Research Highlights

Explore Our Research Insights

On this page, we present key findings from our studies focused on improving food security, health behaviours, and overall well-being in our community. Our aim is to make this research both accessible and engaging, offering valuable insights for everyone—from academics and professionals to the general public. Each summary provides a quick snapshot of our findings and their implications, helping you understand the impact of our work at a glance.

By sharing these insights, we hope to foster a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities within our community, inspiring action towards positive change. We believe that by making this information available, we can encourage broader conversations and collaborations, helping individuals and organisations make informed decisions. Through these research summaries, we aim to present complex ideas in a way that is both understandable and actionable, allowing you to see how these findings can be applied in real-world contexts. For those interested in exploring further, each summary includes a link to the full research paper, allowing you to delve into the complete study.

 

Exploring Research Insights

Assessing the Potential for School Lunch Programme Ka Ora, Ka Ako to Enhance Education, Sustainability, and Health Goals

This study explores how the Ka Ora, Ka Ako programme supports education, sustainability, and health in New Zealand through free school lunches.

Main Summary:

  • Enhanced Learning: Improved nutrition leads to better student attendance, behaviour, and learning outcomes.

  • Sustainability: The programme contributes to environmental goals through sustainable food practices and waste reduction.

  • Health Equity: By addressing food insecurity, the programme promotes health and well-being, particularly in disadvantaged communities.

  • Policy Alignment: Ka Ora, Ka Ako aligns with national priorities, offering broader societal benefits.

  • Challenges: Areas for improvement include reducing food waste and better integrating Māori values.

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Whiriwhiria, kia ora ai te tamaiti: An exploration of mātauranga Māori to support day-to-day learning in five primary schools in regional New Zealand

Our study explores how Mātauranga Māori, encompassing Māori knowledge and values, is woven into the everyday learning experiences of students in five Hawke’s Bay primary schools. Key takeaways include:

Main Summary:

  • Māori Knowledge is Essential: The study highlights the importance of Māori knowledge in education, not just for academics but for embracing Māori values and culture.
  • The Perfect Blend: Some schools successfully blend Mātauranga Māori with Western knowledge, helping students navigate both worlds effectively.
  • Local Wisdom: Recognising the importance of local Mātauranga ā-iwi, different regions have unique stories and whānau knowledge is highly valued.
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Health, wellbeing and nutritional impacts after 2 years of free school meals in New Zealand

Our research highlights the positive impact of the free school meals programme, including improved food security, enhanced equity, and overall well-being of students and families.

Main Summary:

  • Improved Food Security: Reduced worries about having enough food.
  • Enhanced Equity: Better access to nutritious meals, especially for Indigenous Māori communities.
  • Increased Healthy Food Appreciation: Students expanded their taste horizons.
  • Well-being: Overall well-being of students and families improved.
  • Reduced Financial Stress: Families experienced less financial pressure.
  • Challenges: Some schools faced low participation and food waste issues.
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Mātauranga Māori and Kai in Schools: An Exploration of Traditional Māori Knowledge and Food in Five Primary Schools in Regional New Zealand

This study explores the integration of traditional Māori knowledge and food in five primary schools.

Main Summary:

  • Indigenous Wisdom: Māori knowledge enhances food education, fostering a deeper cultural connection.
  • Sustainability: Schools prioritise environmental sustainability for long-lasting benefits.
  • Cultural Challenges: Aligning cultural values with existing programmes presents unique hurdles.
  • Food Sovereignty: The study questions whether we should shift from securing food to empowering communities with food sovereignty.
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Not Just a Free Lunch: A Logic Model and Evidence Review for the Ka Ora, Ka Ako | Healthy School Lunch Programme

Our research evaluates the Ka Ora, Ka Ako programme, which provides free, healthy lunches for learners in low-equity New Zealand schools.

Main Summary:

  • Improved Nutrition and Health: The programme improves children’s nutrition and health, with participating students consuming more vegetables and fewer snacks.
  • Educational Outcomes: Improved concentration, behaviour, and attendance are observed among students receiving the lunches.
  • Economic Benefits: The programme creates local jobs, supports local economies, and enhances the availability of healthy foods.
  • Community Engagement: Engagement with whānau and communities strengthens social cohesion and resilience.
  • Implementation Challenges: Areas for improvement include ensuring high food quality, increasing engagement from children and parents, and better integrating with Mātauranga Māori.
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Systems Mapping of the New Zealand Free and Healthy School Lunch Programme: Perspectives from Lunch Providers

Our research highlights the impact of the New Zealand Free and Healthy School Lunch Programme.

Main Summary:

  • Teachers and Principals: Teachers encourage students to enjoy nutritious meals, and principals shape school culture to enhance student involvement and reduce food waste.
  • Nutrition Guidelines: Strict guidelines and government support are crucial for serving healthy meals and fostering job satisfaction among providers.
  • Supply Chain: A resilient supply chain ensures smooth operations, reducing stress for lunch providers.
  • Student Feedback: Student feedback helps adjust menus, reducing waste and improving meal enjoyment.
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Culture of Healthy Eating and Food Environments, Policies, and Practices in Regional New Zealand Schools

Our study emphasises the critical role of school food environments in shaping students’ dietary choices and lifelong eating behaviours.

Main Summary:

  • Food Policies: 58.8% of surveyed schools had a food policy, often using generic templates.
  • Healthy Eating Culture: Schools with established food policies and those in the free lunch programme showed a stronger culture of healthy eating.
  • Challenges: Nearby food outlets and student resistance are common obstacles.
  • Secondary Schools: These schools face more challenges in promoting healthy eating and are more likely to sell unhealthy food.
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Healthy Food Environments in Early Learning Services: An Analysis of Manager Survey Responses, Menus and Policies in Regional New Zealand Early Childhood Education and Care Centres

Key highlights include the nutrition policies in Early Learning Services (ELS), the healthiness of food offered during celebrations, and the barriers to promoting healthy food.

Main Summary:

  • Nutrition Policies: Many ELS have written food and beverage policies, though improvement is needed.
  • Celebrations: ELS often provide healthier food for celebrations compared to parent-provided options.
  • Fundraising: Food used in fundraising activities is often unhealthy.
  • Menu Healthiness: Menus include both healthy and unhealthy items, with few fully meeting national guidelines.
  • Barriers: Common barriers to promoting healthy food include lack of parental support, choking hazards, and food allergies.
  • Food Programmes: Most ELS participate in food or nutrition programmes.
  • Culture: ELS generally feel they have a strong culture of healthy eating.
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Applying the complementary knowledge bases of System Dynamics and Indigenous knowledge in public health research in Aotearoa, New Zealand

This paper delves into the theoretical underpinnings of Systems Thinking approaches used in Community-Based System Dynamics research and finds parallels with Indigenous narratives and knowledge.

Main Summary:

  • Systems Thinking: Increasingly applied to address complex societal and public health issues in Aotearoa, New Zealand.
  • Indigenous Knowledge: Traditional wisdom and Mātauranga Māori from Aotearoa, New Zealand.
  • Synergy: Combining Systems Thinking and Indigenous knowledge creates an effective approach to public health issues.
  • Community Engagement: Examples from an initiative to engage the community to improve food security and nutrition in regional Aotearoa, New Zealand.
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Nourishing Hawke’s Bay: He wairua tō te kai – Food Security, Health Behaviours, and Wellbeing in Children in Regional New Zealand

This study focuses on the well-being of children in Hawke’s Bay, highlighting issues like food insecurity, dietary habits, and overall well-being.

Main Summary:

  • Food Insecurity: 16.8% of students experienced food insufficiency, and 31.3% of 13-year-olds regularly missed breakfast.
  • Dietary Habits: Only 12.9% of students met vegetable intake guidelines, and 39.6% met fruit intake guidelines.
  • Well-being: 47.1% of 13-year-old girls were at risk of reduced well-being.
  • Weight Status: 54.6% of students had a healthy weight, while 44.5% were overweight or obese.
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Community co-design of regional actions for children’s nutritional health combining Indigenous knowledge and systems thinking

Our study engages the community, particularly Māori and Pasifika communities, in co-designing actions to improve children’s nutrition.

Main Summary:

  • Youth vs. Adult Perspectives: Youth highlighted the impact of fast-food marketing, while adults focused on societal factors like housing costs.
  • Cultural and Family Factors: Cultural connectedness and family roles are crucial in promoting healthy behaviours.
  • Food System Complexity: The local food system is complex, requiring collective effort to address nutritional challenges.
  • Priority Interventions: Ten priority interventions were identified, emphasising healthy lunch programmes and increasing Indigenous knowledge in schools.
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Combining Cognitive Mapping and indigenous knowledge to improve food environments in regional New Zealand

Our research focuses on the health and well-being of children in Hawke’s Bay, emphasising the importance of Māori values and community engagement.

Main Summary:

  • Community Engagement: Cognitive mapping interviews with stakeholders help understand childhood obesity and involve the community in crafting solutions.
  • Mātauranga Māori Integration: Emphasising Māori values, holistic health, and community engagement are key themes.
  • Holistic Health Focus: A comprehensive approach to children’s health, addressing mental, physical, and nutritional well-being, is essential.
  • Schools’ Role: Schools play a crucial role in providing nutritious meals and education.
  • Integration of Initiatives: Cohesion of existing health initiatives enhances effectiveness in addressing food insecurity and childhood obesity.
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The impact of the covid-19 level 4 lockdown on food security among whānau of decile 1 schools

Our study on the impact of the COVID-19 level 4 lockdown reveals intensified food insecurity among whānau of decile 1 schools.

Main Summary:

  • Exacerbated Insecurity: The lockdown intensified food insecurity in deprived communities.
  • School Support: Schools served as vital support hubs, leveraging networks to address food insecurity and educational needs.
  • No Stigma: Support from schools was seen as part of their commitment to student well-being.
  • Recommendations: Recognise schools as effective emergency coordination hubs and invest in networks of teacher aides to enhance food security.
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