PhD (Otago), BSurv(Hons)(Otago), LCS, MNZIS, Assoc.NZPI
Te Rarawa, Te Aupōuri
Email: james.berghan@otago.ac.nz
Phone: +64 3 479 9010
Room: Surveying building, 1st floor, Room 127
Profile
A past student of the School of Surveying, I joined the staff in 2020 where I research and teach planning, urban design and research methods. My doctoral thesis explores the critical success factors in developing urban papakāinga and cohousing communities as part of the Building Better Homes, Towns & Cities National Science Challenge.
I am interested in the interrelationships between people and the built environment, broadly spanning indigenous development, affordable housing, collective housing, hauora, tactical urbanism, streetscapes and active transport.
Teaching
- SURV303 Urban Design 1 (coordinator)
- SURV453 Urban Design 2 (coordinator)
- SURV553 Advanced Urban Design (coordinator)
- SURV590 Dissertation (coordinator)
- SURV480 Research Project (contributor)
- SURV580 Research Project (contributor)
- SURV470 Professional Project (contributor)
Research Interests
- Indigenous development (including papakāinga housing)
- Cohousing and alternative development models
- Communal (or socially-based) tenure
- Urbanism/suburbanism
- Urban design and public health
- Active transport
Research Themes
I am also a researcher within the Building Better Homes, Towns and Cities, Ageing Well, and the Healthier Lives National Science Challenges.
Projects
Current Projects
- Affordable Homes for Generations (Building Better Homes, Towns and Cities National Science Challenge)
- ACTIVATION: Activating Change Through Interventions for Active Travel in our Neighbourhoods (Ageing Well and Healthier Lives National Science Challenges)
Completed Projects
- PhD – Ecology of community: Exploring socially-based tenure principles in urban papakāinga and cohousing communities (Supervisors: David Goodwin & Lynette Carter)
- Rangatahi (Māori youth) housing aspirations - Building Better Homes, Towns and Cities National Science Challenge
- BSurv(Honours) dissertation: Striking a balance: Balancing cultural and productive uses of Māori Freehold Land, 2012 (Supervisors: David Goodwin & Mick Strack)
Supervision
Current Research Students
- Nicki Williams (2021 - ). How can gender sensitive transport planning and design improve social equity and community health outcomes? (PhD). Co-supervision with Dr Angela Curl, Associate Professor Lee Thompson and Christina McKerchar (Population Health, University of Otago (Christchurch)).
- Frances Ifeoma Ukonze (2020 - ). Integrating green infrastructure as an adaptation tool for climate change in sustainable land transport development (PhD). Co-supervision with Dr Gregory Leonard (Surveying)
Responsibilities
School of Surveying
- School of Surveying Postgraduate and Research Committee (2020 – )
- School of Surveying Research Seminar coordinator (2020 – )
- School of Surveying Kaiāwhina alternate (2020 – )
- School of Surveying staff mentor for 300-level students (2020)
- School of Surveying Marketing Committee (2020 - )
Professional Activities
Awards and Achievements
- 2020 Awarded Exceptional PhD Thesis status
- 2018 Te Pae Kōtuku Māori Science Leadership
- 2017 Māori Doctoral Scholarship
- 2017 National Science Challenge Doctoral Scholarship
Editorial/Refereeing
- Reviewer for NZ Population Review Journal (2020 - )
- Reviewer for Land Use Policy Journal (2020 - )
- Reviewer for Counterfutures Journal (2020 - )
Memberships
- Member of the University of Otago Transport Research Network (2020 - )
- Member of the University of Otago Pacific Thought Network (PacTNet) (2020 - )
- Member of the Urban Design Forum, (2019 –)
- Member of Survey+Spatial New Zealand (S+SNZ), (2016 – )
- Associate Member of the New Zealand Planning Institute (NZPI), (2016 – )
- Member of Ngā Aho, Network of Māori Design Professionals, (2014 – )
Publications
Russell, E., McKerchar, C., Thompson, L., & Berghan, J. (2023). Māori experiences of social housing in Ōtautahi Christchurch. Kōtuitui, 18(4), 352-369. doi: 10.1080/1177083X.2023.2180762
Fitt, H., Curl, A., el Orfi, Y., McKerchar, C., Berghan, J., Banwell, K., Dares, C., Russell, E., Coppens, A., … Faber, K. (2022, November). ACTIVATION: Towards equity in transport and transport research. Verbal presentation at the 4th Transport Research Network (TRN) Symposium, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Kingham, S., Fitt, H., Curl, A., Dares, C., Russell, E., McKerchar, C., … Berghan, J., & Williman, J. (2022). Can transport enhance community wellbeing and reduce social inequity in two contrasting communities in Christchurch. Proceedings of the New Zealand Geographical Society (NZGS) Conference. (pp. 57). Retrieved from https://www.nzgsconference2022.co.nz/
Phillips, C., Berghan, J., Clifford, A., Arahanga-Doyle, H., & Totoro, V. (2022). Mauriora and the environment: A Kaupapa Māori exploration of adventure therapy in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, 52(Suppl. 1), 144-159. doi: 10.1080/03036758.2022.2139731
Olin, C. V., Berghan, J., Thompson-Fawcett, M., Ivory, V., Witten, K., Howden-Chapman, P., … O'Sullivan, K. C., Keall, M., Ombler, J., & Hinckson, E. (2022). Inclusive and collective urban home spaces: The future of housing in Aotearoa New Zealand. Wellbeing, Space & Society, 3, 100080. doi: 10.1016/j.wss.2022.100080