Kirimatao Paipa has gained a wealth of knowledge and skills from her decades of work as a family violence practitioner, Kaupapa Māori researcher, and evaluator. She values research as the foundation of the health and well-being support provided to the community.

For the past ten years, Kirimatao has conducted research and evaluations focusing on Kaupapa Māori. She has worked as an action researcher with three Whānau Ora collectives in Auckland, Christchurch and, Hawke’s Bay under the mantle of Takitini, a group of 25 Māori evaluators and researchers. The collectives provide social services to both Māori and Pasifika communities through various initiatives and programmes.

She views research and evaluation as a privilege, allowing her to support the community directly. When working with whānau, she draws on Te Reo Māori and Tikanga Māori as her knowledge bases. One of her driving motivations is being able to support whānau through the application of tikanga.

Alongside her work, Kirimatao is currently studying for a Masters of Applied Indigenous Knowledge through Te Wānanga o Aotearoa and teaches te reo Māori utilising Te Ataarangi total immersion approach whenever she can. She is a qualified teacher (Pouako) of Te Ataarangi and was one of the initiators behind the first store in Aotearoa to have bilingual Māori/English signage in Tokomaru Bay. This initiative triggered a number of other businesses throughout Aotearoa to begin implementing bilingual Māori/English signage. This is a huge achievement that is visible in some mainstream stores to this day.

Nei rā a Kirimātao Paipa - Māmā, tamāhine, kōkā, hoa, kaikaranga, kaihāpai i te reo me ōna tikanga, kaikōkiri i te rangatiratanga o te tangata. He wahine toa, he tipua, kaiwhakaatu i te mana wahine.

Links:

Community Research - Talking with Kirimatao Paipa

Kaupapa Māori Evaluation in Aotearoa New Zealand Te Rau Ora - Kirimatao Paipa

Research Gate - Kirimatao Paipa

Hei Hauhake Whakaaro: A Resource for Kaupapa Māori Researchers