Associate Professor Esther Willing

2026

Journal - Research Article

Turner, N., Castelino, L., Paynter, J., Willing, E., Henseler, J., Best, E., … Danchin, M. (2026). Tailoring the Australian vaccine barriers assessment tool (VBAT) for Aotearoa New Zealand: Using a local equity approach. Vaccine, 83, 128636. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2026.128636

Harrison, O. K., Tosala, K., Jones, C. A. D., Kennedy, R., Nia, A. F., Maso Talou, G. D., Dawson, C., Sellbom, M., Willing, E., McLeod, E., … Clifford, A. (2026). Using automated psychological tools for understanding and improving mental health outcomes in Aotearoa. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, 56(2), e70032. doi: 10.1002/snz2.70032

Fenton, E., Willing, E., Pickering, N. J., Yeo, W., & Barham, S. (2026). Equity in the ICU: An exploratory qualitative study of the ethical acceptability of a reserve system for allocating limited ICU resources. Journal of Medical Ethics. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1136/jme-2025-111328

2025

Journal - Research Article

Tohaia, P., Young, A., Willing, E., Fangupo, L., & McDonald, G. (2025). Are online maps and booking systems for antenatal vaccination fit for purpose? A qualitative study. Vaccines, 13(12), 1202. doi: 10.3390/vaccines13121202

Hornal, L., Willing, E., Dawson, P., Hobbs, M., Marek, L., McIntyre, P., & Young, A. (2025). Feasibility of software prompts to support antenatal vaccination decision-making: A cross-sectional study. Health Education Journal. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1177/00178969251392138

Fangupo, L., Young, A., Hobbs, M., McDonald, G., Smith, A., & Willing, E. (2025). Prioritising culturally appropriate interventions to increase antenatal immunisation in Aotearoa New Zealand: A Delphi study. Journal of Primary Health Care, 17(4), 363-371. doi: 10.1071/hc25053

Jackson, T. R., Tuivaiti, I., Willing, E., & Lacey, K. (2025). Acceptability of “The Hui Process” at the Faculty of Dentistry. New Zealand Medical Journal/Te ara tika o te hauora hapori, 138(1619), 22-30. doi: 10.26635/6965.7017

Lacey, K., Clark, M., Jansen, B., Skinner, P., Kamana, E., & Willing, E. (2025). Using Māori community aspirations to advocate for oral health integration into diabetes care. New Zealand Medical Journal/Te ara tika o te hauora hapori, 138(1616), 50-58. doi: 10.26635/6965.6897

Keddell, E., Colhoun, S., Norris, P., & Willing, E. (2025). ‘If you thought it was going to make a difference, you'd do it straight away’: School staff decisions to report to Child Protection. Child & Family Social Work. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1111/cfs.13285

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Colhoun, S., Norris, P., Keddell, E., Cormack, D., & Willing, E. (2025). The role of differing cultural perspectives in interRAI assessments. Proceedings of the New Zealand Association of Gerontology (NZAG) Conference: Ageing Together. (pp. 36). Retrieved from http://gerontology.org.nz

2024

Journal - Research Article

Keddell, E., Colhoun, S., Norris, P., & Willing, E. (2024). The heuristic divergence between community reporters and child protection agencies: Negotiating risk amidst shifting sands. Children & Youth Services Review, 159, 107532. doi: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2024.107532

Journal - Research Other

Young, A., Hobbs, M., Willing, E., McDonald, G., Dawson, P., Marek, L., Fangupo, L., & McIntyre, P. (2024). Protecting hapu māmā and newborn babies through immunisation during pregnancy in Aotearoa New Zealand. The Briefing, (9 April). Retrieved from https://www.phcc.org.nz/briefing/protecting-hapu-mama-and-newborn-babies-through-immunisation-during-pregnancy-aotearoa-new

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Colhoun, S., Norris, P., Keddell, E., & Willing, E. (2024). Where does the Digital Age data come from? Proceedings of the 13th Health Services Research Association of Australia and New Zealand (HSRAANZ) Conference. 85. Retrieved from https://www.hsraanz.org/

Keddell, E., Colhoun, S., Norris, P., Willing, E., & Cormack, D. (2024). Where do big data come from? The social production of child protection ‘reports of concern’. Proceedings of the Sociological Association of Aotearoa New Zealand (SAANZ) Conference: The Sociology to Come. Retrieved from https://www.saanz.net/saanz2024/

Turner, N., Willing, E., Castelino, L., Paynter, J., Kaufman, J., Best, E., … Danchin, M. (2024). Vaccine Barriers Assessment Tool (VBAT) Study 2B Aotearoa New Zealand results. Proceedings of the Communicable Diseases & Immunisation Conference: Protecting Communities: Empowering Health through Disease Control and Immunisation. 152. [Abstract]

Young, A., Willing, E., Gauld, N. G., Norris, P., Dawson, P., & Turner, N. (2024). Vaccinating in pregnancy: The importance of conversations. Journal of Paediatrics & Child Health, 60(Suppl. 1), (pp. 37). doi: 10.1111/jpc.16526

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Colhoun, S., Norris, P., Keddell, E., Willing, E., & Cormack, D. (2024, March). interRAI assessments as a data source: Contextual findings. Verbal presentation at the 4th interRAI Knowledge Exchange, Wellington, New Zealand.

Working Paper; Discussion Paper; Technical Report

Keddell, E., Colhoun, S., Norris, P., Willing, E., & Cormack, D. (2024). Decisions to report children to Oranga Tamariki by police staff in Aotearoa: Reasons, processes and outcomes. Dunedin, New Zealand: University of Otago. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10523/36195

Other Research Output

Willing, E., & Young, A. (2024, July). Maternal immunisation. Goodfellow Clinics Podcast, Goodfellow Unit, University of Auckland. Retrieved from https://www.goodfellowunit.org/podcast

2023

Journal - Research Article

Hobbs, M., Marek, L., Young, A., Willing, E., Dawson, P., & McIntyre, P. (2023). Examining spatial variation for immunisation coverage in pregnant women: A nationwide and geospatial retrospective cohort study in Aotearoa New Zealand. Social Science & Medicine, 335, 116228. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.116228

Curtis, E., Jones, R., Willing, E., Anderson, A., Paine, S.-J., Herbert, S., … Reid, P. (2023). Indigenous adaptation of a model for understanding the determinants of ethnic health inequities [Review]. Discover Social Science & Health, 3, 10. doi: 10.1007/s44155-023-00040-6

Young, A., Willing, E., Gauld, N., Dawson, P., Charania, N. A., Norris, P., & Turner, N. (2023). Midwives' perceptions of enablers and barriers to pertussis and influenza vaccination in pregnancy and information sharing. New Zealand College of Midwives Journal, 59, 29-38. doi: 10.12784/nzcomjnl59.2023.4.29-38

Macredie, F., Willing, E., Dawson, P., Howe, A., & Young, A. (2023). Interventions to improve vaccine coverage of pregnant women in Aotearoa New Zealand. Journal of Primary Health Care, 15(3), 230-237. doi: 10.1071/HC23041

Hobbs, M., Young, A., Turner, N., Dawson, P., Willing, E., McIntyre, P., & McIntosh, C. G. (2023). A new national health system: The opportunity to address data quality issues in maternal immunisation coverage. New Zealand Medical Journal/Te ara tika o te hauora hapori, 136(1578), 94-99. Retrieved from https://journal.nzma.org.nz/

Tenbensel, T., Cumming, J., & Willing, E. (2023). The 2022 restructure of Aotearoa New Zealand's health system: Will it succeed in advancing equity where others have failed? Health Policy, 134, 104828. doi: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2023.104828

Young, A., Charania, N. A., Gauld, N., Norris, P., Turner, N., & Willing, E. (2023). Informing women about maternal vaccination in Aotearoa New Zealand: is it effective? Midwifery, 120, 103636. doi: 10.1016/j.midw.2023.103636

Dowell, A., Turner, N., Watson, D., Wharemate, R., Willing, E., & Nowlan, M. (2023). He Pou Whirinaki (pillars of support): Elder indigenous New Zealand Māori narratives about influenza immunisation and the use of telehealth during the first COVID-19 lockdown. Kōtuitui, 18(1), 85-95. doi: 10.1080/1177083X.2022.2082988

Working Paper; Discussion Paper; Technical Report

Colhoun, S., Keddell, E., Norris, P., Willing, E., & Cormack, D. (2023). Family and whānau experiences of being reported to Oranga Tamariki. Dunedin, New Zealand: University of Otago. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10523/16717

Keddell, E., Colhoun, S., Norris, P., Willing, E., & Cormack, D. (2023). Decisions to report children to Oranga Tamariki by schools in Aotearoa: Reasons, processes and outcomes. Dunedin, New Zealand: University of Otago. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10523/16718

2022

Journal - Research Article

Cave, T. L., Derraik, J. G. B., Willing, E. J., Maessen, S. E., Hofman, P. L., & Anderson, Y. C. (2022). Changes in referral patterns for weight in association with the preschool Raising Healthy Kids target. Journal of Primary Health Care, 14(4), 310-317. doi: 10.1071/HC22076

Te’o, D. T., Wild, C. E. K., Willing, E. J., Wynter, L. E., O'Sullivan, N. A., Hofman, P. L., … Anderson, Y. C. (2022). The impact of a family-based assessment and intervention healthy lifestyle programme on health knowledge and beliefs of children with obesity and their families. Nutrients, 14, 4363. doi: 10.3390/nu14204363

Reid, P., Paine, S.-J., Te Ao, B., Willing, E. J., Wyeth, E., Vaithianathan, R., & Loring, B. (2022). Estimating the economic costs of Indigenous health inequities in New Zealand: A retrospective cohort analysis. BMJ Open, 12, e065430. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-065430

Young, A., Charania, N. A., Gauld, N., Norris, P., Turner, N., & Willing, E. (2022). Knowledge and decisions about maternal immunisation by pregnant women in Aotearoa New Zealand. BMC Health Services Research, 22, 779. doi: 10.1186/s12913-022-08162-4

Cave, T. L., Derraik, J. G. B., Willing, E. J., Hofman, P. L., & Anderson, Y. C. (2022). Caregiver survey of preschool children with obesity referred to Whānau Pakari: A multidisciplinary healthy lifestyle intervention programme. New Zealand Medical Journal, 135(1553), 27-34. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Pointon, L., Howe, A. S., Hobbs, M., Paynter, J., Gauld, N., Turner, N., & Willing, E. (2022). Evidence of suboptimal maternal vaccination coverage in pregnant New Zealand women and increasing inequity over time: A nationwide retrospective cohort study. Vaccine, 40, 2150-2160. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2022.02.079

Wild, C. E. K., Egli, V., Rawiri, N. T., Willing, E. J., Hofman, P. L., & Anderson, Y. C. (2022). "It's more personal if you can have that contact with a person": Qualitative study of health information preferences of parents and caregivers of children with obesity in New Zealand. Health & Social Care in the Community, 30, e3106-e3115. doi: 10.1111/hsc.13756

Journal - Research Other

Anderson, K., Elder-Robinson, E., Gall, A., Ngampromwongse, K., Connolly, M., Letendre, A., Willing, E., Akuhata-Huntington, Z., … Garvey, G. (2022). Aspects of wellbeing for Indigenous youth in CANZUS countries: A systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research & Public Health, 19, 13688. doi: 10.3390/ijerph192013688

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Colhoun, S., Keddell, E., Norris, P., Willing, E., & Cormack, D. (2022). Whānau experiences of reports to child protection: Implications for practice and research. Proceedings of the Australian & New Zealand Social Work & Welfare Education & Research (ANZSWWER) Symposium. (pp. 58). Retrieved from https://www.anzswwer.org/

Young, A., & Willing, E. (2022). What Māori and Pacific women in Aotearoa New Zealand know about maternal vaccinations and what factors influence their decisions. Proceedings of the 12th Health Services and Policy Research Conference. 283. Retrieved from https://www.hsraanz.org

Other Research Output

Willing, E., McIntyre, P., & Young, A. (2022, May). Immunisations during pregnancy: Influenza and pertussis. New Zealand College of Midwives. [Webinar].

2021

Journal - Research Article

Lacey, J. K., Thomson, W. M., Crampton, P., & Willing, E. (2021). Working towards Māori oral health equity: Why te Tiriti o Waitangi needs to underpin the oral health system, using evidence from the New Zealand Oral Health Survey. New Zealand Dental Journal, 117(3), 105-110.

Chisholm, H., Paynter, J., Willing, E., Turner, N., & Howe, A. S. (2021). Does the National Immunisation Register stack up? Quantifying accuracy when compared to parent-held health record books. New Zealand Medical Journal, 134(1541), 22-32. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Burdett, B. R. D., Witten, K., Willing, E., & Ameratunga, S. (2021). Inclusive access in transport policy and practice: Views of New Zealand transport practitioners. Case Studies on Transport Policy, 9(4), 1593-1599. doi: 10.1016/j.cstp.2021.08.008

Wild, C. E. K., Rawiri, N., Willing, E. J., Hofman, P. L., & Anderson, Y. C. (2021). Health system barriers to accessing care for children with weight issues in New Zealand: An interview-based study. Journal of Health Services Research & Policy, 26(4), 234-241. doi: 10.1177/13558196211016011

Gall, A., Anderson, K., Howard, K., Diaz, A., King, A., Willing, E., … Garvey, G. (2021). Wellbeing of indigenous peoples in Canada, Aotearoa (New Zealand) and the United States: A systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research & Public Health, 18(11), 5832. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18115832

Anderson, Y. C., Wild, C. E. K., Hofman, P. L., Cave, T. L., Taiapa, K. J., Domett, T., Derraik, J. G. B., … Willing, E. J. (2021). Participants’ and caregivers’ experiences of a multidisciplinary programme for healthy lifestyle change in Aotearoa/New Zealand: A qualitative, focus group study. BMJ Open, 11(5), e043516. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-043516

Meher, M., Spray, J., Wiles, J., Anderson, A., Willing, E., Witten, K., … Ameratunga, S., on behalf of the Inclusive Streetscapes Project Team. (2021). Locating transport sector responsibilities for the wellbeing of mobility-challenged people in Aotearoa New Zealand. Wellbeing, Space & Society, 2, 100034. doi: 10.1016/j.wss.2021.100034

Cave, T. L., Derraik, J. G. B., Willing, E. J., Hofman, P. L., & Anderson, Y. C. (2021). Caregiver perceptions of weight in preschool children, and determinants of engagement in a multidisciplinary intervention service for weight issues. Obesity Research & Clinical Practice, 51, 262-267. doi: 10.1016/j.orcp.2021.03.002

Wild, C. E. K., Rawiri, N. T., Cormack, D. M., Willing, E. J., Hofman, P. L., & Anderson, Y. C. (2021). A collaborative indigenous-non-indigenous partnership approach to understanding participant experiences of a community-based healthy lifestyles program. Qualitative Health Research, 31(8), 1404-1411. doi: 10.1177/1049732321998640

Wild, C. E. K., Rawiri, N. T., Willing, E. J., Hofman, P. L., & Anderson, Y. C. (2021). What affects programme engagement for Māori families? A qualitative study of a family-based, multidisciplinary healthy lifestyle programme for children and adolescents. Journal of Paediatrics & Child Health, 57, 670-676. doi: 10.1111/jpc.15309

Wild, C. E. K., Rawiri, N. T., Willing, E. J., Hofman, P. L., & Anderson, Y. C. (2021). Challenges of making healthy lifestyle changes for families in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Public Health Nutrition, 24(7), 1906-1915. doi: 10.1017/s1368980020003699

Journal - Research Other

Wild, C. E. K., Cave, T. L., Willing, E. J., Derraik, J. G. B., Grant, C. C., Hofman, P. L., & Anderson, Y. C. (2021). Correspondence: Systematic reviews do not always capture context of real-world intervention programmes for childhood obesity (response to Littlewood, et al., 2020 in BMC Public Health). BMC Public Health, 21(1), 501. doi: 10.1186/s12889-021-10486-5

De Abreu Lourenço, R., Devlin, N., Howard, K., Ong, J. J., Ratcliffe, J., Watson, J., Willing, E., & Huynh, E. (2021). Giving a voice to marginalised groups for health care decision making. Patient, 14, 5-10. doi: 10.1007/s40271-020-00456-1

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Willing, E. (2021, May). Māori health policy and submissions. Verbal presentation at the Te Ao Mārama (The New Zealand Māori Dental Association) Hui-Ā-Tau, Ōtepoti, New Zealand.

2020

Journal - Research Article

Wild, C. E. K., Rawiri, N. T., Willing, E. J., Hofman, P. L., & Anderson, Y. C. (2020). Determining barriers and facilitators to engagement for families in a family-based, multicomponent healthy lifestyles intervention for children and adolescents: A qualitative study. BMJ Open, 10(9), e037152. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-037152

Howe, A. S., Pointon, L., Gauld, N., Paynter, J., Willing, E., & Turner, N. (2020). Pertussis and influenza immunisation coverage of pregnant women in New Zealand. Vaccine, 38, 6766-6776. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2020.08.030

Wild, C. E. K., O'Sullivan, N. A., Lee, A. C., Cave, T. L., Willing, E. J., Cormack, D. M., … Anderson, Y. C. (2020). Survey of barriers and facilitators to engagement in a multidisciplinary healthy lifestyles program for children. Journal of Nutrition Education & Behavior, 52(5), 528-534. doi: 10.1016/j.jneb.2019.10.010

Willing, E., Paine, S.-J., Wyeth, E., Te Ao, B., Vaithianathan, R., & Reid, P. (2020). Indigenous voices on measuring and valuing health states. AlterNative, 16(1), 3-9. doi: 10.1177/1177180119885418

Journal - Research Other

Cave, T. L., Wynter, L. E., Wild, C. E. K., Derraik, J. G. B., Willing, E. J., Hofman, P. L., & Anderson, Y. C. (2020). Uptake and outcome of a community-based healthy lifestyle intervention for preschoolers identified with obesity: An audit of the Whānau Pakari preschool programme. New Zealand Medical Journal, 133(1524), 135-139. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Willing, E. (2020, November). Indigenous voices on measuring and valuing health and illness. Verbal presentation at the Biennial International Indigenous Research Conference (IIRC): A Gathering of Indigenous Minds, [Online].

2019

Journal - Research Article

Ameratunga, S., Spray, J., Anderson, A., Wiles, J., Witten, K., Ofanoa, M., … Willing, E., & Burdett, B. (2019). Inclusive streetscapes: Disabled people and older citizens charting a roadmap to equity. Journal of Transport & Health, 14(Suppl.), S18. doi: 10.1016/j.jth.2019.100729

Journal - Research Other

Nowlan, M., Willing, E., & Turner, N. (2019). Influences and policies that affect immunisation coverage: A summary review of literature. New Zealand Medical Journal, 132(1501), 79-88. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Wild, C. E. K., Grant, C. C., Cave, T. L., Wynter, L. E., Derraik, J. G. B., Willing, E. J., … Anderson, Y. C. (2019). The importance of rurality data in understanding access to healthcare services for childhood obesity. New Zealand Medical Journal, 132(1494), 60-63. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Ameratunga, S., Anderson, A., Burdett, B., Spray, J., Wiles, J., Witten, K., … Willing, E. (2019). Inclusive streetscapes: Perspectives of disabled people and older citizens challenge mainstream approaches to consultation. Proceedings of the 6th Annual Transport Knowledge Conference (TKC): Transport's Contribution to Wellbeing and Liveability. (pp. 40). Retrieved from https://www.transportknowledgeconference.nz/

Wild, C. E. K., Rawiri, N., Hofman, P. L., Willing, E. J., Cormack, D. M., & Anderson, Y. C. (2019). Understanding barriers and facilitators to engagement in a multi-disciplinary intervention programme for childhood obesity. Proceedings of the Paediatric Society of New Zealand (PSNZ) 71st Annual Scientific Meeting. (pp. 65). Retrieved from http://www.psnz2019.co.nz

Nisa-Waller, A., Willing, E., Forrester, T., & Baxter, J. (2019). Reimagining Māori health within a non-clinical curriculum. In C. Ryan (Ed.), Proceedings of the 8th Biennial Leaders in Indigenous Medical Education (LIME) Network LIME Connection: Pouhine Poutama: Embedding Indigenous Health Education. (pp. 93-94). Melbourne, Australia: The University of Melbourne. Retrieved from https://www.limeconnection.net.au/program/

Wild, C. E. K., Rawiri, N., Hofman, P. L., Willing, E. J., Cormack, D. M., & Anderson, Y. C. (2019). Understanding barriers and facilitators to engagement in a multi-disciplinary service for childhood obesity. Proceedings of the 11th Health Services and Policy Research Conference (HSRAANZ): Addressing Health Service Inequities to Improve Health System Performance. Retrieved from www.healthservicesconference.com.au

Willing, E., Anderson, A., & Strickett, E. (2019). Policy lessons from the experiences of Māori women with antenatal services in Tāmaki Makaurau. Proceedings of the 11th Health Services and Policy Research Conference (HSRAANZ): Addressing Health Service Inequities to Improve Health System Performance. Retrieved from www.healthservicesconference.com.au

2018

Journal - Research Other

Reid, P., Paine, S.-J., Te Ao, B., Willing, E., Wyeth, E., & Vaithianathan, R. (2018). Estimating the economic costs of ethnic health inequities: Protocol for a prevalence-based cost-of-illness study in New Zealand (2003-2014). BMJ Open, 8(6), e020763. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-020763

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Wild, C. E. K., O'Sullivan, N. A., Lee, A. C., Cave, T. L., Willing, E. J., Cormack, D. M., … Anderson, Y. C. (2018). Understanding facilitators and barriers to engagement in Whānau Pakari: A family-based, multi-disciplinary programme for children and adolescents. Proceedings of the Paediatric Society of New Zealand 70th Annual Scientific Meeting. (pp. 50). Retrieved from http://www.psnz2018.co.nz

2017

Chapter in Book - Research

Willing, E. (2017). Hitting the target without missing the point: New Zealand’s immunisation health target for two year olds. In P. Henman & A. Gable (Eds.), Performing the state: Critical encounters with performance measurement in social and public policy. (pp. 37-52). Routledge.

Journal - Research Other

Reid, P., Paine, S.-J., Curtis, E., Jones, R., Anderson, A., Willing, E., & Harwood, M. (2017). Achieving health equity in Aotearoa: Strengthening responsiveness to Māori in health research. New Zealand Medical Journal, 130(1465), 96-103. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

2016

Journal - Research Article

Tenbensel, T., Chalmers, L., & Willing, E. (2016). Comparing the implementation consequences of the immunisation and emergency department health targets in New Zealand: A tale of two targets. Journal of Health Organization & Management, 30(6), 1009-1024. doi: 10.1108/JHOM-08-2015-0126

Willing, E. (2016). Hitting the target without missing the point: New Zealand’s immunisation health target for two year olds. Policy Studies, 37(6), 535-550. doi: 10.1080/01442872.2016.1207759