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Contact Details

Phone
+64 4 832 3177
Email
christina.mckerchar@otago.ac.nz
Position
Senior Lecturer in Māori Health
Department
Department of Population Health (Christchurch)
Qualifications
BCApSc, MSc, PhD
Research summary
Nutrition and Maori Health

Research

Christina is of Nagti Kahungunu, Tuhoe and Ngati Porou descent. She trained as a nutritionist, and worked for a number of years, for Te Hotu Manawa Maori a national Maori Health provider. She has also worked for Agencies for Nutrition Action, a coalition group of non-government organisations who have an interest in nutrition.

Christina is also completing a PhD and her topic is: Food availability for Māori children: A rights based approach. Is the right to healthy food realised for Māori children in their lived environments? If not, what policy options would impact on this right being realised?

The study is a mixed-method inquiry informed by Kaupapa Māori research principles.

Her research interests include: public health nutrition, food security and Maori health.

Publications

Pitama, S., Haitana, T., Patu, M., Robson, B., Harris, R., McKerchar, C., Clark, T., & Crengle, S. (2024). Toitū Te Tiriti. New Zealand Medical Journal/Te ara tika o te hauora hapori, 137(1589), 7-11. Retrieved from https://nzmj.org.nz/ Journal - Research Other

Crossin, R., Norriss, D., McKerchar, C., Martin, G., Pocock, T., & Curl, A. (2024). Quantifying access to on-demand alcohol in New Zealand. Drug & Alcohol Review, 43, 416-424. doi: 10.1111/dar.13785 Journal - Research Article

Gage, R., Connor, J., Jackson, N., McKerchar, C., & Signal, L. (2024). Generating political priority for alcohol policy reform: A framework to guide advocacy and research. Drug & Alcohol Review, 43, 381-392. doi: 10.1111/dar.13782 Journal - Research Article

McKerchar, C., Thompson, L., Bidwell, S., & Hapuku, A. (2023). Normal or diseased? Navigating indeterminate gut behaviour. Journal of Primary Health Care, 15(4), 350-357. doi: 10.1071/HC23090 Journal - Research Article

Crossin, R., Curl, A., Norriss, D., Martin, G., Pocock, T., & McKerchar, C. (2023). Quantifying access to 'on-demand' alcohol in New Zealand. Drug & Alcohol Review, 42(Suppl. 1), 84. doi: 10.1111/dar.13749 Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

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