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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News and events
ABS Challenge Director awarded this year’s Gluckman Medal
Congratulations to A Better Start's Challenge Director, Professor Wayne Cutfield, who has been awarded this year's Gluckman Medal for his outstanding contributions to research. The Gluckman Medal is an extremely prestigious award and is awarded each year by the...
Congratulations to this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours recipients
A Better Start congratulates the recipients of this year's Queen's Birthday Honours awards. Distinguished Professor Jane Harding was made a dame for world-leading research into newborn babies. A well-deserved honour and a great recognition of Dame Harding's many...
Resilient Teens team describe the system architecture for Aroha chatbot
A Better Start's Resilient Teens team describe the system architecture for their youth mental health chatbot systems, including the new Aroha chatbot, which supports youth with Covid-19 related issues. See the published pre-print paper.
The Ministry of Health has put funding into resources to help young people manage anxiety
The Ministry of Health today announced more choice of mental health and wellbeing support for young people. This included funding into providing a variety of tools and resources to help young people manage anxiety due to the uncertainty caused by Covid-19. Read the...
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.
