Noah Appleby is a rising Māori health leader whose research and advocacy are reshaping the future of hauora Māori.
Born and raised in Tūranganui-a-Kiwa and of Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki descent, Noah is currently studying towards a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) and completing a Bachelor of Medical Science with Honours (BMedSci Hons) at Waipapa Taumata Rau – The University of Auckland.
Noah's journey into medicine began with Whakapiki Ake, an initiative designed to engage with rangatahi Māori at secondary schools and introduce them to potential careers in health. Many kaupapa have supported his journey, including the Māori and Pacific Admissions Scheme (MAPAS) at Waipapa Taumata Rau. These initiatives have given Noah a deeper understanding of the inequities our Māori and Pacific people face and sustained his passion and commitment to contributing to positive change in the health system.
“Growing up in Te Tairāwhiti, he has witnessed firsthand the challenges whānau face in accessing quality healthcare. These experiences have driven my commitment to advocating for equitable health outcomes and ensuring that Māori voices are at the forefront of health and research practices.”
Noah is a two-time Pūtahi Manawa – Healthy Hearts for Aotearoa summer research intern, including a summer as both a Pūhoro and Pūtahi Manawa intern. Noah grouneded in kaupapa Māori methodologies, providing a solid foundation for his BMedSci Hons this year. Noah’s research on colonoscopy rates and quality, specifically focusing on ethnic disparities in Te Tairāwhiti, that was presented at the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) Annual Scientific Congress (ASC) in 2024 in Christchurch. Noah presented again at the 2025 RACS ASC Sydney. His research explored access to bariatric surgery in Aotearoa and contributed to a national review of surgical research responsiveness to Māori, co-authoring a 2024 scoping review. Grounded in whānau and whakapapa, he pairs academic rigour with a strong commitment to equity and Māori health access.
Noah's Honours project, Haumanu Hauora, investigates access to bariatric surgery and its impact on cardiovascular and metabolic disease in Aotearoa. Supervised by Dr Jamie-Lee Rahiri, the research champions Māori-led, equity-focused approaches to embed kaupapa Māori into clinical practice and address systemic disparities in surgical care, affirms the value of kaupapa Māori methodologies in health research.
“Research can uplift our people—but only if our people are actively involved in every step of the research and if the research is grounded and guided by tikanga and Te Tiriti.”
In addition to his academic work, Noah serves in national advocacy roles as NZMSA Māngai for Te Oranga (Māori Medical Students’ Association of Aotearoa). He has previously held roles within AUMSA and NZMSA as Māngai Māori, helping shape student leadership and policy through a Te Tiriti lens. His efforts champion cultural safety, whanaungatanga, and Māori excellence in medicine.
Whether in the clinic, research spaces, advocacy roles, or on the conference floor, Noah brings humility, vision, and mana to every space he enters. His leadership exemplifies a new generation of Māori doctors: clinically sharp, culturally grounded, and committed to transformative change in Aotearoa’s health system.
“My whānau have contributed hugely to my journey, and I carry their aspirations, along with those of my tūpuna, into every ward, every paper, every presentation … everything I do is driven by their influence and guidance.”
Links:
Pūtahi Manawa – Congratulations to the 2024/25 Pūtahi Manawa Summer Research Scholarship recipients
The responsiveness of surgical research to Māori in Aotearoa, New Zealand-a scoping review. Article Lancet Reg Health West Pac. 2025, Feb
29 May 2025
