Renata Watene is one only of a few Māori Optometrists in Aotearoa. She has whakapapa (lineage) to Ngā Puhi and Tainui (tribes). As an immerging Researcher and Indigenous Eye Health Leader, Renata holds several positions in Governance as a Healthcare Practitioner, Professional Teaching Fellow, Researcher, Business Owner and Health advocate. 

 

With a twenty-three-year career in Optics, she has worked in private practice, corporate and franchise models in New Zealand and Australia. Currently, she is the Senior Optometrist and Director of her own two clinics - Occhiali Optometrist, the only 100% Indigenous-owned and operated clinics in the Auckland/Northern region amongst the highest population of Indigenous people in NZ. 

 

Her Governance experience includes being the current Chair of the Strategic Indigenous Taskforce for Optometry Council of Australia and New Zealand, an elected member of the NZ Association of Optometrists, a selected NIB Iwi Partnership Board member, and a past Ministerial Appointment to the Waitemata District Health Board.

 

She has a deep passion for improving health equity for populations through Kaupapa Māori (Indigenous) Models of care that are accessible and focus on intergenerational gains. 

 

She is a strong advocate for promoting Optometry and Health careers for Rangatahi Māori (Māori youth), supporting Te Whakapiki Ake and Hikitia te Ora (a former student of the programme). In 2019 she was appointed a Kaiāwhina at the University of Auckland School of Vision Science. Some of her research projects include a multidisciplinary approach to Diabetes, the Aotearoa Vision Bus and the WHO Eyecare Situational Analysis Tool. 

 

Renata is eager to share her whakaaro (thoughts) on Indigenous voice and leadership, increasing cultural awareness and the critical role that allies hold in a Non-Indigenous dominated health system. Indigenous models of care hold many keys to resolving poor health outcomes for all peoples and are a critical missing piece of our health nations' health strategy. Renata's emphasis on prevention as a critical health strategy is a crucial aspect of creating sustainable and equitable health outcomes. Her advocacy for Indigenous models of care that are accessible and culturally appropriate is essential to addressing the disparities that exist in healthcare for Indigenous populations.

 

Overall, Renata Watene's work and leadership in Indigenous Health are invaluable contributions to advancing health equity for Indigenous communities in Aotearoa and beyond. Her dedication to promoting Indigenous care models and improving future generations' health outcomes is truly inspiring.