Associate Professor Reremoana (Moana) Theodore, Our People, Department of Psychology, University of Otago, New Zealand

Co-Director of the National Centre for Lifecourse Research (NCLR)

Moana Theodore Email moana.theodore@otago.ac.nz
Phone: +64 3 479 4171

Research Associate Professor Reremoana (Moana) Theodore is the Co-Director of the National Centre for Lifecourse Research (NCLR), and a member of the Royal Society Te Apārangi Council. Moana is an inaugural HRC Māori Health Research Emerging Leader Fellow. She is an Investigator on the Graduate Longitudinal Study NZ (GLSNZ) and Te Kura Mai i Tawhiti – a Māori community research programme. She is a Co-Investigator on the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study and an Associate Investigator in Brain Research New Zealand. Moana is a member of the University of Otago Te Poutama Māori (Māori academic staff caucus), an Associate Investigator on the University of Otago Poutama Ara Rau Research Theme and a member of the University of Otago Edgar Diabetes and Obesity Research Centre. Moana is a former HRC Erihapeti Rehu-Murchie Postdoctoral Fellow.

Her research interests include lifecourse research, Māori health and education, child health and development and the development of chronic disease.

Selected Publications

Theodore, R.F., Tustin, K., Kiro, C., Gollop, M., Taumoepeau, M., Taylor, N. Chee, K-S., Hunter, J. & Poulton, R. (In Press). Māori university graduates: Indigenous participation in higher education. Higher Education Research and Development.

Theodore, R.F., McLean, R. & Te Morenga, L. (In Press) Addressing obesity for Māori in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health.

Theodore, R.F., Tustin, K., Kiro, C. & Poulton, R. Māori university graduates: analysis of the Graduate Longitudinal Study New Zealand. Verbal presentation at the Hawaii International Conference on Education. Honolulu, Hawaii (January 2015).

Edwards, W., Theodore, R.F., Tamati, A., Hond-Flavell, E., Korewha, H., Ratima, M., Craig, D. & Poulton, R. Te Kura mai i Tawhiti: A lifecourse approach to health and wellbeing. Verbal presentation at HRC Hui Whakapiripiri 2014. Auckland, New Zealand (June 2014).

Ratima, M., Edwards, W., Hond-Flavell, E. & Theodore, R.F. Te Kura mai i Tawhiti: He Tau Kawekawea. Maximising the impact of research: the interface of Western Science and Māori Knowledge. Keynote paper presented at the Royal Society of New Zealand, Early Career Researcher Conference: Making an impact, challenging the world. Wellington, New Zealand. (May 2014).

Theodore, R.F. & Pehi, P. Mahitahi: Interconnectedness and Leading Together. Verbal presentation at the Ara Mai he Tētēkura: Visioning Our Futures Symposium and Book Launch. Wellington, New Zealand (November 2013).

Edwards, W., Craig, D., Theodore, M., Poulton, R., Korewha, H., Tamati, A., Hond-Flavell, E & Ratima, M. (2013). Exploring the knowledge interface: Partnership in a Taranaki Māori community health research programme. Verbal presentation at the Public Health Association of New Zealand 2013 Conference. New Plymouth, New Zealand (September, 2013)

Theodore, R.F., Broadbent, J. & Poulton, R. (2012). Systolic blood pressure trajectories from childhood to adulthood [abstract]. Journal of Hypertension, 30: e13.

Theodore, R.F. Māori university graduates: Findings from the Graduate Longitudinal Study New Zealand. Verbal presentation at Kimihia, rangahau te wānanga inamata. Current Issues in Higher Education Research Seminar. Wellington, New Zealand (July 2013)

Theodore, R.F., Thompson, J.M.D., Wall, C.R., Waldie, K.E. & Mitchell, E.A. Foods associated with cognitive ability: Results from the Auckland Birthweight Collaborative (ABC) longitudinal study. Verbal presentation at the Paediatric Society of New Zealand conference. Nelson, New Zealand (October, 2006).

Theodore, R.F., Thompson, J.M.D., Waldie, K.E. & Mitchell, E.A. Determinants of cognitive ability in 7-year old children and children born small-for-gestational age. Poster presentation at the International conference of child cohort studies. Oxford, United Kingdom (September 2006).

Theodore, R.F., Thompson, J.M.D., Waldie, K.E. & Mitchell, E.A. Determinants of cognitive ability in 7-year old children and children born small-for-gestational age. Verbal presentation at the International Society for the Study of Behavioral Development Conference. Melbourne, Australia (July 2006).

Theodore, R.F., Thompson, J.M.D., Wall, C.R., Waldie, K.E. & Mitchell, E.A. Food intake and cognitive development in preschool children. Verbal presentation at the Australasian Human Development Conference. Perth, Australia (July 2005).

Theodore, R.F., Thompson, J.M.D., Wall, C.R., Waldie, K.E. & Mitchell, E.A. (2005). Food intake and cognitive development in preschool children [abstract]. Australian Journal of Psychology, 57: S172-3.

Theodore, R.F., Thompson, J.M.D., Wall, C.R., Waldie, K.E. & Mitchell, E.A. Preschool nutrition: Food frequency information of three-year old New Zealand European children. Verbal presentation at the Paediatric Society of New Zealand conference. Rotorua, New Zealand (2004).

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Publications

Reeves, J., Treharne, G. J., Ratima, M., Theodore, R., Edwards, W., & Poulton, R. (2023). A one-size-fits-all approach to data-sharing will not suffice in lifecourse research: A grounded theory study of data-sharing from the perspective of participants in a 50-year-old lifecourse study about health and development. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 23, 118. doi: 10.1186/s12874-023-01940-6

Hobbs, M., Bowden, N., Marek, L., Wiki, J., Kokaua, J., Theodore, R., Ruhe, T., Boden, J., … Milne, B. (2023). The environment a young person grows up in is associated with their mental health: A nationwide geospatial study using the integrated data infrastructure, New Zealand. Social Science & Medicine, 115893. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.115893

Hond-Flavell, E., Treharne, G. J., Tamati, A., Theodore, R., Kokaua, J., Edwards, W., … Poulton, R., & Ratima, M. (2022). Kaupapa Māori early years provision and whānau wellbeing: A retrospective survey at a Taranaki-based centre. New Zealand Journal of Psychology, 53(3), 23-35.

Ruhe, T., Bowden, N., Theodore, R., Stanley-Wishart, B., Hetrick, S., Thabrew, H., … Boden, J., & Kokaua, J. (2022). Identification of mental health and substance use-related conditions among Pasifika young people in Aotearoa New Zealand: A cross-sectional study using the Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI). Pacific Health Dialog, 21(10), 663-672. doi: 10.26635/phd.2022.147

Hond-Flavell, E., Tamati, A., Treharne, G. J., Theodore, R., Kokaua, J., Edwards, W., … Poulton, R., & Ratima, M. (2022). Facilitators of, and barriers to, whānau engagement in kaupapa Māori early years provision: A retrospective survey at a Taranaki-based centre. MAI Journal, 11(1), 18-33. doi: 10.20507/maijournal.2022.11.1.2

Pehi, P., & Theodore, R. (2013). Mahitahi: Interconnectedness and leading together. In P. Whitinui, M. Glover & D. Hikuroa (Eds.), Ara Mai he Tētēkura: Visioning our futures: New and emerging pathways of Māori academic leadership. (pp. 98-111). Dunedin, New Zealand: Otago University Press.

Chapter in Book - Research

Journal - Research Article

Edwards, W., Hond, R., Ratima, M., Tamati, A., Treharne, G. J., Hond-Flavell, E., Theodore, R., Carrington, S. D., & Poulton, R. (2022). Tawhiti nui, tawhiti roa: tawhiti tūāuriuri, tawhiti tūāhekeheke: A Māori lifecourse framework and its application to longitudinal research. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1080/03036758.2022.2113411

Journal - Research Article

Guiney, H., Walker, R., Broadbent, J., Caspi, A., Goodin, E., Kokaua, J., … Robertson, S., Theodore, R., Poulton, R., & Endre, Z. (2022). Kidney-function trajectories from young adulthood to midlife: Identifying risk strata and opportunities for intervention. Kidney International Reports. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.ekir.2022.10.005

Journal - Research Article

Kokaua, J., Ruhe, T., Bowden, N., Theodore, R., Jensen, S., Jensen, W., … Richards, R. (2022). Parental education and hospitalisations among Pacific children: A cross-sectional study using linked administrative data in New Zealand’s Integrated Data Infrastructure. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1080/03036758.2022.2094967

Journal - Research Article

Ruhe, T., Broadbent, J. M., Schluter, P. J., Bowden, N., Theodore, R., Richards, R., & Kokaua, J. (2022). Parents' education and Pasifika children's oral health in Aotearoa/New Zealand: A national linked data study using Aotearoa/New Zealand's integrated data infrastructure. Community Dentistry & Oral Epidemiology. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1111/cdoe.12791

Journal - Research Article

Theodore, R., Bowden, N., Kokaua, J., Ruhe, T., Hobbs, M., Hetrick, S., … Boden, J. (2022). Mental health inequities for Māori youth: A population-level study of mental health service data. New Zealand Medical Journal, 135(1567), 79-90. Retrieved from https://journal.nzma.org.nz/

Journal - Research Article

Hond-Flavell, E., Theodore, R., Treharne, G. J., Tamati, A., Edwards, W., Poulton, R., … Ratima, M. (2021). Tangi te kawekaweā: Whānau engagement in Kaupapa Māori early years provision: An exploratory qualitative study. MAI Journal, 10(1), 3-16. doi: 10.20507/MAIJournal.2021.10.1.1

Journal - Research Article

Kokaua, J., Jensen, S., Theodore, R., Bowden, N., Blakelock, R., Sorensen, D., … Richards, R. (2021). Is parent education protective of mental wellbeing in Pacific young people? A cohort study of mental health and census data in Aotearoa/New Zealand's integrated data infrastructure. Pacific Health Dialog, 21(7), 361-372. doi: 10.26635/phd.2021.112

Journal - Research Article

McAllister, T. G., Kokaua, J., Naepi, S., Kidman, J., & Theodore, R. (2021). Glass ceilings in New Zealand universities: Inequities in Māori and Pacific promotions and earnings. MAI Journal, 9(3), 272-285. doi: 10.20507/MAIJournal.2020.9.3.8

Journal - Research Article

Naepi, S., Wilson, E., Lagos, S., Manuela, S., McAllister, T. G., Kidman, J., Theodore, R., & Kokaua, J. (2021). Where are we now? Patterns of Māori and Pasifika enrolment in the natural and physical science and society and culture fields in Aotearoa New Zealand. Higher Education Research & Development, 40(1), 90-103. doi: 10.1080/07294360.2020.1857345

Journal - Research Article

Tamati, A., Ratima, M., Hond-Flavell, E., Edwards, W., Hond, R., Korewha, H., Treharne, G. J., Theodore, R., & Poulton, R. (2021). He piki raukura: Understanding strengths-based Māori child development constructs in Kaupapa Māori early years provision. MAI Journal, 10(1), 17-29. doi: 10.20507/MAIJournal.2021.10.1.2

Journal - Research Article

Tamati, A., Treharne, G. J., Kokaua, J., Theodore, R., Ratima, M., Hond-Flavell, E., Edwards, W., … Poulton, R. (2021). He Piki Raukura: Assessing Ao Māori developmental constructs. Part II: Mapping positive change over 10 months among preschool Māori children. New Zealand Journal of Psychology, 50(2), 35-45.

Journal - Research Article

Tamati, A., Treharne, G. J., Theodore, R., Ratima, M., Hond-Flavell, E., Edwards, W., … Poulton, R. (2021). He Piki Raukura: Assessing Ao Māori developmental constructs. Part I: Reliability of novel strengths-based measures among preschool Māori children. New Zealand Journal of Psychology, 50(2), 22-34.

Journal - Research Article

George, M., Theodore, R., Richards, R., Galland, B., Taylor, R., Matahaere, M., & Te Morenga, L. A. (2020). Moe Kitenga: A qualitative study of perceptions of infant and child sleep practices among Māori whānau. AlterNative, 16(2), 153-160. doi: 10.1177/1177180120929694

Journal - Research Article

Hohmann-Marriott, B., Choe, L., Schilperoort, L., Tustin, K., Taylor, N., Gollop, M., Theodore, R., Kokaua, J., Hunter, J., Taumoepeau, M., & Poulton, R. (2020). Family and career plans of students graduating from New Zealand universities. New Zealand Population Review, 46, 100-126. Retrieved from https://population.org.nz/latest-journals/

Journal - Research Article

Kokaua, J., Jensen, S., Theodore, R., Sorensen, D., Jensen, W., Richards, R., & Audas, R. (2020). Understanding parental education and health of Pacific families: Background and study protocol. Pacific Health Dialog, 21(5), 233-244. doi: 10.26635/phd.2020.622

Journal - Research Article

Naepi, S., McAllister, T. G., Thomsen, P., Leenen-Young, M., Walker, L. A., McAllister, A. L., Theodore, R., … Suaaliia, T. (2020). The Pakaru ‘Pipeline’: Māori and Pasifika pathways within the academy. New Zealand Annual Review of Education, 24, 142-159. doi: 10.26686/nzaroe.v24i0.6338

Journal - Research Article

Theodore, R., Tustin, K., Kokaua, J., Gollop, M., Kiro, C., Taylor, N., & Poulton, R. (2020). Occupations and industries of employment of Māori university graduates: Early career aspirations and destinations. Kōtuitui, 15(1), 140-153. doi: 10.1080/1177083X.2019.1669671

Journal - Research Article

McAllister, T. G., Kidman, J., Rowley, O., & Theodore, R. F. (2019). Why isn’t my professor Māori?: A snapshot of the academic workforce in New Zealand universities. MAI Journal, 8(2), 235-249. doi: 10.20507/MAIJournal.2019.8.2.10

Journal - Research Article

Ratima, M., Theodore, R., Tamati, A., Hond-Flavell, E., Edwards, W., Korewha, H., Treharne, G. J., … Poulton, R. (2019). Te kura mai i tawhiti: A collaborative lifecourse approach to health, wellbeing and whānau development. MAI Journal, 8(1), 63-76. doi: 10.20507/MAIJournal.2019.8.1.5

Journal - Research Article

Theodore, R., Ratima, M., Edwards, W., Sporle, A., Te Morenga, L., Kiro, C., & Hond, R. (2019). How a lifecourse approach can promote long-term health and wellbeing outcomes for Māori. Journal of Indigenous Wellbeing, 4(1), 15-25.

Journal - Research Article

Shearer, D. M., Thomson, W. M., Cameron, C. M., Ramrakha, S., Wilson, G., Wong, T. Y., Williams, M. J. A., McLean, R., Theodore, R., & Poulton, R. (2018). Periodontitis and multiple markers of cardiometabolic risk in the fourth decade: A cohort study. Community Dentistry & Oral Epidemiology, 46(6), 615-623. doi: 10.1111/cdoe.12414

Journal - Research Article

Theodore, R., Taumoepeau, M., Kokaua, J., Tustin, K., Gollop, M., Taylor, N., Hunter, J., … Poulton, R. (2018). Equity in New Zealand university graduate outcomes: Māori and Pacific graduates. Higher Education Research & Development, 37(1), 206-221. doi: 10.1080/07294360.2017.1344198

Journal - Research Article

Theodore, R., Taumoepeau, M., Tustin, K., Gollop, M., Unasa, C., Kokaua, J., Taylor, N., Ramrakha, S., Hunter, J., & Poulton, R. (2018). Pacific university graduates in New Zealand: What helps and hinders completion. AlterNative, 14(2), 138-146. doi: 10.1177/1177180118764126

Journal - Research Article

Trotman, R., Cram, F., Samu, T., Becroft, M., Theodore, R., & Trinick, T. (2018). Investing in “success” as Māori and Pacific: The collaborative development of Ngā Tau Tuangahuru, a longitudinal evaluation study. Evaluation Matters, 4, 87-110. doi: 10.18296/em.0030

Journal - Research Article

Theodore, R., Gollop, M., Tustin, K., Taylor, N., Kiro, C., Taumoepeau, M., Kokaua, J., Hunter, J., & Poulton, R. (2017). Māori university success: What helps or hinders qualification completion. AlterNative, 13(2), 122-130. doi: 10.1177/1177180117700799

Journal - Research Article

Williams, M. J. A., Milne, B. J., Ambler, A., Theodore, R., Ramrakha, S., Caspi, A., Moffitt, T. E., & Poulton, R. (2017). Childhood body mass index and endothelial dysfunction evaluated by peripheral arterial tonometry in early midlife. International Journal of Obesity, 41, 1355-1360. doi: 10.1038/ijo.2017.108

Journal - Research Article

Broadbent, J. M., Theodore, R. F., Te Morenga, L., Thomson, W. M., & Brunton, P. A. (2016). Ethnic and socioeconomic inequalities in dental treatment at a school of dentistry. New Zealand Dental Journal, 112(2), 55-61.

Journal - Research Article

Theodore, R., Tustin, K., Kiro, C., Gollop, M., Taumoepeau, M., Taylor, N., Chee, K.-S., Hunter, J., & Poulton, R. (2016). Māori university graduates: Indigenous participation in higher education. Higher Education Research & Development, 35(3), 604-618. doi: 10.1080/07294360.2015.1107883

Journal - Research Article

Theodore, R. F., Broadbent, J., Nagin, D., Ambler, A., Hogan, S., Ramrakha, S., … Williams, M. J. A., Harrington, H., Moffitt, T. E., … Milne, B., & Poulton, R. (2015). Childhood to early-midlife systolic blood pressure trajectories: Early-life predictors, effect modifiers, and adult cardiovascular outcomes. Hypertension, 66, 1108-1115. doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.115.05831

Journal - Research Article

Theodore, R. F., Thompson, J. M. D., Waldie, K. E., Becroft, D. M. O., Robinson, E., Wild, C. J., … Mitchell, E. A. (2009). Determinants of cognitive ability at 7 years: A longitudinal case-control study of children born small-for-gestational age at term. European Journal of Pediatrics, 168, 1217-1224. doi: 10.1007/s00431-008-0913-9

Journal - Research Article

Theodore, R. F., Thompson, J. M. D., Waldie, K. E., Wall, C., Becroft, D. M. O., Robinson, E., … Mitchell, E. A. (2009). Dietary patterns and intelligence in early and middle childhood. Intelligence, 37, 506-513. doi: 10.1016/j.intell.2009.07.001

Journal - Research Article

Theodore, R., Thompson, J., Wall, C., Becroft, D., Robinson, E., Clark, P., … Mitchell, E. (2006). Dietary patterns of New Zealand European preschool children. New Zealand Medical Journal, 119(1235). Retrieved from http://journal.nzma.org.nz/journal/119-1235/1998/content.pdf

Journal - Research Article

Caspi, A., Harrington, H., Milne, B. J., Amell, J., Theodore, R. F., & Moffitt, T. E. (2003). Children's behavioral styles at age 3 are linked to their adult personality traits at age 26. Journal of Personality, 71(4), 495-513.

Journal - Research Article

Boden, J., Hetrick, S., Bowden, N., Fortune, S., Marek, L., Theodore, R., Ruhe, T., Kokaua, J., & Hobbs, M. (2022). Empowering community control over alcohol availability as a suicide and self-harm prevention measure: Policy opportunity in Aotearoa New Zealand. Lancet Regional Health: Western Pacific, 29, 100631. doi: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2022.100631

Journal - Research Other

Reeves, J., Treharne, G. J., Theodore, R., Edwards, W., Ratima, M., & Poulton, R. (2022). Understanding the data-sharing debate in the context of Aotearoa/New Zealand: A narrative review on the perspectives of funders, publishers/journals, researchers, participants and Māori collectives. Kōtuitui, 17(1), 1-23. doi: 10.1080/1177083X.2021.1922465

Journal - Research Other

Theodore, R., Kidman, J., Naepi, S., Kokaua, J., & McAllister, T. (2021). Tackling systemic racism in academic promotion processes. MAI Journal, 10(2), 202-206. doi: 10.20507/MAIJournal.2021.10.2.13

Journal - Research Other

Theodore, R., Ratima, M., Potiki, T., Boden, J., & Poulton, R. (2021). Cannabis, the cannabis referendum and Māori youth: A review from a lifecourse perspective. Kōtuitui, 16(1), 1-17. doi: 10.1080/1177083X.2020.1760897

Journal - Research Other

Poulton, R., Robertson, K., Boden, J., Horwood, J., Theodore, R., Potiki, T., & Ambler, A. (2020). Patterns of recreational cannabis use in Aotearoa-New Zealand and their consequences: Evidence to inform voters in the 2020 referendum. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, 50(2), 348-365. doi: 10.1080/03036758.2020.1750435

Journal - Research Other

Theodore, R., Webber, M., Blaikie, R., & Larner, W. (2019). Rethinking our shared futures [Preface]. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, 49(Suppl. 1), 1-3. doi: 10.1080/03036758.2019.1687531

Journal - Research Other

Edwards, W., Theodore, R., Ratima, M., & Reddy, R. (2018). Māori positive ageing. New Zealand Medical Journal, 131(1484), 10-12. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Journal - Research Other

Baxter, G. D., Mabire, L., Liu, L., Connolly, M. J., Theodore, R., Brunson, J., & Nicholson, H. (2017). Seven things you need to know about men's health. New Zealand Medical Journal, 130(1463), 7-10. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Journal - Research Other

Theodore, R., McLean, R., & Te Morenga, L. (2015). Challenges to addressing obesity for Māori in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 39(6), 509-512. doi: 10.1111/1753-6405.12418

Journal - Research Other

Edwards, W., Craig, D., Theodore, M., Poulton, R., Korewha, H., Tamati, A., … Ratima, M. (2013). Exploring the knowledge interface: Partnership in a Taranaki Māori community health research programme. In A. Zander & H. Came (Eds.), Proceedings of the Public Health Association Conference: Partnership or Collaboration: Is there a difference? (pp. 83-88). Auckland, New Zealand: Public Health Association. [Full Paper]

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper

Katene, A., Treharne, G., Hond-Flavell, E., Tamati, A., Ratima, M., Edwards, W., Theodore, R., & Poulton, R. (2021). Exploring meaning of a secure Māori identity through the eyes of rangatahi: A photo-elicitation approach. Proceedings of the 13th Educational Psychology Forum. ASH21218. Retrieved from http://www.eenz.com/epf

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

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