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.
About
The Science
Collaborative research and science excellence. Learn about our key research themes
News
Updates and events from A Better Start: E Tipu e Rea
Building health, well being and learning success for tamariki and rangatahi
A new 22 month project has been launched called, Whiriwhiria, kia ora ai te tamaiti: Building health, wellbeing and learning success for tamariki and rangatahi through and Māturangi Māori and systems science approach is to evaluate, integrate and reorient systems, learning and movement initiatives in Hawke’s Bay.
A Better Start has funded the project that will be managed by Eastern Institute of Technology and Te Pūkenga, co-led by Professor Boyd Swinburn (pictured below left) and Professor David Tipene-Leach.
The three research objectives are:
1. To evaluate the effectiveness of current food, learning and movement initiatives in Hawke’s Bay with particular regard to outcomes for tamariki Māori;
2. To explore how Māaurangi Māori can inform the development of a comprehensive systems dynamics science approach and reorient food systems in Hawke’s Bay;
3. To create an indigenous informed and inspired food systems approach to improve health, wellbeing, resilience and educational out comes for tamariki, rangatahi and whānau.
Researchers hope this will provide an exemplar of success for integrating strategies to improve healthy weight, learning and movement outcomes within a high need area and one that can demonstration for other regions across the country.
News and Events
Listen Now to Keynote Speaker, Robyn Mildon-Building the bridge between science, policy & practice
Listen to A Better Start symposium Keynote Speaker - Robyn Mildon's talk "Implementation Science: Building the bridge between science, policy, and practice". Robyn is an internationally recognised figure in the field of implementation science, evidence synthesis and...
Latest Publications
Check out the latest published journal publications sorted by our research themes: Healthy Weight, Resilient Teens, Successful Learning all underpinned by Big Data. Click here to read them now.
Read our latest newsletter
Meri Kirihimete from the team at A Better Start, In this latest issue of A Better Start newsletter: - Update from the Challenge Director, Wayne Cutfield - 2022 Symposium - Guidelines for Supporting Students Who Self-Harm - Beautiful Gifts this Christmas - Infant Rapid...
Read our August update
Say hello to our August 2022 update. Read it HERE Find out about our new innovative sleep trial for babies; what teachers and schools think of our literacy programme which is being rolled out nationwide; watch our latest child health and wellbeing webinars; read our...
Evidence-based support for parents of autistic children
A new research project is underway to provide evidence-based support for parents of autistic children. Researchers will evaluate whether web-based content and online virtual coaching interventions can support autistic children with their social communication, as well...
Wanted: 600 babies for innovative sleep trial
Six hundred babies and their whānau are being recruited for an innovative new sleep study in Aotearoa. The Moemoeā study, funded by A Better Start National Science Challenge, will provide babies and their families with a sleep intervention toolkit to test over six...
From the Director
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
The meaning behind, 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.
