The Community Research Te Auaha Pito Mata Awards are held to celebrate the impact of emerging researchers whose work uplifts communities, strengthens knowledge, and creates positive change in Aotearoa.
This webinar series introduces the 2026 Award winners and offers an opportunity to hear directly from these inspiring researchers as they share their work, insights, and aspirations for the future.

In this webinar, we hear from Atelaite Mapa, winner of the Billie Award for Strengths-Based Research for LALAGA ŌTARA LEADERS Knowledge Exchange; work that reimagines community research as something gifted by community and grounded in Indigenous relationality, creative practice, and collective storytelling.

Joining Atelaite in conversation are Torisse Laulu, founder of LALAGA, and Matai'a Fritz Evile. Together they will explore leadership, culture, belonging, and the ways communities create positive change for Pacific peoples.

Rather than a traditional presentation, this session will be highly participatory. Attendees will be invited into talanoa spaces to contribute their own experiences, reflections, and insights before returning to a facilitated conversation and storytelling session with the speakers.

This promises to be an engaging and thought-provoking discussion grounded in connection, collective wisdom, and action for change.

Please note that the recording will not include the breakout talanoa sessions.

Facilitated by Violet Tu'uga Stevenson

About the research: The judges noted how this work centres lived experience through Moana public health and Indigenous systems change, with a strengths-based approach that treats Indigenous knowledge and community aspirations as drivers of wellbeing and transformation.

Read the research here.

Contact the host of LALAGA

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