News

The latest news from the School of Health.

22 May 2024

Award for emerging researcher exploring work relationships and safety on New Zealand dairy farms

Deborah Rhodes, a PhD student at Te Kura Tātai Hauora—The School of Health, has received the 2024 Emerging Researcher Award at the National Rural Health Conference.

15 May 2024

The whole health picture: focusing on holistic psychological care

Sohail Kashkari is looking forward to a career providing holistic and culturally appropriate psychology services after graduating this week with one of the University’s first Health Psychology Practice qualifications.

15 May 2024

Against the odds: twenty-five years in pursuit of health and safety research

Robyn Levinge first considered undertaking a Master's degree in health and safety twenty-five years ago—but life, it would seem, had other ideas.

2 May 2024

PhD student seeks perspectives on the health and wellbeing implications of remote working

Roya Gorjifard is exploring the Covid-19 pandemic and its impact on the health and wellbeing of remote workers in New Zealand.

18 March 2024

Something felt ‘off’—how AI messed with our human research and what we learned

Dr Ally Gibson and Dr Alex Beattie explore artificial intelligence as a participant in their qualitative research.

27 February 2024

Housing insecurity and mental health major concerns for Pacific youth

Unstable mental health, housing deprivation and experiences of racism are worrying trends in a significant new report on Pacific students in Aotearoa.

30 January 2024

Health Faculty shines in recent research funding round

The Faculty of Health at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington is celebrating success in the latest round of funding from the Health Research Council, with four of the Faculty’s projects being awarded grants.

5 December 2023

Thesis lays the groundwork for a career improving minority access

Careful study of the experiences of sexual minority women has laid the foundation for a career improving outcomes for minority groups for graduand Bryony Roberts.

24 November 2023

Award-winning researcher focused on Māori health equity

Associate Professor Clive Aspin has received the Te Rangi Hiroa Medal for his research into sexuality, HIV, and suicide prevention.

2 November 2023

$12m funding for new research projects

Grants awarded to 19 projects in 2023 Marsden Fund round.


21 August 2023

Perinatal care “unsafe” for trans and non-binary people, study finds

The findings, led by Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington’s Dr George Parker, was launched by Independent MP Dr Elizabeth Kerekere in July.


31 July 2023

Funding success for broad range of health research

Six research projects led by the Wellington Faculty of Health have received a 2023 Health Delivery Research Activation Grant.


26 June 2023

Lecturer awarded Lifetime Achievement Award

Dr Chris Peace has been presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award in the 2023 New Zealand Workplace Health and Safety Awards.


17 May 2023

Embracing the potential of digital health

In September 2022, Master of Health graduate Ryl Jensen stepped off the plane in New York and began preparing to share her research at the United Nations General Assembly 77 Science Summit. Just a few years earlier, she was a photographer with an IT background.


15 May 2023

Health promotion graduate develops oral health app

A health promotion graduate is working with Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington informatics students on a new oral health app designed to meet the needs of Māori, Pasifika and disabled people.


3 April 2023

A catalyst moment for improving mental health through digital technology

Over 60 attendees gathered at the University last week to kick start the Digital Mental Health Catalyst—a nationally connected initiative to increase the impact of technology for mental health and equity gains.


2 March 2023

Connection and camaraderie key to success 

Master of Health Research graduate Jess Shaw says she wouldn’t be where she is today without the support of her academic peers and teachers.


7 December 2022

Mental health tools at the tips of our fingers

Fabi Ormerod is exploring the power of digital tools for mental health. Her Master of Health Psychology thesis focuses on the experience of migrants using digital tools when seeking mental health support.


23 November 2022

Professor Colin Simpson awarded prestigious Liley Medal

The award, from the Royal Society Te Apārangi and the Health Research Council, was presented to Professor Simpson for his contributions to confirming the safety of COVID-19 vaccines.


22 November 2022

New digital health catalyst launched

A digital health catalyst recently launched at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington aims to harness the power of digital tools and grow collaborations for improved mental health and equity.


4 November 2022

Community leadership and systems-focused prevention making great gains for health and wellbeing

An evaluation led by a Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington researcher shows locally-led, systems-informed action on the determinants of health and the prevention of illness and disease is vital for tackling the health, wellbeing, and inequity challenges ahead.


12 October 2022

Finding home in a new landscape through urban green space

Master of Health Psychology student Kate Campbell has been conducting walking interviews with recently arrived migrant women to understand how urban green space impacts wellbeing.


12 September 2022

COVID-19 research with ongoing local and international impact

A Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington researcher has been awarded funding from the Ministry of Health for a project that will improve current and future COVID-19 responses and vaccination programmes.


29 August 2022

Physical activity and wellbeing focus of new research and teaching centre

Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington and Sport NZ Ihi Aotearoa have launched Te Hau Kori—Centre for Physical Activity and Wellbeing.


8 August 2022

Just a pet? Exploring cat/owner relationships from a health perspective

Master of Health Psychology student Buda Szerelem-Tolnay is exploring how cat owners perceive their pet to affect their health.


Leading the agenda in Aotearoa’s healthcare reforms

Dr Clive Aspin will be taking a lead role in contributing to Aotearoa’s most significant health reforms, with a one-year secondment to Te Aka Whai Ora, the new Māori Health Authority.


Whānau-centric coronial processes to improve suicide prevention strategies

A team from the Faculty of Health has been awarded an HRC project grant for research aiming to understand how whānau engagement in coronial investigations can help improve suicide prevention for rangatahi Māori.


Graduate profile: Katie Sharp

Katie Sharp was looking for a pathway to help people when she discovered the Bachelor of Health at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.


Lest we forget

Today is International Workers' Memorial Day, a day we remember those we have lost to work-related accidents or diseases.


Innovative community health initiative evaluation funding renewed

Renewed funding to continue the evaluation of an innovative community-led health initiative will further develop ground-breaking insights and improvements being generated in ten communities nationwide.


The social life of diagnosis

Professor Annemarie Jutel explores how diagnosis is linked to things like social power and prestige, and in some cases, persistent but untrue narratives. Can a broader view of diagnosis open up new understandings of health?


Study shows COVID-19 Pandemic has had severe impact on physical activity

A new study led by a Wellington Faculty of Health Te Wāhanga Tātai Hauora researcher shows weekly physical activity is significantly lower than before the pandemic.


Graduate profile: Arahina Roberts

My drive and passion for this area is to contribute to improve health and wellbeing outcomes for New Zealanders, especially for whānau, hapū, iwi and Māori communities.


Faculty awarded two HRC grants

Two HRC Grants have been awarded to researchers in the Wellington Faculty of Health—Te Wāhanga Tātai Hauora whose projects explore safe and equitable assisted dying, and gaps in mental health and addiction services for rainbow communities.


Shifting intimacies: mobile dating during a pandemic

Research from the Victoria University of Wellington Faculty of Health is always topical and relevant – and responds quickly and innovatively to community and world events. As part of a three-part series, we’re sharing how some of our researchers responded to COVID-19.


Connecting communities with kai during COVID-19

Doctoral candidate Kahurangi Dey (Ngāti Pūkenga, Ngaiterangi) is exploring emergent food networks that formed during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020.


Helping students sleep well

A new sleep app developed by software engineering students provides relaxation tools such as sounds, audio tracks, stories, and activities designed to help students de-stress.


4 November 2021

Covid inequities no surprise

Delta and the vaccination rollout in NZ is once again highlighting the inequalities our health system, reminding us that we need specific ways to engage all people and communities, writes Dr Anna Matheson.


15 October 2021

Vaping among non-smokers in times of Covid: time for NZ to notice teen vaping rates

While vaping is much less harmful than cigarette smoking it is not harmless. In times of Covid and lung disease we should be especially mindful of this, writes Associate Professor Terry Fleming.


7 October 2021

Separate stroke and heart attack risk predictors necessary

A study involving Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington’s Dr Denise Taylor and led by Associate Professor Susan Wells from the University of Auckland calls for separate stroke and heart attack risk predictors to improve understanding of those at risk.