Work In Progress

Multiple research projects are always underway at NZPRI. The projects span multiple research areas, time frames, and levels of complexity. Below are some highlighted projects currently in progress.

Child Immunisation Post-Pandemic

Beyond the pandemic: Applying complexity science in child immunisation services

Team: Gail Pacheco (AUT), Nadia Charania (AUT), Daysha Tonumaipe'a (Synergia), Amber Young (Otago), Felicity Ware (Hapai Te Hauora Tapui), Leon Iusitini (AUT), Thomas Schober (AUT), Tony Dowell (Otago)

Description: Childhood immunisation rates have been low and worsened since COVID-19, deepening existing inequities by ethnicity and region. Increasing coverage is crucial, especially for Māori, Pacific, migrant, and refugee children. Using mātauranga Māori and complexity-informed approaches, this research will analyse the factors affecting immunisation uptake through both data and community insights. Understanding who is missing out and why will help shape equitable and resilient immunisation services.

Timeframe: September 2024 – August 2027

Workplace equality opportunities

Boosting productivity growth by creating equal workplace opportunities for all

Team: Gail Pacheco (AUT), Betty Ofe-Grant (AUT), Katherine Ravenswood (AUT), Leon Iusitini (AUT), Thomas Schober (AUT), Lisa Meehan (AUT), Matthew Roskruge (Massey), Nimbus Staniland (Auckland), Peer Skov (Rockwool), Juliane Hennecke, Michelle Evans (Melbourne)

Description: Workplace diversity significantly impacts productivity and economic growth. Better talent allocation could boost productivity and increase long-term output growth per person. In NZ, labour is highly segregated, with women and ethnic minorities concentrated in lower-paid industries, driving gender and ethnic pay gaps that affect financial, health, and wellbeing outcomes. This programme analyses how workplace diversity affects productivity and equity. Using various data sources, we will estimate NZ’s productivity gains from diversity, assess workplace policies and leadership, and evaluate public policies. A key focus is Māori and Pacific businesses, exploring recruitment, pay transparency, and workplace culture. Māori and Pacific-led research will provide insights into workplace barriers, enablers, and values.

Timeframe: October 2024 – September 2029

Low Literacy and Numeracy Skills

The expression, experience and transcendence of low-skill in Aotearoa New Zealand

Team: NZPRI members, a range of external researchers and stakeholders (see the project webpage for more details).

Description: The overarching goal of this project is to provide actionable policy recommendations to improve life-course trajectories and socio-economic outcomes of adults living with low literacy and/or numeracy skills. This research is aimed at shaping the ways in which we deal with literacy and numeracy issues in NZ with a focus on effective intervention.

Timeframe: This $4.3 million fund is for a five-year programme spanning October 2019-2024.

See the project webpage for more details.

Enhancing Urban Regeneration

Enhancing the impact of urban regeneration on community wellbeing

Team: Scott Duncan (AUT), Erica Hickson (AUT), Gail Pacheco (AUT) and Linda Kirkpatrick (AUT)

Description: The purpose of this project is to enhance the impact of urban regeneration on community wellbeing. This multi-layered research programme will directly impact priority indicators of individual and collective wellbeing, by employing innovative measurement approaches, including data from the Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI), interactive mapping system, and a custom smartphone app.

Timeframe: This five-year programme spans October 2020-2025.

Children and Families Research Fund

Intergenerational transmission of human capital: What makes and breaks the cycle of advantage and disadvantage?

Team: Leon Iusitini (AUT), Alexander Plum (AUT), Gail Pacheco (AUT), Valmai Copeland (Oranga Tamariki)  and Jason Timmins (New Zealand Productivity Commission)

Description: The aim of this study is to investigate how the human capital of mothers and their children are related, how differences in maternal and child characteristics contribute to inequalities in human capital, and how human capital is transmitted across generations in order to understand how to break the intergenerational cycle of disadvantage.

Timeframe: February 2023 – March 2024

Workforce Development Council

Labour-market and well-being outcomes for learners post-qualification

Team: Alexander Plum (AUT), Alexandra Turcu (AUT) and Gail Pacheco (AUT)

Description: This project follows a cohort of learners engaged in vocational education and industry qualifications relevant to WDC sectors. The aim of this project is to provide insights into labour-market and well-being outcomes for learners post-qualification for the respective WDCs.

Timeframe: March 2023 – June 2024

Disability Funding

The role of individualised disability funding in NZ: Evidence using administrative data

Team: Lisa Meehan (AUT), Gail Pacheco (AUT) and Linda Tran (AUT)

Description: The purpose of this project is to examine the wellbeing outcomes of those who receive individualised disability funding, relative to mainstream funding sources, using  Stat NZ’s Integrated Data Infrastructure.

Timeframe: January 2023 – January 2024

Kiwisaver Contributions

Distributional analysis of KiwiSaver contributions

Team: Gail Pacheco (AUT), Lisa Meehan (AUT) and Linda Tran (AUT)

Description: This project aims to examine KiwiSaver contribution rates and KiwiSaver contributions/non-contributions and saving suspensions over time by demographic and socioeconomic characteristics using Stat NZ’s Integrated Data Infrastructure.

Timeframe: July 2023 – February 2024

Workplace Violence Survey

Creating Safer Spaces: The New Zealand Workplace Violence Survey

Team: Katherine Ravenswood (AUT)

Description: The New Zealand Workplace Violence Survey will provide up-to-date information on how often workers experience violence in New Zealand workplaces, what follow-up support they have access to, and what employers are putting in place to prevent and mitigate possible workplace violence. It will inform what workplace and regulatory changes may be needed to create safer workplaces for everyone. This project is funded by the NZ Industrial Relations Foundation Grant.

Timeframe: January 2024-December 2025

See the project webpage for more details.