Dementia, or mate wareware is a devastating and life changing condition that affects 70,000 New Zealanders today. 

There have been calls to support rural Māori communities with members who have the condition, as Māori are more likely to experience mate wareware than other groups in the country.

A kaupapa has been launched by the University of Auckland’s Dr Makarena Dudley and Sir Richard Faull to better provide rural Māori communities with better education, guidance, and support.

On Monday, Producer Samantha spoke to Dudley, who is the Deputy Director Māori at the Centre of Brain Research Te Huinga Hinengaro, about the research, and what support is needed for these communities.