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Contact Details

Email
sarah.colhoun@otago.ac.nz

University Links

Position
Research Fellow
Qualifications
MPH (Otago), MA (Otago,) Certificate Te Ara Reo Māori (Advanced), Te Wananga o Aotearoa.
Research summary
I am a health and social sciences researcher, with a background in public health.
Teaching

My main research interests focus on health equity for priority populations, including Maori,Pacific peoples, and people with disabilities, as well as supporting older people and children.

Formerly I taught into the health sciences first year (HSFY) programme as a Senior Tutor and Teaching Fellow for Engl 124 (Language and Communication/Effective Communication). I also tutored the Summer school paper ENGL 127 Effective Writing.

Memberships
  • Secretary, Cantores Choir Executive, Otago University Students Association (OUSA)
  • Centre for Co-Created Ageing Research (CCREATE), University of Auckland
  • interRAI Research Network (iRN), interRAI New Zealand
  • Transport Research Network (TRN), University of Otago
  • Public Health Association (PHA) of New Zealand
  • Collaboration of Ageing Research Excellence (CARE), University of Otago

Research

My main research interests are health-focused including reducing inequities for priority populations, including Māori, Pacific peoples, and people with disabilities, as well as supporting older people and children.

I have substantial qualitative experience and am also comfortable working with mixed methods and quantitative approaches. I am interested in understanding experiences and telling stories via a range of methodologies and data, providing an evidence base that can lead to improvements in health and social systems and inform policy.

I have a strong interest in the natural environment and its pathways to health and wellbeing and completed a Master’s dissertation in this area.

I have researched a vast range of public health / social science topics as both a researcher and public health analyst for about 15 years.

Additional details

Sarah grew up in a farming family in Southern Aotearoa New Zealand and has subsequently lived and worked in the South Island. She has travelled extensively to Australia, the United Kingdom and Europe.

As a researcher in health and social sciences with a background in public health, Sarah’s main research interests are focused on reducing inequities for priority populations, including Māori, Pacific Peoples, and people with disabilities, as well as supporting older people and children. Her Va'a o Tautai research role has her undergoing a qualitative research project called 'Understanding Big Data', which is made up of two case studies – one in child protection and one in ageing.

Sarah has a strong interest in the natural environment and its pathways to health and wellbeing and has around 15 years of experience as both a researcher and public health analyst.

Publications

Colhoun, S., Schaapveld, T., Bartholomew, K., Parker, K., McNeill, R., Wikaire, E., … Crengle, S. (2026). The use of blood biomarkers in lung cancer screening in Aotearoa New Zealand: A cross-sectional survey of Māori perspectives and preferences. New Zealand Medical Journal/Te ara tika o te hauora hapori, 139(1633), 76-91. doi: 10.26635/6965.e1633 Journal - Research Article

Schaapveld, T., Colhoun, S., McNeill, R., Crengle, S., Parker, K., Wikaire, E., … Bartholomew, K. (2026). Māori perspectives on a potential low dose CT lung cancer screening programme in Aotearoa New Zealand: Results of a mixed-method cross-sectional survey. BMC Public Health. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1186/s12889-026-27058-0 Journal - Research Article

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 Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Colhoun, S., McLean, R., Cameron, C., & Crengle, S. (2025). Transport practices of Māori Kaumātua (Indigenous elders) in Aotearoa New Zealand: Baseline findings from prospective older adults transport and health study (NZPATHS). BMC Public Health, 25, 2853. doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-24051-x Journal - Research Article

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 Journal - Research Article

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