Project Description

2024 Winner First Nations Award - Dr Kirsten Smiler

Biography

Based at the Health Services Research Centre as Māori Research Fellow (since 2004) Kirsten is a Kaupapa Māori researcher who has contributed to a broad range of health services research projects undertaken within HSRC, most recently a Health Research Council of NZ funded evaluation of the development and impact of changes in community pharmacy services, and a programme evaluation of the South-Auckland- based Mana-ā-Riki initiative commissioned by the Middlemore Foundation for Health Innovation (MFHI). Kirsten also lectures on Hauora Māori (Māori health and wellbeing) for the Faculty of Health in the papers Introduction to Health and Wellbeing (HWB101), Introduction to Health and Wellbeing (HWB102) and Introduction to Health Policy and Services (HWB101).

Kirsten’s MA (VUW – Applied Linguistics) completed in 2004 critically examines perceptions of cultural and linguistic identity for Māori members of the New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) community. In 2014 Kirsten completed her PhD (VUW – Applied Linguistics), a study of the nature and impacts of early intervention for Māori Deaf/hearing-impaired children and their whānau. In 2014 Kirsten was awarded the Health Research Council’s Erihapeti Rehu-Murchie Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship in Māori health, and in 2016 the Health Research Council’s 2016 award for Excellence in research for an emerging researcher.

Kirsten is an executive member of the Health Services Research Association of Australian & New Zealand (HSRAANZ), serves as Māori Advisor to the Universal Newborn hearing screening and Early intervention programme (Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education), acts as a New Zealand Sign Language Board member.

 “Her research on how the health system can better respond to the needs of Maori Deaf people is quite unique and demonstrates her sustained efforts to achieve health equity in a challenging area for over two decades.” - 2024 HSRAANZ Awards Judging Panel

Work

Dr Kirsten Smiler (Te Whanau a Kai, Te Aitanga-a-Mahaki, Rongowhakaata, Te Whakatdhea) is an outstanding Maori leader and researcher from Aotearoa NZ. She has been affiliated with Te Hikuwai Rangahau Hauora|Health Services Research Centre (THRH) for almost 20 years, including completing her Masters and PhD, progressing to Senior Research Fellow, Maori and now Manutaki Takirua (Co-Director). In 2024, her significant leadership was recognised by a Health Research Council of NZ Maori Health Research Emerging Leader Fellowship.
Kirsten has been influenced by being Maori and a child of a Deaf adult, carrying memories of the strength, resilience and self-determination of her whanau alongside experiences of discrimination. These inspired her drive to deconstruct ableist societies and improve the wellbeing of Ngati Turi (Maori Deaf people) and their whanau (families), moving from an individual focus to critical examination of health systems and services and how they can contribute to human rights, equity, equality and justice. She applies her knowledge to make a difference for Ngati Turi as Maori advisor to the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening and Early Intervention Programme and previous member of NZ Sign Language Board.
Another significant example of Kirsten's work for social justice and empowerment was her 2023 work to support a Waitangi Tribunal claim by Tangata Turi (WAI2143), providing a structural analysis of how Crown actions contributed to inequities for this group. This work is challenging, given the invisibility of this group in data and research, but she was determined their voice was heard.
Kirsten is committed to improving Maori health, rejecting deficit models and instead privileging matauranga Maori (Maori knowledge) and solutions. This has been evident in her Hauora Maori (Maori health) undergraduate teaching and in her research. She works closely with Maori leaders and communities to ensure her work is guided by what is important to them. She undertakes Kaupapa Maori research which utilises mataurangi Maori (Maori knowledge) and Maori methodologies. In all her work, Kirsten seeks to follow tikanga Maori (Maori ways of doing things), to ensure the safety and mana (dignity) of research participants, and to ensure the care of taonga (treasures) and Maori data sovereignty.
Kirsten is empowering the next generation of Maori health researchers through her supervision and mentorship of 6 Maori post-graduate students to date (including one Ngati Turi, with a second beginning next year). In addition to her own research programme, a significant part of Kirsten’s work has been providing a Maori lens on wider health system and services topics, guiding her non-Maori research colleagues in tikanga Maori, awareness of Te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi) obligations, and understanding of the significance of Te Reo Maori (the Maori language) and kaupapa Maori research. Through this, Kirsten ensures all projects at THRH have a focus on hauora Maori, work towards health equity, and are empowering for Maéri.
Kirsten currently serves on the Health Research Council of NZ Public Health Research committee, advocating for Maori interests. She championed indigenous voices in her past work on the HSRAANZ executive and conference committee.