Research Advisory Group Māori

Background

In 2007, the Māori Partnership Board (MPB) identified a gap in Māori consultation and advice to researchers in the CCDHB district; RAG-M was established as a sub-committee of the Māori Partnership Board (MPB) to provide a more effective engagement point for researchers requiring Māori advice and input. The group was originally established as a subcommittee of the Māori Partnership Board (MPB) of CCDHB. MPB was the Māori relationship board to Capital and Coast District Health Board (CCDHB) mandated by mana whenua (Te Ati Awa, Ngāti Toa and Te Ati Awa ki Whakarongotai.) With the disestablishment of District Health Boards on 1st July 2022, DHB committees and sub-committees such as the Research Advisory Group – Māori (RAG-M) are no longer operational. 

While awaiting changes from the Health NZ – Te Whatu Ora Reset, Māori endorsement of research projects is still required for locality approval and we will be contracting with individual providers for this service. This group is known as the Interim Research Advisory Group – Māori (IRAG-M).

The purpose of IRAG-M is threefold:

• to provide a pathway for researchers to have their research proposals considered from a Māori perspective
• to support more robust information on eliminating ethnic inequities
• to increase Māori participation in research and reduce culturally ensure safe practices.

IRAG-M encourages Māori participation in a safe and appropriate environment for the purpose of improving the health status of Māori. IRAG-M is guided by the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi – partnership, participation and protection.

Members are individually contracted providers who work as a team to review and endorse health research projects in the Capital, Coast and Hutt Valley region.  

The IRAG-M function is part of the locality approval process for all research proposals. The IRAG-M meet on a monthly basis to review and discuss research proposals as part of the Locality Approval process.

Purpose

For CCHV, in order to get locality approval, you must gain Ethics Approval from HDEC or University Ethics panel AND Endorsement from IRAG-M. The purpose of IRAG-M is an integral part of the Locality Approval process.

Committee Members

The Committee members are prominent Māori Health Professionals within the field of Public Health in Aotearoa with varying backgrounds including Clinicians, Epidemiology, Academia and Research. The Committee members are independent of CCHV.

CCHV Locality Process

The overall process of gaining Locality Approval within CCHV can take minimum 8 weeks. The IRAG-M endorsement process can take a few weeks depending on the decision from your original application. The IRAG-M application, can run concurrent to the Ethics submission to either HDEC or other approved Ethics Committees such as University Ethics Panels.

Submission Requirements

The following requirements will need to be submitted. Please note there is no expedited reviews. 

1. Locality Application Completed
2. IRAG-M Application Form 2025
3. Internal Funds Transfer Form OR External Funds Transfer Form
4. Study Protocol
5. Ethics application form and approval letter* (HDEC or Institutional Ethics Committee e.g. University)
6. Patient Information Sheet and Consent Forms (if applicable)
7. Data and/or Tissue Management Plan (DTMP). All studies are required to provide one. Please see below paragraph regarding ‘Māori Data Sovereignty’ before filling out and submitting.
8. Any other relevant documentation specific to your study.
9. Evidence of Māori support (CCHV staff, Whānau Care)

Please ensure your DTMP includes - HOW you will store Māori data and/or tissue, where it will be located, for how long and exactly what purposes the data and/or tissue will be used for at the time and in the future. 

For Clinical Trials, please go into detail how you “will ensure they consider and respect the principles of whakapapa, whanaungatanga, rangatiratanga, kotahitanga, manaakitanga, and kaitiakitanga in their daily work and communication for all study participants."

*You can submit pending Ethics Approval but will not be able to commence study until you have sent this to the Research Office and IRAG-M and Locality Approval has been granted. Please note, HDEC letters will be sent out within 4 weeks of their meetings. 

Submission Processes

Cost

There is a cost to having your application reviewed by the IRAG-M committee. The review cost for Commercial Sponsors is $1,250. For all other projects the review cost is$350. This can be charged to your Department or self-funded. 

To align with rising inflation and increasing operational costs, the 2025 costs have been adjusted. We remain dedicated to delivering the highest quality of service and greatly appreciate your understanding and continued partnership.

2025 Dates

Below are the submission dates. Cut off is 5pm on the below dates to be reviewed by the Committee at the next hui. To have your application reviewed by the Research Office in order to make sure it is ready for the Committee, please make sure you submit early.  

*Please note these dates are subject to change if availability of Committee changes. Advanced notice will be provided as soon as possible.

Expect a response within 10 working days of IRAG-M meeting.

Priority will be given to the first TEN applications.

Decision Process

Within a couple of weeks of the hui, you will be emailed with the outcome of your application by the Secretariat of the Committee. Please see the below table regarding the process of each decision.  Once Endorsed, the Secretariat will send you an official Endorsement letter. 

Tikanga Workshops

Researchers are strongly encouraged to attend the Tikanga Māori – Research specific 2 hour workshop at Wellington and Hutt Hospital.  It is encouraged you attend every two years. Please contact the Research Office, if you or your team would like to attend. Please note there is a limit to participants per workshop. There are four workshops each year. 

*In order to attend the Māori Data Sovereignty Workshops, you will need to have attended a Tikanga training within the last two years. 

Please contact RAGM, if you need to discuss.

Wellington Hospital and Hutt Hospital

*Please note these dates are subject to change if availability of facilitators change. Advanced notice will be provided as soon as possible to provide. Please email ragm@ccdhb.org.nz if you would like to attend.

Māori Data Sovereignty

The Māori Data Framework we use is Te Mana Raraunga.

Data Sovereignty typically refers to the understanding that data is subject to the laws of the nation within which it is stored.

Indigenous Data Sovereignty perceives data as subject to the laws of the nation from which it is collected.

Māori Data Sovereignty recognises that Māori data should be subject to Māori governance. Māori data sovereignty supports tribal sovereignty and the realisation of Māori and Iwi aspirations.

Please review the following documents when filling out your Data and/or tissue Management Plans

1. Principles of Māori Data Sovereignty 
2. Māori data sovereignty and offshoring Māori data 
3. Māori Data Governance Model.

Contact Details

RAGM Enquiries: ragm@ccdhb.org.nz 

Research Enquiries: Res-Research@ccdhb.org.nz   

Come and visit us

Wellington Hospital – CSB Purple Lifts Level 8

Helpful Links

A Framework for Māori Review of Research

Please refer to this document for guidance on completing the on-line application form and meeting the minimum requirements for Māori consultation.

Te Kāhui Raraunga

We recommend you browse through the resources on this website, which are updated on an ongoing basis.

Māori Data Governance Model

Māori Data Sovereignty and off-shoring Māori data

Guidelines for Researchers on Health Research involving Māori

Te Mana Raraunga - Māori data sovereignty network

Principles of Māori Data Sovereignty

Consolidated criteria for strengthening reporting of health research involving indigenous peoples

Understanding Māori Rights and Interests in Intellectual Property arising from Research and Innovation

Participant information sheet template

Chapter 13: Kaupapa Māori-informed approaches to support data rights and self-determination (pp. 187-203).