Co-designing health research in Aotearoa New Zealand – what we’ve learnt

Healthier Lives has launched companion reports about co-designing health research in Aotearoa New Zealand, at Kōrero Tahi 2024: equity and beyond.

Co-designing health research in Aotearoa New Zealand describes a Kaupapa Māori evaluation of five Healthier Lives’ projects. The report outlines the elements needed for authentic co-design of health research with Māori and Pacific communities. 

The accompanying short guide summarises the lessons learnt from this evaluation and features a conceptual ladder – the Co-design Research Integrity Poutama – which portrays and defines different levels of co-design.

The report and short guide are jointly authored by Drs Debbie Goodwin and Amohia Boulton. Dr Goodwin is an evaluation researcher working in her consultancy DBZ Consultancy Ltd, and as part of the Tuakana Teina Evaluation Collective.

Dr Boulton is Director of Whakauae Research Services, a tribally-owned health research centre in Whanganui, and a member of the Healthier Lives Governance Group and Kāhui Māori.

These documents provide insights for researchers working with Māori and Pacific communities in Aotearoa New Zealand, which we hope will guide more authentic co-design of health research in this country.

Co-designing health research in Aotearoa New Zealand – full report (PDF)

Co-designing health research in Aotearoa New Zealand – short guide (PDF)