Take 10 with... Makarena Dudley

1. Describe your research topic to us in 10 words or less.

Developing a cultural framework for managing dementia in Māori.

2. Now explain it in everyday terms!

I am conducting research into mate wareware (dementia) and Māori.  Current approaches to managing this condition are embedded within a western worldview and fall well short of achieving optimal outcomes for Māori whānau living with mate wareware. Evidence suggests Māori are more likely to suffer from it, and at a younger age than other New Zealanders. 

I have teamed up with Māori and non-Māori researchers and specialists from the University of Auckland, AUT, Te Whatu Ora and Māori communities to develop a narrative and framework encompassing Māori philosophies and practices. This framework seeks to address issues around prevention, diagnosis, treatment and management of mate wareware for Māori.

3. Describe some of your day-to-day research activities.

Currently, I am the Principal Investigator on a Health Research Council funded study to conduct a mate wareware prevalence study. The study involves many field-based research assistants door knocking for participants, and I am constantly monitoring their work. 

A lot of my time involves establishing and building relationships with Māori community organisations to assist in conducting the research in their local area. These relationships are vital to the success of the study so often I will travel around the country for face-to-face meetings. 

4. What do you enjoy most about your research?

I have a lot of contact with the Māori community, particularly the older generation, and I enjoy this immensely. I am fortunate to work collaboratively with several international Indigenous researchers and regularly travel overseas for conferences, and to conduct research. The knowledge and skill of my passionate co-researchers also never cease to amaze me. However, perhaps the greatest joy is knowing that our work is making a difference right now to Māori whānau living with mate wareware.  

5. Tell us something that has surprised you in the course of your research.

Finding the compassion, care, and acceptance of most Māori toward people with mate wareware has confirmed my belief that, traditionally, Māori whānau do function in a supportive environment and come together in times of adversity. This is the viewpoint that underpins all our research. 

Another point of interest is emerging evidence suggesting that older Māori who have a stronger connection to their cultural heritage perform better on cognitive tasks when those tasks are embedded within a cultural context. This finding aligns closely with my philosophy that a positive and secure cultural identity is foundational to health and wellbeing in all its manifestation.

6. How have you approached any challenges you’ve faced in your research?

By and large, my research journey has been smooth.  However, in prevention research, we have experienced low numbers of Māori attending university-based clinics.Finding enough Māori researchers to assist in the research is also an on-going problem. Because I am one of only a handful of Māori conducting research in this area of health, I am overwhelmed by the many requests to be involved in other projects.

7. What questions have emerged as a result?

One question we are faced with is how can Māori participation be meaningfully included in research into the prevention of mate wareware? To address this, we built relationships with Māori communities to co-develop clinics that are aligned with tikanga Māori, creating culturally appropriate environments for conducting research into the prevention of mate wareware.

8. What kind of impact do you hope your research will have?

I am a strong advocate of translational research, where the research I conduct leads to tangible and meaningful improvements in the lives of whānau living with mate wareware.

My team and I have developed a detection tool – the Māori Assessment of Neuropsychological Abilities (MANA) – as well as a mate wareware app.  I am also currently writing a guide/book specifically designed to be easily accessible for kaumātua. 

9. If you collaborate across the faculty or University, or even outside the University, who do you work with and how does it benefit your research?

As Deputy Director - Māori for the Centre for Brain Research, I play a central role in shaping and implementing the Māori Strategic Plan, which is committed to improving brain health outcomes for Māori. I frequently visit marae throughout the country to engage directly with whānau and communities and provide supervision to community workers who are engaged in community-based research on mate wareware.

In addition, I serve as an international advisor on a CAD$24 million research project based in Canada, and I have been involved in a number of collaborative studies with colleagues in Australia.

10. What one piece of advice would you give your younger, less experienced research self?

It is important to recognise that research does not always run smoothly and that challenges and setbacks are an inherent part of the research process. However, these experiences can often be lessons in disguise, providing valuable opportunities to refine methodologies, strengthen relationships, and further develop research skills.