In 2020 the New Zealand Royal Society recognised Dr David Tipene-Leach, Professor Māori and Indigenous at EIT, with the Tahunui-a-Rangi Medal at the Government House in Wellington.
David hit the headlines with a simple yet ingenious invention that changed the infant care behaviour of a nation. The wahakura, a woven flax bassinet, was designed to prevent SUDI (Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy) and create a safe sleep environment for babies while bed sharing. From 2009 to 2015 a 30 percent drop in infant mortality rate was documented. The Ministry of Health began a national roll out of the Safe Sleep programme and District Health Boards got on board quickly.
