When Dr Samantha Holdsworth presented her vision for the Mātai Medical Research Institute to Trust Tairāwhiti in early 2019, the Trust could see that the concept had transformative potential.
The core focus of Mātai is to enhance the capabilities of medical imaging, ultimately advancing understanding of the brain, heart and body. Through medical innovation and discovery, they aim to make a lasting impact on generational health, social issues, and economic outcomes.
The Institute plans to establish a world-class medical research and innovation campus that brings together patient care, research and education to deliver outstanding health outcomes and set a global benchmark.
The Trust provided $1m in funding to support the establishment of Mātai. With local investment and commitment from the Trust and many others, Mātai secured pivotal support from Kānoa Regional Development Unit.
Over the last year, the Trust funded a feasibility assessment for the Mātai Campus and co-funded the master plan and development framework. Through our workforce development programme, we supported their summer internship programme for medical, health science and engineering students. The 10-week programme enabled students to work on cutting-edge projects alongside a team of scientists, clinicians, research staff, PhD students and iwi health providers.
Our team continues to provide significant in-kind expertise and governance support to the broader campus kaupapa.
The vision and potential impacts of Mātai align strongly with the Trust’s wellbeing framework and strategic priorities. It will transform healthcare in Tairāwhiti and provide wide-reaching wellbeing benefits for our communities. The institute and campus development will be a gamechanger in diversifying our economy, attracting investment and high-value skills into the region, employment opportunities, scholarships, and internships for rangatahi.
