A Better Start: E Tipu e Rea
National Science ChallengeBetter science together for a better start in life
OUR CHILDREN ARE THE FUTURE
Every child should have the best possible start in life. To achieve this A Better Start researchers are creating the tools and methods to predict, prevent and intervene early so children have a healthy weight, are successful learners and they can access the tools they need to look after their mental health.
A Better Start is the National Science Challenge working to help children, teenagers, their whanau and family achieve the best possible start in life. Our job is to find practical, evidence-based solutions that make a measurable difference for tamariki.
We can achieve this by working with communities, drawing together indigenous and Western approaches to knowledge and bringing together the best researchers from different disciplines here and overseas to take a holistic approach rather than addressing health, wellbeing and learning issues in isolation.
MULTIMILLION DOLLAR FUNDING FOR CHILD HEALTH RESEARCH
Free webinar February 2 – The Insider’s Guide: How to Improve Your Chance of Research Funding Success
Expressions of Interest are due by February 17 2021 for A Better Start and Cure Kids’ $4 million Contestable Funding Round. We are seeking proposals for high quality translational research to improve child and youth wellbeing, specifically in the areas of healthy weight, early learning, and mental health and resilience.
Join our free webinar, The Insider’s Guide: How to Improve Your Chance of Research Funding Success, on Tuesday February to learn more about the application and assessment process. There will be a Q&A session open to all. This is a key opportunity to get a better understanding about what the funders are expecting and improve your chance of success.
From the Director of A Better Start
A Better Start: E Tipu e Rea has more than 160 researchers delivering excellent science to give our tamariki a better start in life. They come from many different disciplines and organisations, but are united in their commitment. Our researchers share a collaborative approach and through the He Awa Whiria (braided rivers) model weave together knowledge from differing sources that flow together to progress the wellbeing of tamariki.
Ngā mihi
Professor Wayne Cutfield
Challenge Director

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Improving the potential for all young New Zealanders to lead healthy and successful lives
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World-first research uses gut bacteria to improve health of obese teenagers
New Zealand research has shown how gut bacteria from healthy, lean people can be used to improve the health of teenagers who are clinically obese. Obese Auckland teenagers who swallowed capsules of the gut bacteria of healthy peers reduced a condition called...
Helping children read and succeed earns top award for A Better Start’s deputy director
Decades of work aimed at improving children’s learning success and wellbeing has earned A Better Start’s deputy director Professor Gail Gillon the University of Canterbury’s highest research honour. Professor Gillon is the winner of the UC 2020 Research Medal, awarded...
A Better Start funding for research to address inequities in Māori maternal health services
New kaupapa Māori research funded by A Better Start: E Tipu e Rea National Science Challenge aims to address inequities in maternal health services for Māori by using Māori knowledge and tikanga to empower Māori families. Dr Waikaremoana Waitoki from the University of...
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We've just sent out our latest newsletter, which contains updates about the Challenge team, A Better Start's webinar series, news and recent publications. Read more here.
E Tipu e Rea
Grow and Branch Forth
E Tipu e Rea is A Better Start’s Māori name.
In 1949, shortly before his death, Māori leader and scholar Sir Āpirana Turupa Ngata of Ngāti Porou wrote into the autograph book of schoolgirl Rangi Bennett a passage about his vision for Māori youth.
E tipu e rea mō ngā rā o tō ao
Ko tō ringa ki ngā rākau a te Pākehā
Hei ora mō te tinana
Ko tō ngākau ki ngā tāonga a ō tīpuna Māori
Hei tikitiki mō tō māhuna
Ko tō wairua ki tō atua
Nānā nei ngā mea katoa.
Grow and branch forth for the days destined to you
Your hands to the tools of the Pākehā
For the welfare of your body
Your heart to the treasures of your ancestors
adornments for your brow
Your spirit to god
Who made all things.
