Rate My Professor Kelly Tikao

Tikao's research employs kaupapa Māori frameworks to explore advocacy and mana motuhake for disabled Māori (hauā), youth mental health with whānau, and the rejuvenation of Ngāi Tahu customary birthing knowledge and practices, including connections to native Hawaiian maternity traditions. Her doctoral and master's research focused on Kāi Tahu birthing practices. Key publications include Tikao (2026), 'Cradling the renaissance of Ngāi Tahu customary maternity knowledge through ancient lullabies in Aotearoa New Zealand', in Traditional Midwives: Cross-Cultural Perspectives (Routledge); Theobald et al. (2026), 'Efficacy of oral micronutrients and online mindfulness for emotional dysregulation in children aged 6–10 (The M&M Trial)', Nutritional Psychiatry; Wilson, Wilkinson, and Tikao (2022), 'Health professional perspectives on translation of cultural safety concepts into practice', Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences; and Hale et al. (2018), 'Organisational views on health care access for hauā (disabled) Māori in Murihiku (Southland), Aotearoa/New Zealand', New Zealand Journal of Physiotherapy. In 2025, she received the Fulbright-Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga Scholar Award to conduct research at the University of Hawai'i West O'ahu on customary native Hawaiian maternity practices. Tikao participates in Te Kei Māori Academic Development Programme and Te Poutama Māori support for Māori academics, contributing to Māori health education and research innovation.