There are several ways to engage with Tae Ora Tinana, depending on your interests, capacity, and connection to the kaupapa. Engagement may include attending events or wānanga, participating in webinars or professional development opportunities, contributing to kaupapa-led projects, expressing interest in volunteer roles or coming to talk to us at any wider physiotherapy event.

The quickest way to engage with us is to contact us directly.

Kaitiaki and Kaitautoko roles are voluntary and support the governance and operational mahi of Tae Ora Tinana.

• Kaitiaki are typically Māori physiotherapists or physiotherapists with experience in Māori health, leadership, or governance who are committed to upholding the kaupapa, tikanga, and strategic direction of the rōpū.

• Kaitautoko are typically Māori Physiotherapists or physiotherapists with experience in Māori Health, who support specific projects, initiatives, or time-limited mahi. This role is flexible and allows people to contribute their skills and time based on availability.

More information can be found here

Support for Tae Ora Tinana can take many forms. This may include amplifying our kaupapa within your networks, supporting events or initiatives, contributing whakaaro or expertise when invited, mentoring tauira or early-career physiotherapists, or engaging respectfully with Māori health and cultural capability work in your own spaces.

We also welcome collaboration with aligned organisations, community groups, and professional bodies where shared goals support improved hauora Māori outcomes.

All Kaitiaki and Kaitautoko roles are voluntary unless explicitly stated otherwise for specific, funded projects. Time commitments vary depending on the role and kaupapa involved.

Kaore (No), All are welcome. In saying this, Tae Ora Tinana is a Māori-led organisation grounded in kaupapa Māori and so some people may need to develop their knowledge of Māori governance to be eligible for long term governance positions. Heoi, our history has seen many non-Māori involved in various stages, which has produced great outcomes for Māori in physiotherapy.

Collaborations are considered where values, intent, and strategic goals align between Tae Ora Tinana and another roopu. We specifically reserve our Te Tiriti Partnership with Physiotherapy New Zealand.

Furthermore, we currently have an array of formal and informal relationships within Aotearoa’s health and education landscapes that can be reviewed here.

No. While our core focus is physiotherapy, we work alongside communities, students, educators, researchers, and aligned organisations. Engagement is based on shared values, respect for kaupapa Māori, and alignment with our strategic goals.

Tae Ora Tinana does not currently conduct research or fund any research projects.

We do support and participate in research that aligns with Māori health priorities, physiotherapy practice, and kaupapa Māori health research conducted externally.

Our support of research currently consists of peer reviewing specific research projects that fit into a specific criteria. If researchers are interested in recruiting participants for their research they would first need to provide information here. This does not mean you will have support from Tae Ora Tinana, but will open a dialogue to see if we can support in any way.

Finally, in 2026, we are aiming to add links and information relating to research recruitment on our monthly newsletters.

Tae Ora Tinana is not a blanket consultation or sign-off body. Any review, consultation or endorsement in research is considered on a case-by-case basis and must demonstrate genuine partnership, early engagement, and benefit to Māori.