News and events

  Food is critically important for our health but also has a major impact on the earth’s resources, the environment and on climate change. A research project funded by Healthier Lives will investigate what the optimal diet would be to meet New Zealand population nutrition …

Lessons from Māori voices in the New Zealand Science Sector All 11 National Science Challenges (NSCs) and Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga have teamed up to contribute to a future-focussed Guide to Vision Mātauranga for the science sector. The Guide was developed out of a …

Healthier Lives National Science Challenge welcomes the opportunity the Health and Disablity System Review presents for the New Zealand health system to “…evolve into a system which delivers health outcomes for all New Zealanders both equitably and efficiently.” We commend the Review’s focus on reversing …

Photo: Stuart Houghton As the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown or rāhui eases, New Zealanders are gradually returning to public spaces and workplaces. This provides an opportunity to think about different transport and travel options that could benefit people as well as the planet. It is timely …

Two new studies have shown that eating more dietary fibre improves life expectancy, but food processing may remove the benefits of eating whole grains. Healthier Lives researcher Dr Andrew Reynolds (University of Otago) and Director Professor Jim Mann collaborated with others on the two studies, …

The largest ever global study of cholesterol levels has found that levels are declining sharply in high income, western nations including New Zealand, but rising in low- and middle-income nations – particularly in Asia and several Pacific Islands. The new study, by hundreds of researchers …

Sir Jerry Mateparae (pictured above with his wife, Lady Janine Mateparae) has just been appointed to be the next Chair of the Healthier Lives−He Oranga Hauora National Science Challenge, officially taking over from the inaugural Chair, Dr Jenny McMahon, on 1 June 2020. “We are delighted …

As COVID-19 continues to dominate our lives it’s important not to overlook the impact of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) on our population. NCDs are the leading cause of premature death and disability in New Zealand and those living with NCDs who contract COVID-19 are likely to …

Healthier Lives has awarded $1.3 million for new research that will use epigenetic studies to help predict risk of secondary health issues among people with heart disease and to understand the variation in responses to different therapies. Professor Greg Jones (University of Otago) will lead …