Kelly (pictured second from the right) with other NZ and US grantees, including University of Otago Scholar Professor Michael Baker (first from the right).
University of Otago – Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka academic Dr Kelly Tikao (Waitaha, Kāti Māmoe, Kāi Tahu) has recently been awarded the Fulbright-Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga Scholar Award.
The award is for a New Zealand academic, artist or professional to lecture and/or conduct research at a US institution in the field of Indigenous development.
It is offered in partnership with Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga, Aotearoa's only Māori Centre of Research Excellence, providing Aotearoa with the ability to be a key player in global Indigenous research.
The award is available for study or research that fits within and contributes to one of the Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga Aotearoa’s research priorities.
Kelly is one of five Otago tauira and kaimahi who have recently been awarded Fulbright scholarships.
“I felt incredibly honoured to receive this award. It made me feel like this research is valued by a national and international academic collective as an important kaupapa,” Kelly, a senior lecturer at the University of Otago, Christchurch, says.
“The award allows me to travel to our ancestral homeland of Hawai'i to be hosted by Dr Kau'i Baumhofer Merritt at the University of Hawai'i West O'ahu under Hawaiian and Indigenous Health and Healing.”
Kelly was born and raised in Blenheim, before moving with her whānau to the Manawatū where she went to primary and secondary school.
Later in life Kelly moved to Ōtepoti to pursue her studies where she completed her Master of Science Communication at Ōtakou Whakaihu Waka.
Kelly wrote both her Masters and Doctorate about customary Māori, specifically Kāi Tahu, birthing practices. This led to her leading wānanga (educational gatherings) and researching more about the connection of cultural birthing traditions of Māori and the Hawaiian people.
“Widening my research gaze to Hawaii will provide a rich source of native Hawaiian maternity knowledge that will deepen my understanding of creation stories, colonial suppression, and legislation challenges for native Hawaiian traditional healing practitioners.
“It will highlight the shared determination of native Hawaiian 'ohana (whānau), traditional healers and native Hawaiian practitioners, and our Māori midwives and whānau here in Aotearoa to advocate for the protection and reclamation of ancestral birthing knowledge and practices.”
- Kōrero by Brigham Riwai-Couch, Māori Communications Adviser
Kelly pictured with James Waite, Divisional Manager - Americas Division, MFAT (left) and David Gehrenbech, Charge d’affairs, US Embassy (right).
Kelly is a Senior Lecturer with Te Tari Tapuhi – Department of Nursing, Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka ki Ōtautahi convening a hauora Māori paper. She teaches across postgraduate nursing, addressing hauora Māori, consultation, communication and research.
She is also part of the Māori Indigenous Health Innovations (MIHI) team and supports the teaching and marking of the 4th to 6th year medical students coming through the Ōtautahi campus.
“I really enjoy working alongside my nursing and MIHI colleagues and students who teach me new things every day. I also appreciate being part of Te Kei, the Māori Academic Development Programme, and also the support for Māori academics via Te Poutama Māori.”
Kelly has been at Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka ki Ōtautahi for four years and is also an Adjunct Fellow with Te Whare Wānaka o Waitaha/University of Canterbury as a senior researcher under the Health Science Department.
Outside of her roles with the University, Kelly works part-time as a researcher for the Donald Beasley Institute, a national, not for profit organisation that focuses on disability research and education.
Kelly departs for Hawai’i in October to further develop her research.
“The main thing for me while in O'ahu is to be available, be present, to meet and learn from those I am fortunate enough to be introduced to.
“I am not going over to take knowledge but have the time to observe and partake in knowledge that is being offered.
“I hope to meet with researchers, practitioners and 'ohana but I am also open to how that might look, sound and feel once I am over there.
“My true inspiration comes from the many hapori (communities) I get the chance to live and work in. These people I have worked with are inspirational and selfless, people who mimic the mātāpono (principles) I uphold.”
-Kōrero by Brigham Riwai-Couch, Māori Communications Adviser
Te Tari Tapuhi
The Department of Nursing (formerly the Centre for Postgraduate Nursing Studies) at the University of Otago, Christchurch is ranked in the top 150 nursing schools in the world (QS rating, 2025).
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