Community Research

The State of Volunteering 2024 report marks the sixth edition in Volunteering New Zealand’s ongoing series. We surveyed volunteers and volunteer-involving organisations. The state of volunteering is fairly positive, though…

Young carers are a largely invisible and unsupported population of Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) children and youth aged 25 years and under who physically, emotionally, socially, and/or spiritually support loved…

Understanding psychosocial stressors in the construction industry is crucial for improving mental health outcomes. This research used qualitative methods, including 19 focus groups and 2 interviews with 115 industry workers,…

Our aim was to evaluate the needs of Autism NZ’s newest service within the Autism Resource Centre – the Autism Diagnostic Service. A mixed method survey and interview research project…

This is the final report on the Making Ethnic Count pilot, a co-design and trial of effective data collection with four pilot organisations run by Shama Ethnic Women’s Trust. In…

This short article is a follow-up to an earlier article (Godfrey & Williamson 2020). Linked here http://rb.gy/hlhs6q Our earlier findings concerning no diminution of philanthropy during recessions, excepting corporates, seems…

Universities in Aotearoa New Zealand have been placed under the spotlight for claims of systemic racism. Following the claims made in relation to the University of Waikato in 2020 and…

Culture-centered engagement with ethnic communities on violence prevention Pooja Jayan engaged with ethnic and migrant communities in the Manawatu region to identify existing community needs in the context of primary…

Our research project was conducted throughout 2020 with the support of Alan Johnson from the Child Poverty Action Group. The report gives a voice to disabled people’s concerns about the…

The economic and subsequent societal benefits that former refugees offer a host country is poorly understood in New Zealand. These former refugees are noted to be a most vulnerable minority…

A qualitative snapshot of kindness through the lens of community service organisations in Aotearoa. This study began with a question: What is the role of kindness from the perspective of…

The impact of economic crises on philanthropic funding to, and fundraising by, nonprofit organisations is a surprisingly under-researched field. Internationally, data is scant and comparisons are impeded by different categorisations…

We want to improve experiences with banks for community organisations. Community Networks Aotearoa volunteered to take leadership of a project to investigate and gather the stories of the sector, the…

The Sociological Ninety ten rules that are proposed in this paper, are based on the fundamental premise that various branches of social sciences like sociology, anthropology and economics are human-centric…

This article describes Critical Tiriti Analysis (CTA), an original contribution to transforming colonial policy, which retrospectively evaluates whether any specific policy document is consistent with Te Tiriti. Substantial interest in…

This book has been written during a time of great change and contestation as it relates to forced migration and global politics. The Syrian crisis has continued to deepen as…

This article presents a study with 20 Pacific Island community leaders and connectors about their communities’ perspectives and anticipated responses to natural hazards in Auckland, New Zealand. Home to the…

In March 2022, the government will review the New Zealand Refugee resettlement Strategy (NZRRS) for the first time in 10 years. This report responds to this opportunity and argues that…

This comprehensive mixed-method research, undertaken from December 2020 to July 2021, comprised: • A survey of visitor satisfaction relating to Waiheke visits (n=991) • A survey of Waiheke residents’ perspectives…

In October 2018 the Ministry of Health launched system transformation in MidCentral region (Palmerston North, Levin, Otaki, Foxton, Feilding and the local environments). This new system was to be based…

In October 2018 the Government launched system transformation in MidCentral Region. This was a process that changed the way disabled people and their whānau received funding from the Government and…

In Oct 2018 a new system of providing funding support for disabled people was launched in MidCentral Region. It was called ‘system transformation’. This involved the creation of new funding…

With funding from TOI Foundation, Sustainable Taranaki engaged in a 3-year research project to gain a deeper understanding of what drives sustainable behaviour change in our community and how to…

Researchers using a narrative approach largely acknowledge their role in the process of the unfolding or telling of their participants’ narratives, and the fact that their positioning as researchers results…

Asian migrants are inevitably categorised as language learners. At times, it is the migrant’s own definition and can be used as a support. At others, it is an imposition in…

This report explores the potential for Māori to co-opt aspects of the cohousing model. A hybrid approach, combining elements of cohousing and papakāinga (as co-papakāinga, or ‘kaupapakāinga’ (kaupapa-based kāinga)) could…

West 5: 4 Trauma is an action research project that looks at a model for trauma sensitive schooling within 5 different primary schools in West Auckland. The project used a…

Aotearoa New Zealand is in the midst of a housing affordability crisis, with the effects disproportionately felt by younger generations, single-parent households, Pacific Islanders, and Māori. Housing speculation, fuelled by…

In an online survey of New Zealand’s early childhood education services, schools and kura in late 2021/early 2022, over 83% of respondents involve volunteers, with volunteers most important in primary…

This report sets out the findings of a thematic analysis of selected community strategies and plans and reflections from community stakeholder hui where the key findings were discussed. The report…

Colleagues from the Kaipātiki Project and The University of Auckland partnered on a project to capture the experiences of stakeholders to help identify the people in the local community who…

Community mobilisation (CM) is a transformative approach used to create social change on complex issues. CM has been used in practice for many years; however, until recently, had little presence…

Aim: This paper describes how we engaged with adolescents and health providers to integrate access to digital health interventions as part of a large-scale secondary school health and wellbeing survey…

Significant progress has been made addressing adolescent health needs in New Zealand, but monitoring and gathering high quality estimates of adolescent health and social issues remains challenging and resource intensive.…

New Zealand Youth19 survey: vaping has wider appeal than smoking in secondary school students, and most use nicotine‐containing e‐cigarettes Objective: To investigate smoking and vaping in secondary school students (aged…

This report is for knowledge holders, communicators, advocates, non-government service providers and designers working on the changes that will make the biggest difference for whānau, communities, and the planet. Central…

This guide is intended to provide knowledge and insights to those creating communications and working alongside whānau, aiga, magafoua, famili, vuvalue, utu, kopu tangata and members of the community who…

This short guide summarises the finding of the research set out in ‘Talking about Poverty and Welfare Reform’. It provides a short overview of the tested messages that were most…

A research paper for InternetNZ and the Vodafone New Zealand Foundation. The purpose of this research was to uncover the biggest obstacles to digital inclusion, and what will be most…

This study of the Kiwi Tahi programme, a life-skill development programme for vulnerable young people (aged between 8-12 years old), was a collaboration between a lecturer in Social Practice at…

The 2021 New Zealand Cause Report is a reference resource for Aotearoa New Zealand’s multidimensional charitable and broader for-purpose sector, and is a follow on from the 2017 Cause Report.…

Migrants may experience immunisation inequities compared with the host population related to barriers with accessing immunisations in their home countries, while migrating and/or post-arrival. This retrospective cohort study explored vaccination…

Background: Studies of vaccine-preventable disease (VPD) burden and immunisation coverage among migrants compared to locally-born populations present a mixed picture on whether migrants experience disproportionate VPD rates and immunisation inequities,…

Migrants may experience a higher burden of vaccine-preventable disease (VPD)-associated hospitalisations compared to the host population. A retrospective cohort study from 2006 to 2015 was conducted that linked de-identified data…

This research investigates how young Somali women are navigating through the resettlement process while negotiating their own identities in Wellington, New Zealand. It is important as it addresses two main…

What can be learned from the process of community-engaged research (CER) on refugee resettlement? In the following, we share experiences, reflections, and lessons from implementing such a project. We begin…

Purpose: To explore the experiences of older Filipino migrants adjusting to living permanently in New Zealand.Method: The qualitative descriptive approach taken in this study involved 17 individual face-to-face interviews of…

Objective: There is a paucity of health-related research on older Asian immigrants in New Zealand. The aim of this review was to critically examine literature on health and well-being of…

In New Zealand (NZ), due to the immigration policy change against family reunifications, many ‘forced’ transnational immigrant families emerged between NZ and other immigration sending countries. Closely tied family members…

This study explores the experiences of refugee Muslim women as they accessed and navigated the healthcare system in AotearoaNew Zealand (NZ). A case-oriented approach was used, where semi-structured interviews were…

In this paper, we examine the factors that contributed to New Zealand’s initial success, highlighting the distinctive state-society mandates that were forged through the response. We also reflect, briefly, on…

As New Zealanders, when we think about fair futures for refugees, we have to think about what is fair collectively and individually, and what is fair in local, regional, national,…

As social media platforms and the associated communication technologies become increasingly available, affordable and usable, these tools effectively enable forced migrants to negotiate political life across borders. This connection provides…

Young people from refugee backgrounds represent an important resource for disaster risk reduction within their respective communities. This paper presents a qualitative study with young people from refugee backgrounds and…

The process of resettlement as a refugee often involves adapting to, and reconciling with, a new social reality. The complexities associated with acculturation across age, gender and family dynamics are…

The pedagogical implications of encouraging social work students to consider the inter-sections of social justice with communities affected by disasters are considerable. This focus is key as disasters can impact…

The refugee label acknowledges the plight of people marginalized, oppressed and pushed to the periphery of society. While having this status affords a number of rights from countries signatory to…

The growing number of Tongan creators searching for a place of belonging and acceptance between the two worlds Tonga and Aotearoa New Zealand has contributed to cultural spaces shifting in…

The aim of this short graphic resource is to expose the role that language plays in consolidating bias in our everyday normative thinking. Implicit in its content is an alternative…

After completing nine months cross-context research in Eastern Fiji, I wrote my Master’s thesis to answer this question: To what extent do local concerns, with regard to climate change, inform…

This report explores how regional and territorial authorities in Aotearoa New Zealand currently understand their role in climate adaptation, to what extent they are currently fulfilling that role, and how…

This backgrounder is a starting point. The Refugee Youth Action Group (Wellington) is made up of government and non-government agencies keen to see action on the issues so refugee-background youth…

This report documents the experience of a group of researchers who started a Participatory Action Research (PAR) project with the Assyrian Youth community in Wellington. The objective of the project…

New Zealand is one of eleven countries that has been annually resettling refugees as part of the UNHCR refugee resettlement programme since the 1980s. Consequently, New Zealand’s refugee-background population continues…

The purpose of this study was to document and analyse the learning needs and issues of adult refugees with low language and literacy skills by looking at how their prior…

In 2005 the New Zealand Police commissioned this research project to explore the perceptions of police held by members of various ethnic communities and to provide information on the current…

This report was commissioned by Multicultural New Zealand assisted by a grant from the New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO. It is based on the outcomes of 34 workshops involving…

This research provides anthropological analysis into the intersection between migrants’ health, healthcare services, and the concept of migrant integration, focusing on the Luo community of Wellington as an ethnic minority…

EDUCATION: A RIGHT OR A PRIVILEGE? THE KENYAN PERSPECTIVE This study aims to facilitate debate about the State’s efforts in taking a rights-based approach in the education sector. The study…

Counting Ourselves is the first comprehensive national survey of the health and wellbeing of trans and non-binary people living in Aotearoa New Zealand and was conducted from 21 June till…

Resettlement provides access to rights similar to other New Zealanders and the opportunity to eventually gain citizenship. It also provides an avenue for countries like New Zealand to share international…

This report summarises the findings of research undertaken at an [School] and has been prepared for the purpose of feeding back findings to the school and to participants and for…

This study addresses the recreational behaviours of immigrants and ethnic minorities, with a focus on nature-based recreation in national and regional parks. The study was comprised of a survey questionnaire…

Ethnic precincts are a relatively new addition to Auckland’s retail landscape and there has to date been little research devoted to better understanding their function and role. Increased knowledge about…

The growth of migrant communities continues to rise globally, creating unique and complex health challenges. Literature on immigrant health in New Zealand (NZ) remains scant. This integrative literature review was…

In New Zealand, health equity is a pressing concern, and reaching disadvantaged populations has become the goal to close the inequity gap. Building and strengthening health systems is one way…

The purpose of this document is to:1. Provide Information about CALD population demographics and characteristics, increasing workforce diversity, service barriers, and why the need for cultural competence2. Recommend Best Practice…

From arrival in New Zealand refugee students are disadvantaged as they will often not have had the experience of formal education. In New Zealand, the mismatch of age and placement…

In pursuing their purpose of supporting migrants, former refugees, and people from minority ethnicities with their settlement processes, the Nelson Multicultural Council contracted the Centre for Applied Cross-cultural Research at…

Challenges related to MOOC and student dropout prediction

Environment conservation is one of the primary concerns of most countries in the modern world because of the continuous increase in environmental degradation and the resulting pollution. Environmental pollution has…

This study reassesses the explanations as presented in surveys accessible on Internet for the average poor learner performance at many Mozambican schools, while suggesting some alternative ones in an attempt…

Independent study that quantifies the gap between what not-for-profit social service providers in NZ are funded to deliver and the real cost. I finds there is an estimated $630 million…

In  1936  71%  of  Māori  lived  in  dwellings  that  the  whānau  owned,  by  1991  the   ownership  rate  had  fallen  to  56%,  by  2013  it  was  at  43%,  and  today…

The Whai Rawa whenu in the Kāinga Tahi, Kāinga Rua research programme explores the regulations, planning and financing rules, governing structures, and leadership styles that shape current Māori housing. Our…

This literature review has been prepared for the Kāinga Tahi Kāinga Rua research direction as part of the Building Better Homes, Towns and Cities National Science Challenge by members of…

This is an article written by a Maori business partnership who presented and attended a conference on racial equity in the United States in October 2018. Looking through a Maori…

Addiction practitioners in New Zealand work alongside those who are experiencing a range of addictions, as well as those who care for them, to assist in making recovery for clients…

Kia Pū te Wai o Pareira: Catalysts of Whānau Health and Wellbeing in West Auckland is the technical report following an 18-month study of Māori living in West Auckland. This…

This monograph reviews the state of the third sector in both Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, and is the first comprehensive overview of the research that has studied and documented…

The boards that govern Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) who deliver social services face a range of complex challenges. They must secure sustainable funding, comply with changes in the law and…

Learning networks operate under a variety of names: communities of practice; e-learning networks; web-discussion fora, learning communities, thematic groups… Whatever name they go by, they tend to be groups of…

The purpose of this project was to update existing ‘Good Practice Guidelines’, building upon the findings of the initial project conducted in 2009. The development of ‘Good Practice Guidelines’ aims…

Ngā Rerenga o Te Tiriti responds to the aspiration of groups and organisations within the community sector to be more engaged with the Treaty of Waitangi. It brings together many…

This article discusses the development and contested nature of community development practice and the effects of neoliberalism on community development in Aotearoa New Zealand. We describe how community development has…

Social Work is traditionally human-centered in practice, even though for many the bond between humans and animals is the most fundamental of daily-lived experiences. The intent of this paper is…

This report highlights the policy implications of research into the earthquake experiences of 150 Christchurch women interviewed for the Women’s Voices – Ngā Reo O Ngā Wahine Project. It focuses…

A cohort of senior students attending five New Zealand secondary schools operating a peer mentoring programme were followed for 24 months. The aims of this project were to evaluate their…

Despite the vitality of kapa haka as an art form and its significance to our culture, its value is not well understood or documented. There have been surprisingly few studies…

From arrival in New Zealand refugee students are disadvantaged as they will often not have had the experience of formal education. In New Zealand, the mismatch of age and placement…

This report presents the results of a small scale process and outcomes evaluation of jigsaw Whanganui’s White Water Years Parenting Programme carried out during 2014 and funded through a Lottery…

This case study of Jalin Merapi in the 2010 Merapi volcanic eruption captures how local communities can empower themselves through participation in providing, sharing and verifying information within their social…

This paper draws on recent research which was grounded in theory-building with civil society practitioners in two Aotearoa NZ leadership learning contexts (Malcolm, 2014) to draw out their tacit wisdom…

The “leader” word often brings to mind strong, decisive, visionary individuals. Yet this assumption stops many from ever thinking of themselves as leaders. This PhD thesis explores an understanding of…

This is a legal review of all laws touching on the issue of human trafficking, slavery and labour exploitation in New Zealand. It makes recommendations for legislative and policy changes…

This research explores the principles and practices relating to community economic development (CED), and social enterprise in New Zealand at this time. Success factors and challenges are identified, including an…

This is the final report of a research study undertaken by the National Council of Women (Christchurch Branch) between 2011 and 2014 with women living in Christchurch through the earthquakes.…

The Christchurch earthquakes can be viewed from many disciplines: geology, geography, history, disaster management, psychology, sociology etc. For the past two years, the National Council of Women in Christchurch has…

The Jayar Charitable Trust (JCT) was established to invest funds for future distribution into the community through the JR McKenzie Trust (JRMT). Inspired by the late Peter McKenzie, who had…

DOVE and EIT wanted to address this by examining the efficacy of family violence prevention services run for men, women and youth in Hawke’s Bay. In particular, we were interested…

The DOVE Research Project came about after discussions between family violence intervention service, DOVE Hawkes Bay (DOVE) and the Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT) about the high levels of family…

This paper presents results of a survey of Wellington non-profit organisations (NPOs) with the aim of understanding the interest and readiness of NPOs in adopting shared computing services. The survey…

This report studied six communities affected by the 2010 and 2011 Canterbury earthquakes. Our project found that connected communities with good community infrastructure (e.g. local networks, marae, organisations, and leaders)…

All research raises questions about ethics: about the rigour, responsibility and respect of the practices of researchers. As a result, there are strict systems in place to encourage and enforce…

This compilation of case studies, examples and commentaries forms the third part of a set of materials relating to ethics in community-based participatory research (CBPR). Part I comprises a set…

An evaluation report looking at the key success stories and challenges faced by Project Lyttelton running the garden. Assessing the lessons learned and what can be applied to other projects…

An evaluation report exploring the the short and longer term outcomes of the festival from the perspective of the guides and participants.

An evaluation of the Lyttelton Farmers Market from the perspective of regular customers, new customers and stall holders.

Evaluations results of the Lyttelton Harbour Festival of Lights from the perspective of the advisory group, key stakeholders and the general public.

An investigation into the population in Golden Bay and what they need to be able to ‘Age in Place’

Little is known about the experiences of women who enter New Zealand through the Women at Risk category identified by UNHCR. The purpose of this project was to examine the…

Te Korowai has been development from seven interconnecting themes raised by hui with kaumatua and represents the concepts and practicalities of whanau ora. Te Korowai looks at the individual while…

Quarterly giving and volunteering data, published by the Department of Internal Affairs

Elder abuse and neglect prevention services support older people who have been abused or neglected to achieve a safer living environment. In some situations, lack of authoritative power prevents achievement…

A pilot of social work support in a primary health setting was undertaken and elvauated in a small rural community in New Zealand. This pilot was part of a social…

This article was written to support a presentation to the World Conference in Disaster Management 2009 (Toronto, Canada). In it there is presented a method to rediscover the forgotten tool…

Raetihi & Ohakune are two small & remote towns on the North Island’s Central Plateau. They have similar sized populations yet present as totally different communities. This research details the…

This paper discusses mindsets, competencies and attitudes of community leadership. Metaphors such as playing jazz are used to normalise the complexity of community sector work and starfish to emphasise the…

Giving and Volunteering statistics for the June quarter 2010

This transdisciplinary study explores holistic models of education and community development. The research seeks practical solutions to barriers to educational progress. It looks at how to build local capacity and…

This issue of Mana Mahi highlights a number of exciting events and opportunities organised by the Workplace Wellbeing Project in November/December 2008 for sector employers and managers to add to…

This edition of Mana Mahi discusses issues of pay parity; the results of the Strategic Pay Not for Profit Sector 2008 Remuneration Survey; feedback from our Effective Employment Relations workshops;…

Welcome to the second newsletter of the Workplace Wellbeing Project, a sector-driven initiative which seeks to promote and support good employment practices and relationships in our sector. In this issue…

This is the first in a series of newsletters produced by the Workplace Wellbeing Project to keep people up to date with what is happening with the project, and with…

Fourteen social service agencies participated in the study to determine if the Social Services ITO could recognise their in-house training programmes against unit standards in social services. The study used…

ABSTRACT ONLY: This paper interrogates the notion of exclusion with a particular focus upon the experiences of young women.

Research into who gives time and money to different parts of the community and voluntary sector. It draws on market research data collected through the Panorama Survey, which is run…

This paper examines the relationship between the non-profit sector and government, and the public policy environment in which the sector operates in Aotearoa. Non-profit organisations are affected by laws and…

This evaluation follows a broad-ranging evaluation of the Voluntary Agency Support Scheme (VASS) in 1998 that focused on rationale, purpose, structure, management and ‘place’ of VASS in relation to international…

This presentation formed part of an international panel discussion on the state of not for profit management education across the world, at a conference in Arizona, United States in March…

Progress on the development of research examining the impact of Unitec NZ’s Graduate Diploma in Not for Profit Management.

Information, knowledge and wisdom for the learning NGO, capacity building & roles.

The History of the Non-profit Sector in New Zealand considers the forces and players that have shaped the non-profit sector in New Zealand over time. It examines our rich heritage…

One in a series of working papers to understand the scope, structure, financing, and role of the nonprofit sector of more than 40 countries.

Social entrepreneurs and enterprises in New Zealand have failed to gain the acknowledgement and support to create an enabling environment. This contrasts with countries such as the UK, Ireland, Canada,…

This paper examines the economic and social tasks involved in community economic development in urban and rural areas. It considers the role social enterprises (community owned businesses or trading arms…

Community economic development is recognised as an integral part of economic development in many countries and by the OECD. Such recognition has not yet been achieved in New Zealand and…

This four-page resource lists media frames, use of sources and te reo Maori, and absences to indicate whether a news item may be postive, neutral, negative or unbalanced in its…

This study analysed newspaper and television news items about Maori issues and te Tiriti o Waitangi. It found mass media used persistent negative themes about Maori, Pakeha news frames and…

Based on observed giving, BERL estimated that New Zealanders gave between .24 billion and .46 billion during the 2005/2006 year. Our best estimate in this range suggests total philanthropic funding…

This summary report provides baseline data for understanding the sector and the role and importance of those managing volunteers. It is a snapshot. It tells us who are managing volunteers,…

Volunteering for Maori is based on the notion of whanaungatanga (kinship) and the benefits derived from contributing to the common good. Within Maori culture, conceptions of self are linked to…

Promoting Community Well-being: A study of the involvement of Councils of Social Services in Local Authority community Outcomes Processes.

Not just another acronym: NGOs in the Health and Disability sector

Relationships, Framework, Ministry, NGOs, PHOs, Strategy

Current Financial Pressures for NGOs

This document reports on results of sector meetings in July 2006 on how Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) can best fit within the primary health care setting. It also advises how key…

In 2006 the J R McKenzie Trust invited expressions of interest from Maori community organisations for grants supporting whanau development. This resulted in a large and diverse response. This document…

New quarterly data on giving and volunteering in New Zealand

A list of research on the non-profit sector in New Zealand collated as part of the Study of the New Zealand Non-profit Sector

This report provides the most accurate picture yet of the New Zealand non-profit sector and shows how it compares with 40 other countries. It gives us a better understanding of…

Funding and financial management are critical issues for the not for profit sector. Funding is limited, competitively sought, and differences in funders’ and organisations’ expectations and needs can cause dysfunction.…

The Local Government Act 2002 requires New Zealand local authorities to become actively involved in the development of social well being. Recent research indicates that the community and social services…

This paper compares the ‘Achieving Better Community Development’ (ABCD) model for organisational practice (Barr & Hashagen 2000) with the organisational practices in New Zealand ‘social development’ approach to social service…

In recent years ‘third way’ style governments have sought to partner with third sector organisations in ‘joined up’ government. The neo-liberal basis for the third way model has sought to…

This article examines the contemporary practice of community development in New Zealand by considering its application to third sector organisational case studies. Broadly speaking community development is held up as…

New Zealand organisations that are engaged in community development practice to empower women are disadvantaged under neo-liberal and third way style policies of the New Zealand Government. Recent research has…

This paper explores community-based cultural organisations that combine orientated objectives of community arts practice with commercially oriented creative industries. In New Zealand, these organisations are hampered by gaps in cultural…

In this paper I offer a set of guidelines for the use of Action Research in New Zealand local authority community development and parks and recreation settings.