Te Ira Kāwai – The Auckland Regional Biobank (ARB), collects and stores human tissues and some relevant clinical information that have been donated by patients for use by researchers in ethically approved research. The ARB is a partnership between the University of Auckland and all three Auckland metropolitan district health boards (DHBs) ‒ Auckland, Waitemata and Counties Manukau.
Dame Naida Glavish, Chief Advisor Tikanga; General Manager, He Kāmaka Waiora, for the Waitemata and Auckland District Health Boards, was instrumental in the naming of Te Ira Kāwai. Te Ira Kāwai – ARB is the kaitiaki (guardian) of all donated tissue. We incorporate tikanga Māori into our processes, acknowledging Te Tiriti o Waitangi – The Treaty of Waitangi. Tangata whenua are involved in both governance and scientific guidance.
We encourage you to contact us early to discuss your proposed project so that we can help you set realistic aims for ethical collection and storage of human specimens while ensuring Tikanga Māori (cultural practice) is embedded in your research protocol.
If you want to find out more about Te Ira Kāwai – Auckland Regional Biobank, please visit our website