Dr. Matire Harwood is from Ngāpuhi, with whakapapa connections to Ngāti Rangi, Te Mahurehure, and Ngāti Hine. She graduated with an MBChB from the University of Auckland in 1994 and completed her PhD at the University of Otago in 2012. In 2024, Matire was awarded the King’s Service Medal for her contributions to Māori health.

Matire’s doctorate examined recovery after stroke, designing and testing an intervention for rehabilitation after stroke specifically for Māori and Pacifica. The success of this intervention was published widely and led to changes in treatment guidelines and good practices following a stroke.

Currently, Matire is the Deputy Dean at the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Waipapa Taumata Rau | University of Auckland, and continues to serve as a GP within Māori health services and supervises Māori doctoral candidates

Matire is a leading Māori health researcher with over 50 peer-reviewed scientific publications and numerous research projects. She is committed to changing health outcomes for Māori by improving health practice by training senior medical students in Māori health, clinical practice by doing research to improve guidelines for clinical care for Māori, and research practice by improving researcher’s accountability to Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Matire particularly seeks to improve the uptake of research about Māori as the editor of the Māori Health Review (MHR), a summary of significant medical research affecting Māori to over 5,100 subscribers.

To date, Matire has been recognised with many awards, including scholarships during her studies, awards and recognition from her peers including the Marire Goodall Award from Te ORA (Māori Medical Practitioners Association) for her outstanding contribution to Māori health:

• 2024 King’s Service Medal for Services to Māori Health
• 2023 Butland Teaching Award for Excellence in Research Supervision
• 2022 Community Services Medal, NZ College of GPs
• 2021 Greg Judkins Poetry Award, NZ College of GPs Conference
• 2019 Te Tohu Rapuora for leadership and contributions to Māori health research (Health Research Council and Royal Society)
• 2018 Matariki Award, Tūhono for Improving Māori Health, Mana Tū, ADHB
• 2017 Marire Goodall Award from Te ORA (Māori Medical Practitioners Association)
• 2017 L’Oréal UNESCO New Zealand For Women in Science Fellowship

Numerous other awards for her contributions to Māori health, equity, and scientific research.  Matire is highly sought after as a member of various committees and boards, having served on Ethics Committees, the Health Research Council of New Zealand, and the Auckland District Health Board, including the following positions:

• 2024 – Present: Board Member, Heart Foundation
• 2021 – Present: Member, Hauora Māori Advisory Committee to the Minister of Health
• 2021 – Present: Board Member, MAS Foundation
• 2017 – Present: Board Member, Medical Research Institute of New Zealand

Alongside her extensive work, she has a loving family, including two children. Dr. Matire Harwood is a leader who embodies great aroha for our people.

King’s Service Medal (KSM) Dr Matire Louise Ngarongoa HARWOOD (AFRACMA) – For services to Māori health.

Matire Harwood: destined to be a doctor from childhood

Understanding and Improving Stroke Recovery for Māori and Their Whānau

Matire Louise Ngarongoa Harwood’s research while affiliated with University of Auckland and other places

Matire Louise Ngarongoa Harwood

Dr Matire Harwood

Dr Matire Harwood, QSM

Manawataki Fatu Fatu for ACCESS (Māori and Pacific Hearts in Unison for Achieving Cardiovascular Care in Equity StudieS). Protocol for a Mixed Methods Programme of Research

Media portrayal of Māori and bariatric surgery in Aotearoa/New Zealand

Reducing Ethnic and Geographic Inequities to Optimise New Zealand Stroke Care (REGIONS Care): Protocol for a Nationwide Observational Study

King's Birthday Honours 2024 - Citations for the King's Service Medal

Honours recognise those serving Māori