Our Values
Mission Statement
An understanding of the menstrual cycle is essential to the health and wellbeing of all of us and especially wāhine, women and girls, and those born with a uterus. The Network’s core activities will relate to the menstrual cycle and menstrual health, recognising the need for continued quality interdisciplinary research on menstrual cycle health and associated menstrual-cycle related issues, diseases and menstrual education.
Membership
Forming strong relationships will ensure that research is focused on areas of greatest need and interest, and that research results are applicable, actionable, and accountable. The Network encompasses researchers at all career stages across Aotearoa and the Pacific with an interest in biological, clinical, psychosocial, or educational aspects of menstrual health; healthcare practitioners and clinicians; patients and advocates; and community members.
More information: joining the network
Guiding Values
For menstrual cycle health research, a comprehensive approach is needed going forward; thus, our goal in establishing the Network is to be broad and inclusive with participation spanning sectors, disciplines, approaches, communities, and knowledges.
As a Network, we value multiple knowledges including Māori, Pacific, Indigenous and Western approaches and methodologies. We hope to facilitate stronger research through weaving together these understandings and partnerships. We acknowledge that the relationships that this network aims to build are at the heart of our work and that our values must promote relationships that are reciprocal, open, respectful and inclusive.
This graphic summarizes the foundational values the network is built upon
Network Identifier
Our gorgeous identifier was designed by artist Miriam Bowles-Maxwell who has described the elements of her design below:
“This network holds pride in recognising where they come from and who they are as a research unit based in Aotearoa, New Zealand. I wanted to convey this through the use of green and blue which is strongly associated to represent imagery of Aotearoa and its natural environment. This idea also stems from the cyclical and reciprocal relationship between the human experience and nature seen through a te ao Māori wordview.
I wanted to favour more earthy and natural tones rather than traditional gendered colours as the network highlighted to me that their concern is not with gender but the inclusion of all people who menstruate. This is in recognition of some of their core values of inclusion and diversity.
Tāniko is a method of weaving in te ao Māori; the key word in this sentence being weaving. The tāniko pattern I used behind the imagery of the uterus symbolises the weaving together of different values, perspectives and ideas, to come together as one unit in celebration and dedication of the improvement of menstrual health in Aotearoa.
Menstrual health is the linkage of the past, present and future generations. The mangōpare imagery is used in recognition of our tīpuna of the past and our future generations. Mangōpare are depictions of the hammerhead shark, which are believed to be protective spirits. They symbolise strength, tenacity and unrelenting determination. This reflects the spirit this network holds for the improvement of menstrual health.”
- Miriam Bowles-Maxwell, 2022
Our full terms of reference that outlines the network’s principle goals and values is a living document and available for feedback and viewing at any time.