11 Dec Welcome, Summer!

Ko pukehokio tōku maunga
Ko Mangapu tōku awa
Ko Tainui tōku waka
Ko Ngāti Maniapoto tōku iwi
Ko Ngāti Kinohaku tōku hapū
Ko Te Waipatoto tōku marae
Ko Summer tōku ingoa

Kia ora! I’m Summer Wright. I hail from the Waitākeres, but you can find my whānau in Otorohanga. I am a postgraduate student at the University of Auckland, and work in the disability sector. My first foray into tertiary education was through Māori Health. I later completed a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science. This year, I branched out into health science, and hope to undertake further postgraduate study in nutrition. My primary interests are in food systems, sociology, and nutrition, and how they relate to health. As we face unprecedented environmental, social, and health challenges, intersectional, multifaceted approaches are required to preserve our health and the planet. I hope to harness Kaupapa Māori knowledges and indigenous frameworks to combat these problems alongside Toi Tangata to uplift our whānau in the face of these problems. I also aim to identify challenges and fill gaps in the delivery of nutrition-related services to those with disabilities. In future, I hope to engage in nutritional clinical practice, and later in policy and legislative activities. In my spare time, I enjoy sports, graphic design, and music. Kia ora!