Te Papa Hauora Health Precinct draws together people, resources and programmes in health research, health education, and health innovation – with the ultimate goal of improving community wellbeing.
Below are some of our recent highlights and upcoming events. Visit our website to learn more about what we’re up to and what’s happening in the Health Precinct.
NEWS
Te Papa Hauora is proud to support the new Exercise Oncology Aotearoa Collaboration. The collaborative brings healthcare professionals together to improve cancer care. Through personalised exercise programmes, their goal is to reduce side effects from treatment, help people recover from surgery and cancer treatment more quickly, and improve health and well-being. By combining expert care, education and research, they aim to ensure everyone gets the best support as they move through cancer treatment.
More information about this new collaboration can be found on our website, including stories, service providers, and resources.
Health Precinct welcomes Wai Ora
September 18th marked a milestone moment for Christchurch’s Health Precinct with the opening of Wai Ora, University of Otago’s new $292 million campus building. Wai Ora will enable the growth of the University’s world class health sciences, research, and education programmes.
Future Leaders Programme
This year we’ve had 35 students successfully complete our 2026 Future Leaders Programme. This highly acclaimed leadership programme is designed to encourage final year health students in Canterbury to explore their leadership potential. Students are introduced to the technical aspects of leadership and gain insight into the health system through presentations from health leaders, futurists, and business experts.
“This workshop is incredibly empowering. Leadership is not just a skill; it’s a gift that takes time to cultivate and develop. It cannot be mastered in a short span, but with dedication and practice, anyone can become an effective leader if they decide to be.” (2026 student)
Health Research Society of Canterbury
Te Papa Hauora proudly supports the Health Research Society of Canterbury, a regional network for promoting local health research. The recent poster evening at Manawa was a chance for early career researchers to share their work with peers.
WHAT’S HAPPENING
Living well & ageing well Community talks
Te Papa Hauora together with the Canterbury Medical Research Foundation held their latest community research talks in Rangiora where members of the community learned about the health impacts of genetic medicine and our drinking water quality.
Our free community research talks take place twice annually at Lincoln and Rangiora. Presentations cover a range of health and wellbeing topics including brain health, movement, nutrition, heart health and social connection.
Digital Media Research Talks
Te Papa Hauora is proud to support the Research for Children Aotearoa (RfCA), a collaboration which brings together established research institutes, organisations, and communities to advance equitable, innovative, world-leading research for children.
Research for Children Aotearoa is hosting an evening of talks focused on Digital Media, Wednesday 2 December, at the University of Canterbury. Keep an eye on our website to register.
Visit our website to also learn more, including current research projects in children’s health taking place in Canterbury.
Annual research talks
Every year Te Papa Hauora celebrates local research and researchers at our we’re talking hauora event. In case you missed it, recordings are now available for 2026.
Keep an eye on our website for more exciting activity!
