Te Aka Mātauranga Matepukupuku
'The ascending vine of cancer knowledge'Cancer is a significant cause of mortality and morbidity in New Zealand: we have the fourth highest cancer rate in the world. Every day, 60 New Zealanders will be told they have cancer. The disease accounts for nearly a third of all deaths and more than 70% of deaths among those aged 65 and over. It significantly affects Māori, with Māori deaths from cancer at least one and a half times higher than that among non-Māori adults. Left unchecked, cancer will have severe and far-reaching implications as our population ages.
The University of Auckland is responding to this challenge through the establishment of a transdisciplinary centre for cancer research, Te Aka Mātauranga Matepukupuku, The Centre for Cancer Research, hosted by the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences.