dedication to end inequity in health brings top award|last=Morton|first=Jamie|date=3 November 2017|work=The New Zealand Herald |access-date=12 March 2019|issn=1170-0777}} She credits the influence of her grandfather, Ngature Matenga Werekake, who inspired her to be a doctor when she was seven years old.

Harwood received a PhD from the University of Otago in 2012, supervised by Kathryn McPherson, Papaarangi Reid, William Taylor, Harry McNaughton and Bridget Robson.{{cite thesis |last=Harwood |first=Matire |year=2012 |type=Doctoral thesis |title=Understanding and Improving Stroke Recovery for Māori and Their Whānau |publisher=OUR Archive, University of Otago |hdl=10523/2514}} Her doctoral research on patient-driven rehabilitation following a stroke developed an intervention designed especially for Māori and Pasifika.{{Cite web|url=https://thisnzlife.co.nz/dr-matire-harwoods-work-improve-maori-pacific-health-recognised-loreal-unesco-women-science-fellowship/|title=Dr Matire Harwood's work to improve Maori and Pacific health recognised with L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Fellowship|date=3 November 2017|website=thisNZlife|access-date=6 June 2019}} The success of this intervention led to changes in treatment guidelines for stroke recovery.

Personal life

Harwood lives in Auckland with her partner Haunui and two young children.{{Cite web|url=https://www.maorihealthreview.co.nz/mh/Expert-Writers.aspx|title=Medical Research & Journals {{!}} Free Research Review Medical Studies Publications|website=www.maorihealthreview.co.nz|access-date=12 March 2019}}

Career

Harwood is a professor in Māori health at the University of Auckland, where she is the co-director of Tōmaiora - the Māori health research group at Te Kupenga Hauora Māori - and Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences.{{Cite web|url=https://tomaiora-research-group.blogs.auckland.ac.nz/about-tomaiora/vision-and-mission/our-team/|title=Our team {{!}} Tomaiora Research Group|website=tomaiora-research-group.blogs.auckland.ac.nz|access-date=12 March 2019}} Her research is focussed on applying Kaupapa Māori (Māori principles) to clinical research. Harwood supervises graduate students at the University of Auckland, as well as training senior medical students in Māori health.{{Cite web|url=https://unidirectory.auckland.ac.nz/profile/m-harwood|title=Dr Matire Harwood – The University of Auckland|website=unidirectory.auckland.ac.nz|access-date=6 June 2019}}

She acts as editor of the Māori Health Review, a publication featuring the latest updates in Māori health research.{{Cite web|url=http://www.maramatanga.co.nz/person/dr-matire-harwood|title=Dr Matire Harwood {{!}} Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga|website=www.maramatanga.co.nz|access-date=12 March 2019}} Her research has been published in scientific journals such as The BMJ ,{{Cite journal|last1=Rodgers|first1=Anthony|last2=Jackson|first2=Rod|last3=Bryant|first3=Linda|last4=Bramley|first4=Dale|last5=Milne|first5=Richard J.|last6=Arroll|first6=Bruce|last7=Doughty|first7=Robert N.|last8=Harwood|first8=Matire|last9=Parag|first9=Varsha|date=27 May 2014|title=Effect of fixed dose combination treatment on adherence and risk factor control among patients at high risk of cardiovascular disease: randomised controlled trial in primary care|url=https://www.bmj.com/content/348/bmj.g3318|journal=BMJ|volume=348|pages=g3318|doi=10.1136/bmj.g3318|issn=1756-1833|pmid=24868083|doi-access=free|hdl=2292/28180|hdl-access=free}} The Lancet Respiratory Medicine,{{Cite journal|last1=Patel|first1=Mitesh|last2=Pilcher|first2=Janine|last3=Pritchard|first3=Alison|last4=Perrin|first4=Kyle|last5=Travers|first5=Justin|last6=Shaw|first6=Dominick|last7=Holt|first7=Shaun|last8=Harwood|first8=Matire|last9=Black|first9=Peter|date=1 March 2013|title=Efficacy and safety of maintenance and reliever combination budesonide–formoterol inhaler in patients with asthma at risk of severe exacerbations: a randomised controlled trial|journal=The Lancet Respiratory Medicine|volume=1|issue=1|pages=32–42|doi=10.1016/S2213-2600(13)70007-9|pmid=24321802|issn=2213-2600}} The New Zealand Medical Journal,{{Cite journal|last1=Harwood|first1=Matire|last2=Tane|first2=Taria|last3=Broome|first3=Laura|last4=Carswell|first4=Peter|last5=Selak|first5=Vanessa|last6=Reid|first6=Jennifer|last7=Light|first7=Phil|last8=Stewart|first8=Tereki|date=9 November 2018|title=Mana Tū: a whānau ora approach to type 2 diabetes|journal=The New Zealand Medical Journal|volume=131|issue=1485|pages=76–83|issn=1175-8716|pmid=30408821}}{{Cite journal|last1=Reid|first1=Papaarangi|last2=Paine|first2=Sarah-Jane|last3=Curtis|first3=Elana|last4=Jones|first4=Rhys|last5=Anderson|first5=Anneka|last6=Willing|first6=Esther|last7=Harwood|first7=Matire|date=10 November 2017|title=Achieving health equity in Aotearoa: strengthening responsiveness to Māori in health research|journal=The New Zealand Medical Journal|volume=130|issue=1465|pages=96–103|issn=1175-8716|pmid=29121628}} BMC Public Health,{{Cite journal |last1=Crengle |first1=Sue |author-link=Sue Crengle |last2=Smylie |first2=Janet |last3=Kelaher |first3=Margaret |last4=Lambert |first4=Michelle |last5=Reid |first5=Susan |last6=Luke |first6=Joanne |last7=Anderson |first7=Ian |last8=Harré Hindmarsh |first8=Jennie |last9=Harwood |first9=Matire |date=12 July 2014 |title=Cardiovascular disease medication health literacy among Indigenous peoples: design and protocol of an intervention trial in Indigenous primary care services |journal=BMC Public Health |volume=14 |issue=1 |pages=714 |doi=10.1186/1471-2458-14-714 |issn=1471-2458 |pmc=4227024 |pmid=25016481 |doi-access=free }} and Disability and Rehabilitation.{{Cite journal|last=Harwood|first=Matire|date=1 January 2010|title=Rehabilitation and indigenous peoples: the Māori experience|journal=Disability and Rehabilitation|volume=32|issue=12|pages=972–977|doi=10.3109/09638281003775378|issn=0963-8288|pmid=20387994|s2cid=29180774}}

In addition to her work as an academic researcher, Harwood practices as a trainee GP{{cite web | url=https://www.mcnz.org.nz/registration/register-of-doctors/doctor/harwood-matire-louise-ngarongoa/ | title=Harwood, Matire Louise Ngarongoa | date=11 July 2022 }} at Papakura Marae Health Clinic.

Harwood is the recipient of several national and international awards, including the 2018 Matariki Award,{{Cite web |date=25 July 2018 |title=Dr Matire Harwood honoured in Matariki Awards |url=https://healthierlives.co.nz/dr-matire-harwood-honoured-in-matariki-awards/ |access-date=2023-08-06 |website=Healthier Lives |language=en-NZ}} Tūhono for Improving Māori Health, the 2017 New Zealand L'Oréal UNESCO For Women in Science Fellowship,{{Cite web|url=https://www.loreal.nz/csr-commitments/loreal-new-zealand-corporate-social-responsibility/women-science.htm|title=FOR WOMEN IN SCIENCE|last=|first=|date=11 March 2019|website=L'Oreal New Zealand|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.forwomeninscience.com.au/news/MatireHarwood|title=Dr Matire Harwood – University of Auckland|website=www.forwomeninscience.com.au|access-date=12 March 2019}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.hrc.govt.nz/news-and-media/news/l%E2%80%99or%C3%A9al-honours-matire-harwood-work-indigenous-health|title=L'Oréal honours Matire Harwood for work on indigenous health {{!}} Health Research Council|website=www.hrc.govt.nz|access-date=12 March 2019}} and the 2017 Dr Maarire Goodall Award.{{Cite web|url=https://www.seedthechange.nz/teoraaward|title=Te ORA – Dr. Maarire Goodall Award|website=Seed The Change {{!}} He Kākano Hapai|access-date=12 March 2019}}

Harwood has served on national health committees, including as a member of the PBRF Assessment Panel (2018 onwards), and the Expert Advisory Group for New Zealand Health Strategy (2018 onwards) and as a board member for the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand (2017 onwards), the Health Research Council (2009–2016), the Waitematā District Health Board (2016 onwards), and the Asthma Respiratory Foundation of New Zealand (2006–2010; 2016 onwards).{{Cite web|url= https://www.waitematadhb.govt.nz/about-us/leadership/waitemata-board/|title=Waitemata Board {{!}} Waitemata District Health Board (WDHB)|website=www.waitematadhb.govt.nz|access-date=12 March 2019}}

In 2019, Harwood was awarded the Health Research Council of New Zealand's Te Tohu Rapuora Award.{{Cite web|url=https://www.royalsociety.org.nz/news/2019-research-honours-aotearoa-celebrates-achievements-by-researchers-scholars-and-innovators/|title=2019 Research Honours Aotearoa celebrates achievements by researchers, scholars and innovators|website=Royal Society Te Apārangi}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.hrc.govt.nz/news-and-publications/medals#te-tohu-rapuora-%E2%80%93-m%C4%81ori-health-research-leadership,-excellence,-and-contribution-award|title=Medals | Health Research Council|website=www.hrc.govt.nz}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.waateanews.com/waateanews/x_news/MjI5NTI/Paakiwaha/Flaxroots-mahi-helps-Harwood-change-health-system.|title=Flaxroots mahi helps Harwood change health system.|website=www.waateanews.com|date=17 October 2019 }}

During the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand, Harwood has been the representative of Te Rōpū Whakakaupapa Urutā National Māori Pandemic Group on the Ministry of Health's COVID-19 Technical Advisory Group.{{cite web |url=https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministry/leadership-ministry/expert-groups/covid-19-technical-advisory-group |title=COVID-19 Technical Advisory Group |publisher=Ministry of Health |access-date=9 January 2022}}

In the 2024 King’s Birthday Honours, Harwood received the King's Service Medal, for services to Māori health.{{cite news |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/kings-birthday-honours-2024-the-full-list-of-all-recipients/P4L54KE5MVCIHIMAJN3LOR335E/ |title=King's Birthday Honours 2024: The full list of all recipients |date=3 June 2024 |work=The New Zealand Herald |access-date=3 June 2024}}