17/04/2026
Take 10 Fridays | Featuring Associate Professor Makarena Dudley
For this week’s , we’re spotlighting Associate Professor Makarena Dudley from the School of Psychology, whose research focuses on developing culturally responsive approaches to managing mate wareware (dementia) in Māori communities.
1️⃣ Research in 10 words:
Developing a cultural framework for managing dementia in Māori.
2️⃣ In everyday terms:
My research focuses on mate wareware (dementia) and Māori. Current approaches to managing dementia are largely based on Western perspectives and often do not meet the needs of Māori whānau.
3️⃣ Day-to-day work:
I currently lead a Health Research Council–funded prevalence study on mate wareware. This involves coordinating field-based research assistants who engage directly with participants in communities.
4️⃣ Favourite part:
I value the close connections I have with Māori communities, particularly kaumātua. Collaborating with passionate researchers is also incredibly rewarding. Most importantly, it is fulfilling to know our work is already making a positive difference for Māori whānau living with mate wareware.
5️⃣ Surprising insight:
The compassion, care, and acceptance shown by many Māori toward those living with mate wareware reinforces the strength of whānau support systems.
6️⃣ Handling challenges:
One challenge has been encouraging greater Māori participation in research and recruiting Māori researchers in this field. To address this, we’ve focused on building strong partnerships with Māori communities and co-developing culturally appropriate environments for research and clinical engagement.
7️⃣ New questions:
A key question we are exploring is how Māori participation can be meaningfully included in research on preventing mate wareware. Our approach has been to co-create prevention clinics with communities that align with tikanga Māori.
8️⃣ Impact goal:
I strongly believe in translational research—research that leads to tangible benefits. Our team has developed the Māori Assessment of Neuropsychological Abilities (MANA), a mate wareware app, and I am currently writing an accessible guide for kaumātua to support understanding and management of dementia.
9️⃣ Collaboration:
As Deputy Director Māori for the Centre for Brain Research, I contribute to the Māori Strategic Plan aimed at improving brain health outcomes for Māori.
🔟 Advice to younger self:
Research doesn’t always go smoothly. Challenges and setbacks are part of the journey, but they often provide valuable lessons that help refine methods, strengthen relationships, and grow as a researcher.
Read more: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/science/our-research/take-10-with/take-10-with-psychology/take-10-with-makarena-dudley.html
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