Summer Rangimaarie Wright
Summer is taking a Māori Health and climate justice approach to her Master of Health Sciences in Nutrition and Dietetics.
“I developed an interest in nutrition for several reasons. I studied a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science and became interested in how food systems impact animals, people and the environment. I also see nutrition as a vehicle for social and climate justice through which health equity can be achieved for Māori. I wanted to explore this formally in academia.
“I am studying to become a registered dietitian and aim to increase the cohesiveness between environmental health and nutrition science in Aotearoa, with a Māori health and climate justice lens.
My thesis will explore the perceptions rangatahi/young urban Māori have on healthy and sustainable kai and the forces that influence their perspectives.
“As a Māori student, I have been well supported by the facilitators of this programme. MAPAS PG also provided support throughout my university career. To start my journey into nutrition, the MAPAS postgraduate support staff facilitated meetings with the Discipline of Nutrition here and advised me the best path for postgraduate nutrition.
“A highlight of my studies was to be supported by the faculty to travel to the USA to attend an indigenous nutrition conference in 2019, which inspired my thesis and invigorated my passion for Māori health and nutrition.”