Latest news with #CallaghanInnovation
RNZ News
3 hours ago
- Health
- RNZ News
Power of rongoā Māori: Rangatahi-led project explores health benefits of kūmara vines
Darius Martin-Baker stumbled on the idea while trying to cure a stomach issue. Photo: Supplied Inspired by mātauranga Māori and rongoā, a young entrepreneur is turning kūmara waste into wellness through a groundbreaking new research project. Twenty-one-year-old Darius Martin-Baker (Ngāpuhi, Waimā, Ngāwhā) is the driving force behind the kaupapa. With $70,000 from the Bioresource Processing Alliance, he has partnered with Callaghan Innovation scientists to explore the nutritional potential of kūmara vines - the leafy part of the plant often chucked during harvest. Martin-Baker said the idea for the kaupapa sparked while staying with his older sister - a longtime practitioner of rongoā Māori - when he began digging deeper into traditional plant knowledge in search of a cure for a stomach issue. "I was reading through rongoā books, but I was getting quite hōhā, because I was like 'no koromiko'," he said. "You have a little bit, it stops you from having the runs, but you have too much, it causes it. "I was, like, definitely can't be using that, because if John down the road decides to have three scoops instead of one, I don't want to be blamed for exacerbating any problems." Then he looked up and saw his sister sprouting a kūmara on the windowsill. "I was, like, 'Why? You're not growing it,' and she was like, 'It looks pretty, but also, it's a rongoā.'" "I was, like, 'Is this a tūpuna-aligned moment?'" Darius Martin-Baker began to research the medicinal use of kūmara vines. Photo: Supplied That moment led him into deeper research, where he found a range of references to the medicinal uses of kūmara in old rongoā books. "I was, like, 'Okay, if we know as Māori and our mātauranga that there's positive benefits to eating kūmara, then what does Western science say about it?'" Martin-Baker came across a study from the University of Arkansas, which found kūmara vines contained anti-carcinogenic, anti-cardiovascular disease and anti-diabetic properties. "It was definitely one of those 'cue the angel music and an epiphany pops out' moments." Nearly 200,000 tonnes of kūmara vines go unused each year. Photo: Supplied According to the Bioresource Processing Alliance, nearly 200,000 tonnes of kūmara vines go unused in Aotearoa each year. Martin-Baker's goal is to unlock their potential, and create a product that could support people living with diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer, while also serving as a daily health supplement. "Kūmara vine has been used by tangata whenua, since the plant was first grown in Aotearoa," he said. "This will be the first research project to investigate and hopefully commercialise the health properties of the vine." Callagahan Innovation senior researcher Jolin Morel. Photo: Supplied One of the several scientists helping bring that vision to life is Jolin Morel, a senior researcher at Callaghan Innovation's food processing technology team. "It's great to have someone like [Darius], who is really trying to build on something that's been traditionally used, but isn't really well utilised now," he said. According to Morel, kūmara vines are rich in bioactive compounds, including polyphenols and other phenolic antioxidants, which are associated with anti-inflammatory and disease-fighting properties. "We're looking at how can we create products where these compounds are enriched." They are exploring ways to develop a kūmara vine extract that's high in phenolics - something Morel said, "could be a powerful addition to a protein drink or similar supplement". "We're looking at scalable ways to process them, to make them into shelf-stable products that still retain the good properties of the vine." Morel said, while Callaghan leads the mahi around processing and scale-up, Plant & Food Research is investigating the plant's bioactive compounds - known as phytochemicals - that give the vine its potential health benefits. "There are a few different parts to the project - from creating product concepts to understanding the science behind the rongoā." Most of the vines used so far have been grown in Kaipara. Photo: Supplied / Darius Martin-Baker Martin-Baker said learning under his sister's mātauranga had grounded the kaupapa in tikanga, something he was committed to embedding throughout the entire project, starting from the way the kūmara vines were harvested. "Following tikanga in picking practice is really important, so ensuring that there's alignment with Maramataka, but also just ensuring karakia," he said. "Unfortunately, sometimes the harvest of the rau might not line up with the phase of the moon, so most of the time, it's just about giving karakia to all the different ātua that are in that area." All the kūmara vines gathered so far have been sourced from Kaipara - one of the country's main kūmara-growing rohe. "Acknowledging the hapū and iwi there and doing karakia in those moments" would remain central to the kaupapa, especially when the product enters the formulation and production stage, Martin-Baker said. "Before we get into the actual production of it, doing karakia and following tikanga in that regard is going to be the point of utmost importance." He also hoped that any future website or packaging would honour the whakapapa of the kūmara vine and its wider mātauranga lineage. "I'll ensure that there's acknowledgments to ngā tūpuna o ngā ātua to ensure that those that have come before all of us, that have helped us build up this intergenerational knowledge, are acknowledged for that development and that gift to the rest of us." Darius Martin-Baker has drawn from his Māori and Pākehā roots. Photo: Supplied / Darius Martin-Baker Martin-Baker said the kaupapa felt like a reflection of his own whakapapa. "When it comes to Western sciences supporting rongoā Māori, it's a balance. It's not that one is better than the other, but it's utilising them in a woven manner - like making a kete that holds this product." "Being of Māori and Pākehā descent, it's definitely in my whakapapa to mix those two different parts of me, so it feels like this is not only a way of going about it that is tika and pono, but also, it feels like a little bit of myself." He hoped his journey would inspire more rangatahi Māori to pursue pathways in innovation, science and rongoā. "I want to see more Māori in this space - reclaiming mātauranga, creating solutions and doing it in a way that stays true to who we are." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Scoop
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Govt Driving Away Kiwi Innovators And Scientists
Press Release – New Zealand Labour Party Nationals decision to cut Callaghan Innovation has lost the country at least 60 skilled science jobs, meaning the expertise to commercialise great New Zealand innovations has evaporated. The Government continues to obliterate science and innovation in New Zealand. 'New Zealand's world leading crown research institutes are being left to dwindle, and New Zealand's best scientists are losing their jobs and leaving the country,' Labour science and innovation spokesperson Reuben Davidson said. 'National's decision to cut Callaghan Innovation has lost the country at least 60 skilled science jobs, meaning the expertise to commercialise great New Zealand innovations has evaporated. 'GNS Science has axed nearly 10 percent of its workforce, despite its important work on seismic and climate research. ESR – the Institute of Environmental Science and Research – slashing eight percent of its workforce because of government cuts. NIWA was also proposing 13 percent of its workforce would have to go. 'Cuts to the Marsden Fund, which supports important research at universities, will mean less research in public health, nursing, law, education, Māori studies, and public policy. 'The Government has also closed the Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund and replaced it with a new, smaller fund, and decided not to award new funding through the Endeavour Fund in 2026. 'They've taken a total of $90 million out of grants and funds in Budget 2025. This is incredibly short-sighted, and gambles with New Zealand's technology future. 'National is happy to turn up to events like the Hi-Tech awards and congratulate winners when the cameras are rolling in Budget week, but behind the scenes they are cutting the funding that got lots of our best innovators there,' Reuben Davidson said.
Scoop
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Govt Driving Away Kiwi Innovators And Scientists
Press Release – New Zealand Labour Party Nationals decision to cut Callaghan Innovation has lost the country at least 60 skilled science jobs, meaning the expertise to commercialise great New Zealand innovations has evaporated. The Government continues to obliterate science and innovation in New Zealand. 'New Zealand's world leading crown research institutes are being left to dwindle, and New Zealand's best scientists are losing their jobs and leaving the country,' Labour science and innovation spokesperson Reuben Davidson said. 'National's decision to cut Callaghan Innovation has lost the country at least 60 skilled science jobs, meaning the expertise to commercialise great New Zealand innovations has evaporated. 'GNS Science has axed nearly 10 percent of its workforce, despite its important work on seismic and climate research. ESR – the Institute of Environmental Science and Research – slashing eight percent of its workforce because of government cuts. NIWA was also proposing 13 percent of its workforce would have to go. 'Cuts to the Marsden Fund, which supports important research at universities, will mean less research in public health, nursing, law, education, Māori studies, and public policy. 'The Government has also closed the Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund and replaced it with a new, smaller fund, and decided not to award new funding through the Endeavour Fund in 2026. 'They've taken a total of $90 million out of grants and funds in Budget 2025. This is incredibly short-sighted, and gambles with New Zealand's technology future. 'National is happy to turn up to events like the Hi-Tech awards and congratulate winners when the cameras are rolling in Budget week, but behind the scenes they are cutting the funding that got lots of our best innovators there,' Reuben Davidson said.
Scoop
19-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Budget Week Blow – Govt Axes Experts Backing Innovative Kiwi Start-Ups
Press Release – PSA This Friday, 15 highly skilled business innovation advisers at Callaghan Innovation will be shown the door. These are industry experts hired from the private sector whove been helping young companies navigate the commercial world and prepare them … Callaghan Innovation that supports the next wave of innovative Kiwi companies. This Friday, 15 highly skilled business innovation advisers at Callaghan Innovation will be shown the door. 'The Government is sacking these smart and successful business advisors while loudly beating the drum about its economic growth agenda – it's hypocritical, and makes no sense,' said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi. The team supports Frontier Ventures – innovative start-ups in the science and technology area that have the potential to be world beaters. 'If the Government want to nurture the next Rocket Lab, then the wrap around services offered by the commercialisation team are exactly the support start-ups need to go to the next level. 'These are industry experts hired from the private sector who've been helping young companies navigate the commercial world and prepare them to scale up and succeed. 'This is fully funded, expert advice – a critical service being axed with a proven track record of success with no thought as to the impacts. 'There is no government agency picking up this work – the next wave of smart, innovative Kiwi entrepreneurs is being left high and dry. The service will not be picked up by the private sector as these companies are fledgling businesses with limited resources. 'It's ironic that the Government just last week announced additional venture capital funding but is pulling the rug from under the very service that helps start-ups get to the stage of being able to seek venture capital. 'Sacking these people is all about saving money, not securing a prosperous future for New Zealand – it's just another short-sighted decision by the Government without regard to consequences, as we have seen across the public sector.'
Scoop
18-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Budget Week Blow - Govt Axes Experts Backing Innovative Kiwi Start-Ups
Callaghan Innovation that supports the next wave of innovative Kiwi companies. This Friday, 15 highly skilled business innovation advisers at Callaghan Innovation will be shown the door. "The Government is sacking these smart and successful business advisors while loudly beating the drum about its economic growth agenda - it's hypocritical, and makes no sense," said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi. The team supports Frontier Ventures - innovative start-ups in the science and technology area that have the potential to be world beaters. "If the Government want to nurture the next Rocket Lab, then the wrap around services offered by the commercialisation team are exactly the support start-ups need to go to the next level. "These are industry experts hired from the private sector who've been helping young companies navigate the commercial world and prepare them to scale up and succeed. "This is fully funded, expert advice - a critical service being axed with a proven track record of success with no thought as to the impacts. "There is no government agency picking up this work - the next wave of smart, innovative Kiwi entrepreneurs is being left high and dry. The service will not be picked up by the private sector as these companies are fledgling businesses with limited resources. "It's ironic that the Government just last week announced additional venture capital funding but is pulling the rug from under the very service that helps start-ups get to the stage of being able to seek venture capital. "Sacking these people is all about saving money, not securing a prosperous future for New Zealand - it's just another short-sighted decision by the Government without regard to consequences, as we have seen across the public sector."
