After its mid-winter carnival of light, Dunedin’s dark winter months were illuminated for a second time by lanterns at the Petridish venue, and rich kōrero between scientists and members of the public at the 2023 New Zealand International Science Festival. Research from the eleven National Science Challenges featured in panel discussions over four evenings from […]
Healthier Lives
Kiwi researchers inform new international dietary guidelines
Media release17 July 2023 What we eat, and the excess body weight we carry, has now overtaken smoking as the most important preventable cause of disease. Newly updated dietary advice from the World Health Organisation (WHO) on fat and carbohydrate intake is welcomed by New Zealand researchers, as uncertainty remains regarding the ideal composition of […]
Directors Of Six National Science Challenges Call For A National Food Strategy
The directors of six National Science Challenges call on the government to develop a National Food Strategy for Aotearoa New Zealand.
Research voices: Els Russell
Els Russell sees herself as lucky to be surrounded by strong women who value education and learning, both within her family and in the Department of Population Health at the University of Otago, Christchurch. This multigenerational scaffold of support has motivated her to complete a Master’s in Public Health, working on social housing and shared […]
Replacing red and processed meat in our diet
Food production accounts for 26% of greenhouse gas emissions globally, with the production of red meat being the single largest food source of emissions. Excess consumption of red and processed meat is associated with the development of cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. A research paper from Healthier Lives researchers Andrew Reynolds, Cristina […]
Healthier Lives Newsletter May 2023
In this issue: Congratulations to A/Prof Dianne Sika-Paotonu Healthier Lives warmly congratulates Associate Professor Dianne Sika-Paotonu on being awarded the Prime Minister’s 2022 Puiaki Whakapā Pūtaiao Science Communication Prize in recognition of her role as a leading voice during the Covid-19 pandemic explaining complex scientific information to the public. We’re privileged to have A/Prof Sika-Paotonu as […]
Government action needed to prevent type 2 diabetes
Media release Three new publications in top international journals demonstrate the potential of changing what we eat to prevent and treat type 2 diabetes, prompting calls for urgent government action. Type 2 diabetes is a serious but largely preventable disease, and there is now good evidence to show how it can be prevented. A study […]
Healthier Lives Newsletter March 2023
In this issue: Director’s message As we reflect on the flooding that has devastated parts of Aotearoa, it is evident that the effects of climate change are with us now and they are intimately connected with our health. Insights from previous natural disasters may have relevance for recent events. Healthier Lives research undertaken in the aftermath of the […]
NZ’s evidence-based response to COVID has saved lives – we could do better when it comes to other major diseases
Jim Mann, University of Otago; originally published in The Conversation. As we emerge from the COVID pandemic, we’re grateful research evidence was there to guide us. Years of immunology and molecular research facilitated the rapid development of new vaccines. Modelling expertise helped predict and plan our pandemic response. Research on medications and antiviral drugs enabled them […]
Symposium: Our Data Sources as a Strategic National Asset, 9 March 2023
This free symposium will feature in-person presentations and discussions with leading experts in data infrastructure, artificial intelligence, advanced analytics, and privacy, to discuss how innovative approaches could realise the value of our national data assets. Find out more at terourou.org/symposium2023/ Our Data Sources as a Strategic National Asset Thursday, 9 March 2023Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington This symposium is […]
Healthier Lives Newsletter December 2022
In this issue: Director’s message Healthier Lives research teams have been working hard in 2022 to produce research evidence that can help improve health and wellbeing in Aotearoa. Our diverse research projects have two things in common: the desire to make an immediate difference to people’s lives and a commitment to eliminating health inequities in […]
Symposium: Transforming Lives – 100 years of insulin, 24 November 2022
A half day symposium in the Grand Hall at Parliament, and online, that celebrated the many lives that have been saved since the first person with diabetes received insulin treatment. Healthier Lives joined forces with the Edgar Diabetes and Obesity Research Centre (EDOR), Diabetes NZ and Lions NZ District 202F, to highlight the importance of […]
Growing for Good: A ‘Win-Win-Win’ Plan for Future Food Production
The range of food we grow in Aotearoa, and where we grow it, is likely to change over the coming years, because of our changing climate and our responsibility to restore the health of our water and atmosphere. New research from two National Science Challenges, published today, tested future scenarios for this land-use change to see […]
100 years after insulin was first used, why isn’t NZ funding the latest life-changing diabetes technology?
This year marks a century since an extraordinary medical breakthrough – the use of insulin to treat diabetes mellitus.
Health researchers call for transparency and action
Frustrated health researchers are asking for more transparent and system-embedded processes in the new health system so that the latest research evidence is used to improve the health of New Zealanders.
Healthier Lives Newsletter September 2022
Kei te whakanui mātou i te wiki o te reo Māori 2022! I mohio koe kua kitea e ngā rangahau a Healthier Lives ētahi tohu o te hononga i waenga i te korero i te reo Maori, me te pāpātanga iti iho o te mate huka i roto i ngā tau? In this issue: Funding announcements Healthier […]
Inventory of policies for major non-communicable diseases
Healthier Lives recently commissioned an audit of government policies related to our mission – the equitable prevention and treatment of cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity. Our goal was modest; we didn’t attempt to assess the quality of policies, establish whether they are being actively implemented or evaluate whether they are effective. We simply wanted […]
Conference: National Kaumātua Service Providers, 14-16 November 2022
2022 National Kaumātua Service Providers Conference, 14-16 November 2022, Whanganui, More information and registration details are available on the Ngā Tai o Te Awa website. Aotearoa New Zealand is facing a significantly ageing population. By 2051, it is expected that a quarter of all New Zealanders will be over 65. The 2022 Kaumātua Service Providers […]
Webinar: Unpacking Diabetes and the Heart, 28 July 2022
Unpacking Diabetes and the Heart: Latest on Risk and Management Strategies, 28 July 2022, 7pm AEST (9pm NZST), Register for the webinar here. This webinar, Unpacking Diabetes and the Heart, is hosted by the Heart Foundation Australia in partnership with the World Heart Federation and the Australian Diabetes Society. Professor Rod Jackson (University of Auckland), […]
Healthier Lives Newsletter June 2022
Mānawatia a Matariki Rere atu kā mihi I raro I tēnei putaka o te tau, arā ko Puaka Matariki. He wā maumahara, he wā ako, wānaka, he wā whakanui kaupapa hoki. Mānawatia a Matariki. We send our greetings for the rising of Puaka and Matariki. It’s the time for remembering those who have passed, it’s […]
Research voices: Truely Harding
Dr Truely Harding has navigated both Māori and Pākehā worlds her whole life, and this has shaped her determination to change the way that these communities engage with one another in Aotearoa New Zealand. Attending a Kura Kaupapa Māori (full immersion Māori school), alongside before- and after-school care conducted in English, Truely had to navigate […]
3rd New Zealand–China Non-Communicable Disease Research Cooperation Forum
Third annual forum to present and discuss collaboration between New Zealand and China in research relating to non-communicable diseases Read more here [PDF] Online via Zoom: Tuesday 5 July 2022, 1.00–4.00pm Wednesday 6 July 2022, 12.30–4.30pm To register: please email View programme View speaker bios This forum is hosted by the New Zealand–China Non-Communicable […]
Healthier Lives Newsletter May 2022
In this issue: Director’s message: Action on diabetes, Exhibition: GENOME, science of life, Funding announcement: New projects, Project update: Manawataki Fatu Fatu Pacific advisory fono, Honours: Healthier Lives leaders recognised. Director’s message: Action on diabetes Despite the omni-present COVID-19, diabetes has recently been on the agenda in a number of different forums. We have been supporting […]
Healthier Lives Newsletter February 2022
In this issue: ACTIVATION: The Getting Around survey Research voices: Elizabeth Okiakama Research Findings Brief: Pasifika Prediabetes Youth Empowerment Programme Prof Jim Mann knighted for services to health Prof Vicky Cameron’s career in reflection Pathways between research, policy and practice A farewell and a welcome ACTIVATION: The Getting Around survey A recent survey of residents […]