TŪ RANGATIRA MŌ TE ORA AWARD 2025:

LISA TE MORENGA - CHAMPIONING MĀORI HEALTH AND SYSTEMIC CHANGE

The Public Health Association of New Zealand proudly presents the Tū Rangatira mō te Ora Award 2025 to Professor Lisa Te Morenga, a visionary leader whose mahi bridges research excellence, advocacy, and kaupapa Māori.

Throughout her career, Lisa has been steadfast in her pursuit of health equity and the advancement of hauora Māori. In 2025, she emerged as a powerful national voice defending Ka Ora, Ka Ako, the healthy school lunches programme. Drawing on robust evidence and a Māori worldview, Lisa highlighted the programme’s profound impact on tamariki Māori, food security, and equitable educational outcomes—galvanising public and political support to protect this essential initiative.

As co-chair of Health Coalition Aotearoa, Lisa has consistently challenged inequitable systems and led structural reforms in nutrition, food environments, and public health policy. Her research and advocacy are grounded in the principles of tino rangatiratanga and mana motuhake, uplifting the mana of Māori communities nationwide.

Lisa exemplifies the spirit of Tū Rangatira mō te Ora—a leader whose courage, compassion, and scholarship transform systems to protect the health and wellbeing of Māori and all peoples of Aotearoa, today and for generations to come.