Award-winning researcher focused on Māori health equity
Associate Professor Clive Aspin has received the Te Rangi Hiroa Medal for his research into sexuality, HIV, and suicide prevention.
Associate Professor Aspin (Ngāti Maru, Ngāti Whanaunga, Ngāti Tamaterā) has been a pioneer in public health research and Māori health research, making significant contributions both nationally and internationally to social and cultural diversity—particularly in HIV and AIDS, sexual and reproductive health, and suicide intervention.
His work has been influential in policy development and led to greater equity for Māori and indigenous peoples in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Associate Professor Aspin led a research collaboration into the impact of HIV on indigenous peoples in Aotearoa, Australia, and Canada that has positively impacted the development of HIV-related policy in all three nations.
He has experience teaching in both the secondary and tertiary education systems. Through a series of roles in the public sector he was actively involved in provision of community-based healthcare, and ensuring that Māori were considered in development of government policy, before transitioning to academia.
One of the supporters of his nomination stated that Associate Professor Aspin has fought for better societal understanding of HIV and AIDS, of sexual and reproductive health, of Māori sexuality, and of suicide prevention.
“He is unique in having worked effectively across academic, community, and government roles to effect change and improvement in the lives of marginalised people. He has been personally fearless in his advocacy for those without a strong voice in the system. His work has benefited many marginalised groups and Māori in particular.”
Associate Professor Aspin has also taken on non-academic roles where he can influence policy development and achieve fundamental organisational change. These include national and international governance roles in HIV and AIDS, membership of the governing board of the Health Research Council of New Zealand, management of a large drug-harm reduction service in Central Sydney, and work within government as a policy analyst and a specialist advisor on suicide.
The Te Rangi Hiroa Medal is awarded by the Royal Society Te Apārangi for outstanding contributions in the social sciences. It was presented to Associate Professor Aspin at a ceremony at Government House this week.