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Louise signal photoPhD, Dip Com PsychDirector of HePPRU

Teaches PUBH713 Society, Health & Health Promotion, PUBH744 Healthy Public Policy

Contact details

Tel +64 4 385 5541 ext 6477
Email louise.signal@otago.ac.nz

Research interests and activities

Professor Louise Signal is a Director of the Health Promotion and Policy Research Unit at the University of Otago, Wellington as well as Co-Director of Te Rōpū Rangahau ō Te Kāhui Matepukupuku: Cancer Society Research Collaboration. Louise is a social scientist with a PhD in Community Health from the University of Toronto. She has been a member of the Department of Public Health for over 20 years and has previous experience working at central and local government in health promotion and community development.

Professor Signal's research focuses on identifying and addressing environmental determinants of health. Her research has a strong focus on equity for Māori, Pacific, and low-income communities. Key research areas include the politics of health and health equity, obesity prevention, and addressing harm from alcohol and sun exposure. Her research utilises qualitative research methods, policy research and mixed method research design. Professor Signal was principal investigator on an innovative research project that studied the world children live in – Kids' Cam, which used automated cameras to record children's worlds.

Publications

Worters, T., McKerchar, C., Gage, R., Reidy, J., & Signal, L. (2026). Piecing together piecemeal regulation: Stakeholder insights into joint statutory regulation to reduce children's unhealthy commodity marketing exposure in Aotearoa New Zealand. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 37(2), e70153. doi: 10.1002/hpja.70153 Journal - Research Article

McNaughton, E., Smith, M., Cleghorn, C., & Signal, L. (2026). Real-time recording: A scoping review of methods to study children's real-time exposure to food and food marketing online. Appetite, 216, 108275. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2025.108275 Journal - Research Other

Watkins, L., & Signal, L. (2025). Commodifying childhood: NZ children see marketing for unhealthy products 76 times a day. The Conversation, (21 August). Retrieved from https://theconversation.com/commodifying-childhood-nz-children-see-marketing-for-unhealthy-products-76-times-a-day-263418 Journal - Research Other

Smith, M. B., Signal, L., Gage, R., & D'Souza, A. (2025). Children’s exposure to gambling and gambling marketing: A report on the key findings for the New Zealand Ministry of Health. Commissioned by New Zealand Ministry of Health. Wellington, New Zealand: University of Otago. 139p. Retrieved from https://www.health.govt.nz/publications/childrens-exposure-to-gambling-and-gambling-marketing Commissioned Report for External Body

Watkins, L., Aitken, R., Gage, R., & Signal, L. (2025). Recording children’s exposure to online advertising: Kids Online Aotearoa. Proceedings of the 57th Academy of Marketing Conference (AM): Saints and Scholars. (pp. 68-69). Cork, Ireland: University College Cork. Retrieved from https://academyofmarketing.org Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

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