Community Research

Hohou Te Rongo Kahukura, in collaboration with Rainbow Hub Waikato, set out to find out what life is like for Takatāpui and Rainbow elders. Underneath this broad question sat two…continue reading

Hohou Te Rongo Kahukura, in collaboration with Rainbow Hub Waikato, set out to find out what life is like for Takatāpui and Rainbow elders. These factsheets highlight recommendations from the…continue reading

Creating case studies of successful pathways to building ownership was an important part of the Stable Spaces research. They model strategies and tactics that we can learn from and repeat.…continue reading

Violence within families and relationships is a widespread and critical issue confronting New Zealand society. Intervention programmes that work with perpetrators are essential for reducing reoffending and protecting those who…continue reading

The Stable Spaces report is the first significant national survey on the state of independently owned physical arts infrastructure in Aotearoa. The report examines what makes successful asset ownership in…continue reading

The purpose of the Stable Spaces survey was to establish an overview of how the arts are housed in Aotearoa, and how their housing supports their activities. Going into the…continue reading

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,…continue reading

The 2023 MATES Construction Industry Well-being Survey, supported by ASB, sheds light on the mental health and well-being of over 2,100 workers in New Zealand’s construction sector. The online and…continue reading

Child to Parent Violence and Abuse (CPVA) encompasses a broad range of behaviours that children under the age of 18 display towards their parents/caregivers. The violence can continue into adulthood.…continue reading

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…continue reading

This paper introduces Indigenist Critical Policy Analysis (ICPA), an adapation of Critical Tiriti Analysis for the Australian context. It takes the five-stage approach but adapts it with different assessment indicators…continue reading

Extreme weather events have become more frequent with climate change. The East Coast has been particularly hard hit in recent years. In early 2023 the Gisborne District Council commissioned Te…continue reading

The Child Cancer Foundation’s 2024 Social Impact Report, in partnership with Huber Social, highlights the significant impact of the Foundation on families navigating their child’s cancer journey. The Foundation offers…continue reading

This report discusses some victim-survivors’ experiences of the NZ Police response to intimate partner, family and sexual violence and how that response can be improved. In late 2022, The Backbone…continue reading

This summary report discusses some victim-survivors’ experiences of the NZ Police response to intimate partner, family and sexual violence and how that response can be improved. In late 2022, The…continue reading

The Whiria te Tāngata Social Impact Report 2024 highlights the impact of Creative Waikato’s pilot multi-community artist-in-residence program, aimed at improving social cohesion and community well-being through creative practice. The…continue reading

Drawing on semi-structured in-depth interviews with 15 Chinese queer international students from New Zealand’s tertiary institutions, this paper explores their motivations to pursue higher education transnationally, and unpacks the interconnected…continue reading

On 15 August 2021, the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan, prompting many individuals at risk to seek safety elsewhere. Deeply concerned by the dire human rights situation, a coalition of…continue reading

On 16 September 2023, an interactive workshop was held during the New Zealand Society of Translators and Interpreters (NZSTI) Conference in Ōtautahi Christchurch to address fair pay and working conditions…continue reading

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…continue reading

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…continue reading

The health system in Aotearoa New Zealand is predicated on equity in access to health services as a fundamental objective yet barriers to equitable access for migrant and refugees continue…continue reading

This report outlines two approaches to assessing the intentions and outcomes of the non-governmental organisation, Life in Vacant Spaces (LiVS), in Ōtautahi Christchurch. Ōtautahi Christchurch presents a useful case study…continue reading

The Child Cancer Foundation 2022-23 Social Impact Report highlights the Foundation’s ongoing efforts to support families of children diagnosed with cancer across New Zealand. The report outlines how the Foundation…continue reading

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…continue reading

The flows of COVID-19 across global terrains work unequally, impacting disproportionately the margins of global spaces. Refugees constitute the “margins of the margins” of globalization, constituted in spaces without access…continue reading

Background: Medicines are the most common medical intervention and medicines adherence is associated with improved clinical outcomes. Understanding drivers and experiences of medicines adherence is important for optimising medicines use.…continue reading

The need for, and importance of, kaupapa Māori methods in science and health research is now clearly articulated in best practice guidance1,2 and is increasingly recognised as important by research…continue reading

Minor ailments are self-limiting, easily diagnosable and treatable conditions. Funded pharmacist minor ailments services (PMAS) have been posited to improve medicines access equity and, despite ethnic minorities across the globe…continue reading

A report commissioned by Creative Waikato to research to measure the social impact of community engagement with arts, culture and creativity in Waikato. Developed to provide insights; to support ongoing…continue reading

This book celebrates a decade of Life in Vacant Spaces, affectionately known as LiVS, and the collection of over 700 projects supported during this time.

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…continue reading

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…continue reading

The Child Cancer Foundation Social Impact Report 2022 provides insights into the Foundation’s efforts to support families affected by childhood cancer. The report emphasizes the holistic approach taken by the…continue reading

This report presents the findings from a study conducted to get community perspectives and responses to potentially establishing an Ethnic Community-led Research and Evaluation Centre in Aotearoa, New Zealand. As…continue reading

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…continue reading

Coastguard is the primary marine search and rescue agency in New Zealand with 2, 000 volunteers around the country. Although Māori have significant cultural connections to the wai (water), as…continue reading

Whānau experiences of The Pride Project have indicated that whānau have improved social connections through participating in programmes and activities, that trust relationships with Hope Navigators help to breakdown barriers…continue reading

Indigenous ways of caring for the environment have long been marginalised through research methodologies that are blind to a range of ways of knowing the world. Co-production of knowledge across…continue reading

On 1 July 2021, Aotearoa New Zealand will have a new Ministry for Ethnic Communities, with the Minister for Diversity, Inclusion and Ethnic Communities as the responsible Minister. This is…continue reading

In December 2020, the New Zealand Government announced that New Zealand would have a new Ministry for Ethnic Communities. There have been previous calls for the establishment of a standalone…continue reading

A project detailing the findings from interviewing 26 homeless men and women in Nelson and Blenheim. They were interviewed to surface what they felt were the areas they needed support…continue reading

Life Unlimited secured funding from the Lotteries Commission to complete an evaluation of some of their services. The purpose of the evaluation was to use the EGL vision and principles…continue reading

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…continue reading

This research project sought to understand the circumstances behind MSD-applied sanctions and the impact of sanctions on beneficiaries in New Zealand. We found that research participants lacked an adequate understanding…continue reading

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…continue reading

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…continue reading

This research has identified ten issues and recommendations to contribute to the OHCHR’s timely report on systemic racism and police brutality.

New Zealand [NZ] young carers are an invisible and disadvantaged population of children, youth, and young adults aged 25 years and under providing significant, ongoing care for a family member…continue reading

Research project for my undergraduate degree. Researching on African philosophy, Ubuntu and the ovaHerero people

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…continue reading

The purpose of the People’s Report is to provide a range of views about Aotearoa New Zealand’s progress on the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These come…continue reading

The research has been commissioned by Shakti Community Council Inc. This is a literature review on violence against ethnic women especially in NZ. It also explores the possible responses to…continue reading

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…continue reading

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…continue reading

Meeting the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 involves transformational change in the business of business, and social enterprises can lead the way in such change. We studied Cultivate, one such…continue reading

Project overview: Urban communities around the world are using farming and gardening to promote food security, social inclusion and wellbeing. For Christchurch-based Cultivate, urban farms are not only physical places…continue reading

A group of 30 homeless men were interviewed about their background, experience of services and their hopes for the future.

In 2018, the government announced plans to develop a Child Wellbeing Strategy to make New Zealand the best place in the world to be a child. While this is an…continue reading

Mandated organ donation would greatly increase the overall functionality and wellbeing of populations in the United States. It therefore should be considered to change the current default from having to…continue reading

When refugees are resettled into a destination, refugee-focused service providers offer frontline services to ease refugees’ experiences of trauma and marginalisation, providing advocacy and welcome through reception processes, translation services,…continue reading

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…continue reading

This study is interested in the findings of interviews with women, services and individuals who experienced intensive social work support in their community of Counties Manukau, Auckland, New Zealand, while…continue reading

A project looking at men’s awareness of and potential engagement in the prevention of family violence.

Relationships are central to effective outcomes in the international development sector yet, there are very few frameworks or indicators to help measure the quality of trust – as the foundation…continue reading

Those diagnosed with gender dysphoria count themselves among the largely diverse transgender community. Gender dysphoria is a treatable disorder that occurs when an individual’s gender identity doesn’t match what was…continue reading

This paper explores the key components of dysfunctional, criminal and deviant behaviours within and by associational and not-for-profit organisations, and their consequences in terms of practice, application and policy.

The meteoric rise of food bank use in times of prosperity leads us to argue that food banks are institutionalised within New Zealand society with texts reflecting civic, market and…continue reading

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…continue reading

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…continue reading

This document is the final accountability report for a Lottery Community Sector Research Fund grant for Inspiring Communities to contribute to “understanding and accelerating community-led development in Aotearoa/New Zealand”. This…continue reading

This resource has been developed to assist journalists to write accurate news stories, based on an analysis of existing gaps in reporting on sexual violence. It includes recommendations based on…continue reading

This report documents programmes, strategies and campaigns being implemented in 2012 around the country to prevent sexual violence. The stocktake illustrates that the specialist sexual violence sector has developed a…continue reading

Based on his keynote speech given to the New Zealand Creativity Challenge held in New Plymouth 27-28 April 2013, this paper explores role of creativity, community and citizenship. The paper…continue reading

The important role of community and voluntary sector organisations to democratic debate and policy development is widely acknowledged by governments, academics, and the sector itself. However, our survey of 153…continue reading

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…continue reading

This research focuses on the nature of Government/Not for Profit (NFP) sector relationships with particular reference to advocacy in New Zealand. It follows up on a study of advocacy in…continue reading

In mid-2012, the NGO Health and Disability Network explored older people’s health issues and the current role of the non-profit sector. By sharing these findings, the Network hopes to help…continue reading

The research focuses on the nature of Government/Not for Profit sector relationships with particular to advocacy in New Zealand. It looks at the kinds of advocacy activities that NFPs organisations…continue reading

This short literature review about evaluating advocacy and policy change work is designed to be of use to advocacy organisations and funders.

Ka Pai Kaiti facilitated a project to increase voter turnout and participation in the local council and district health board elections in Gisborne 2010. The purpose of research project was…continue reading

Poverty is experienced in many different ways and certainly involves much more than a lack of money or even economic power. This report brings together stories of the ways in…continue reading

This article came about because it was initially a workshop presented at the AAEGT biennial conference held in Darling Harbour, Sydney in 2010. I was asked to convert the workshop…continue reading

The Bhutanese Refugee Resettlement Research is following a group of Bhutanese refugees from camps in Nepal through to settlement in New Zealand. The research involves three phases of data collection.…continue reading

The Bhutanese Refugee Resettlement Research Programme is following a group of Bhutanese refugees from camps in Nepal through to settlement in New Zealand. The research involves three phases of data…continue reading

The Bhutanese Refugee Resettlement Research follows a group of Bhutanese refugees from camps in Nepal through to settlement in New Zealand. The research involves three phases of data collection. The…continue reading

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…continue reading

The Building Better Government Engagement (BBGE) project seeks to identify actions for building skills, knowledge and values in the public service about effective engagement with citizens and communities. This report…continue reading

Citizenship, as effective social, cultural and economic participation for refugee groups, depends on appropriate institutional structures and processes in resettlement societies. This thesis using critical social theoretical perspectives addresses the…continue reading

This paper explores the case for a move away from the current individual rights system of social relationships. The goal is to put in place a community ethics-based system which…continue reading