2026
Journal - Research Article
Buchanan, M., Yee, C., Gordon, A., Pierse, N., O'Sullivan, K. C., & Leigh, L. (2026). Disabled children’s capabilities in housing: A mixed-methods survey of parents and guardians. Wellbeing, Space & Society, 10, 100396. doi: 10.1016/j.wss.2026.100396
Chen, Z., O'Sullivan, K. C., & Pierse, N. (2026). Summer indoor overheating risks in temperate climates: A case study of vulnerable households in Aotearoa New Zealand. Urban Transitions, 5, 100023. doi: 10.1016/j.ubtr.2026.100023
2025
Journal - Research Article
Chen, Z., O'Sullivan, K. C., Pierse, N., Ericson, E., & Stephenson, K. (2025). Exploring health and wellbeing impacts of summer indoor overheating on public housing tenants: A mixed-methods study in Wellington, New Zealand. Energy & Buildings. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2025.116296
O'Sullivan, K. C., Dohig, R. K., Chen, Z., Jiang, T., Pierse, N., Riva, M., & Das, R. R. (2025). Heating up, cooling off: Exploring cooling behaviours at home in Aotearoa New Zealand. Energy Research & Social Science, 125, 104128. doi: 10.1016/j.erss.2025.104128
Chen, Z., O'Sullivan, K. C., Dohig, R. K., Pierse, N., Jiang, T., Riva, M., & Das, R. (2025). Identifying summer energy poverty and public health risks in a temperate climate. Climate Risk Management, 48, 100698. doi: 10.1016/j.crm.2025.100698
Dohig, R. K., O'Sullivan, K. C., Desmarais, A.-M., & Bierre, S. (2025). Staying cool at home: Cooling practices, barriers, and possibilities for disabled people's experiences of managing summer heat in Aotearoa New Zealand. Energy Research & Social Science, 120, 103895. doi: 10.1016/j.erss.2024.103895
Journal - Research Other
O'Sullivan, K. C., Buchanan, M., Leigh, L., Dohig, R. K., Pehi, T., Jenkins, M., Pierse, N., … Fraser, B. (2025). Working with community research partners to undertake sensitive public health interviews: A qualitative protocol to enhance rigour and safety. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 24. doi: 10.1177/16094069251337204
2024
Journal - Research Article
Pehi, T., Fraser, B., Ombler, J., Buchanan, M., O'Sullivan, K., Jiang, T., … Pierse, N. (2024). What about the kids? Identifying children in the housing support system in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Children & Society. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1111/chso.12930
Dohig, R. K., O'Sullivan, K. C., Telfar-Barnard, L., & Howden-Chapman, P. (2024). ‘I think life changed for everybody from the first lockdown’: Public housing tenants’ experiences of COVID-19 public health and social measures in Aotearoa New Zealand. International Journal of Housing Policy. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1080/19491247.2024.2438294
Grimes, A., Smith, C., O'Sullivan, K., Howden-Chapman, P., Le Gros, L., & Dohig, R. K. (2024). Housing tenure and subjective wellbeing: The importance of public housing. Applied Research in Quality of Life. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1007/s11482-024-10369-y
Riva, M., Debanné, L., Kutuka, S., Bertheussen, M., O'Sullivan, K. C., & Das, R. R. (2024). Energy poverty and well-being at the local level: Insights from a community-wide survey in Atlantic Canada. Energy Research & Social Science, 117, 103709. doi: 10.1016/j.erss.2024.103709
Penny, G., Logan, A., Olin, C. V., O'Sullivan, K. C., Robson, B., Pehi, T., Davies, C., Wall, T., & Howden-Chapman, P. (2024). A Whakawhanaungatanga Māori wellbeing model for housing and urban environments. Kōtuitui, 19(2), 105-131. doi: 10.1080/1177083X.2023.2293988
Journal - Research Other
O'Sullivan, K., Chen, Z., Fyfe, C., & Pierse, N. (2024). Energy poverty: The lowest-income households pay more in Aotearoa. The Briefing, (13 November). Retrieved from https://www.phcc.org.nz/briefing/energy-poverty-lowest-income-households-pay-more-aotearoa
Penny, G., O'Sullivan, K., & Logan-Riley, A. (2024). A Whakawhanaungatanga Māori Wellbeing Model: Guiding better housing and urban development. The Briefing, (30 January). Retrieved from https://www.phcc.org.nz/briefing/whakawhanaungatanga-maori-wellbeing-model-guiding-better-housing-and-urban-development
Howden-Chapman, P., Crane, J., Keall, M., Pierse, N., Baker, M. G., Cunningham, C., … Aspinall, C., Bennett, J., Bierre, S., … Chisholm, E., Davies, C., Fougere, G., Fraser, B., Fyfe, C., Grant, L., … Halley, C., Logan-Riley, A., … Olin, C., Ombler, J., O'Sullivan, K., Pehi, T., Penny, G., … Randal, E., … Robson, B., Ruru, J., Shaw, C., … Teariki, M. A., Telfar Barnard, L., Tiatia, R., Toy-Cronin, B., … Viggers, H., … Zhang, W. (2024). He Kāinga Oranga: Reflections on 25 years of measuring the improved health, wellbeing and sustainability of healthier housing. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, 54(3), 290-315. doi: 10.1080/03036758.2023.2170427
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
O'Sullivan, K., & Chen, Z. (2024). Raukawa energy innovation project baseline results: Understanding energy hardship in Raukawa. Proceedings of the 18th Otago Energy Research Centre (OERC) Annual Conference: Our Changing Relationship with Energy. Retrieved from https://www.otago.ac.nz/oerc/symposia
Chen, Z., O'Sullivan, K. C., & Pierse, N. (2024). Indoor overheating and summer energy poverty in public housing. Proceedings of the 18th Otago Energy Research Centre (OERC) Annual Conference: Our Changing Relationship with Energy. Retrieved from https://www.otago.ac.nz/oerc/symposia
O'Sullivan, K., Dohig, R., Watt, R., Buchanan, M., Pehi, T., & Squire, P. (2024). How can not-for-profit electricity retail contribute to wellbeing? A case study of Toast. Proceedings of the 18th Otago Energy Research Centre (OERC) Annual Conference: Our Changing Relationship with Energy. Retrieved from https://www.otago.ac.nz/oerc/symposia
2023
Chapter in Book - Research
O'Sullivan, K. C. (2023). Energy justice and health. In S. Bouzarovski, S. Fuller & T. G. Reames (Eds.), Handbook on energy justice. (pp. 65-78). Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar. doi: 10.4337/9781839102967.00012
Journal - Research Article
Riva, M., Kingunza Makasi, S., O'Sullivan, K. C., Das, R. R., Dufresne, P., Kaiser, D., & Breau, S. (2023). Energy poverty: An overlooked determinant of health and climate resilience in Canada. Canadian Journal of Public Health, 114, 422-431. doi: 10.17269/s41997-023-00741-0
Journal - Research Other
O'Sullivan, K. C., Olin, C. V., Pierse, N., & Howden-Chapman, P. (2023). Housing: The key infrastructure to achieving health and wellbeing in urban environments. Oxford Open Infrastructure & Health, 1, ouad001. doi: 10.1093/ooih/ouad001
O'Sullivan, K., Telfar-Barnard, L., & Dohig, R. (2023). Consumer Care Guidelines for electricity retailers must be mandatory. The Briefing, (15 May). Retrieved from https://www.phcc.org.nz/briefing/consumer-care-guidelines-electricity-retailers-must-be-mandatory
O'Sullivan, K. (2023). Unaffordable home heating increases risk of severe mental distress. The Briefing, (30 March). Retrieved from https://www.phcc.org.nz/briefing/unaffordable-home-heating-increases-risk-severe-mental-distress
O'Sullivan, K. C. (2023). Becoming unable to afford adequate home heating is associated with increased risk of severe mental distress. Evidence-Based Nursing, 314, 115461. doi: 10.1016/j. socscimed.2022.115461
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Grimes, A., Smith, C., O'Sullivan, K., & Howden-Chapman, P. (2023). Micro-geography and public housing tenant wellbeing. Proceedings of the 62nd European Regional Science Association (ERSA) Congress: Urban Challenges and Sustainable Technological Revolution. Retrieved from https://ersa.eventsair.com/ersa2023
Working Paper; Discussion Paper; Technical Report
Grimes, A., Smith, C., O'Sullivan, K., Howden-Chapman, P., Le Gros, L., & Dohig, R. K. (2023). Micro-geography and public housing tenant wellbeing [Motu Working Paper 23-08]. Wellington, New Zealand: Motu Economic and Public Policy Research. Retrieved from https://www.motu.nz/our-research/wellbeing-and-macroeconomics/well-being-and-sustainability-measures/micro-geography-and-public-tenant-wellbeing/
2022
Chapter in Book - Research
Siri, J. G., Indvik, K. B., & O'Sullivan, K. C. (2022). Community resilience and healthy places. In N. Botchwey, A. L. Dannenberg & H. Frumkin (Eds.), Making healthy places. (2nd ed.) (pp. 321-337). Washington DC: Island Press. doi: 10.5822/978-1-64283-158-0
Journal - Research Article
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
Shorter, C., Crane, J., Barnes, P., Kang, J., Honeywill, C., Robertson, O., O'Sullivan, K., Telfar-Barnard, L., Pierse, N., & Howden-Chapman, P. (2022). The cost of achieving healthy temperatures in children's bedrooms: Evidence from New Zealand. Energy Policy, 164, 112861. doi: 10.1016/j.enpol.2022.112861
Harris Clark, I. K., Chun, S., O'Sullivan, K. C., & Pierse, N. (2022). Energy poverty among tertiary students in Aotearoa New Zealand. Energies, 15, 76. doi: 10.3390/en15010076
2021
Chapter in Book - Research
von Benzon, N., & O'Sullivan, K. (2021). Analysing 'messy' data. In N. von Benzon, M. Holton, C. Wilkinson & S. Wilkinson (Eds.), Creative methods for human geographers. (pp. 351-364). London, UK: Sage.
Journal - Research Article
Riva, M., Kingunza Makasi, S., Dufresne, P., O'Sullivan, K., & Toth, M. (2021). Energy poverty in Canada: Prevalence, social and spatial distribution, and implications for research and policy. Energy Research & Social Science, 81, 102237. doi: 10.1016/j.erss.2021.102237
Fong, S. Y., & O'Sullivan, K. C. (2021). The experience of energy poverty among young adults living in subdivided units in Hong Kong: Evidence from a phenomenological study. Wellbeing, Space & Society, 2, 100054. doi: 10.1016/j.wss.2021.100054
Journal - Research Other
O'Sullivan, K., & Viggers, H. (2021). Six ways to help fix energy hardship in New Zealand. Policy Quarterly, 17(4), 65-72. doi: 10.26686/pq.v17i4.7323
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Rotmann, S., Ambrose, A., O'Sullivan, K., Karlin, B., Forster, H., & Mundaca, L. (2021). To what extent has Covid-19 impacted hard-to-reach energy audiences? [Extended abstract]. Proceedings of BEHAVE 2020-2021: The 6th European Conference on Behaviour Change for Energy Efficiency. (pp. 193-196). Retrieved from http://www.energyefficiencycentre.org
Rotmann, S., Mundaca, L., Ambrose, A., O'Sullivan, K., & Ashby, K. V. (2021). An in-depth review of the literature on 'hard-to-reach' energy users [Extended abstract]. In X. Zhu & G. P. Dias (Eds.), Proceedings of BEHAVE 2020-2021: The 6th European Conference on Behaviour Change for Energy Efficiency. (pp. 178-181). Retrieved from http://www.energyefficiencycentre.org
2020
Journal - Research Article
Teariki, M. A., Tiatia, R., O'Sullivan, K., Puloka, V., Signal, L., Shearer, I., & Howden-Chapman, P. (2020). Beyond home: Exploring energy poverty among youth in four diverse Pacific island states. Energy Research & Social Science, 70, 101638. doi: 10.1016/j.erss.2020.101638
Journal - Research Other
O'Sullivan, K. C., & Chisholm, E. (2020). Baby it's hot outside: Balancing health risks and energy efficiency when parenting during extreme heat events. Energy Research & Social Science, 66, 101480. doi: 10.1016/j.erss.2020.101480
2019
Chapter in Book - Research
O'Sullivan, K. C. (2019). Health impacts of energy poverty and cold indoor temperature. In J. Nriagu (Ed.), Encyclopedia of environmental health. (2nd ed.) (pp. 436-443). Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-409548-9.11566-0
2018
Chapter in Book - Research
O'Sullivan, K. C., Viggers, H., & Howden-Chapman, P. (2018). The value of experience: Including young people in energy poverty research. In N. Simcock, H. Thomson, S. Petrova & S. Bouzarovski (Eds.), Energy poverty and vulnerability: A global perspective. (pp. 188-201). Abingdon, UK: Routledge.
Other Research Output
Cook, H. and co-signatories, including Aspinall, C., Baker, M., Ball, J., Brewer, N., Cleghorn, C., Cunningham, R., Donovan, S., D'Souza, A., Edwards, R., Fraser, B., Gage, R., Hoek, J., Howden-Chapman, P., Hurley, K., Kvalsvig, A., Kvizhinadze, G., Lawson-Te Aho, K., McIntyre, M. E., Ombler, J., O'Sullivan, K., Pierse, N., Purdie, N., Rangiwhetu, L., Reidy, J., Russel, M., Sarfati, D., Shaw, C., Signal, L., Stanley, J., Thornley, L., Viggers, H., White, M., Wilson, N., and Zhang, W. (2018). Revision of the Abortion Law. Submission to New Zealand Parliament, Wellington, New Zealand. [Government Submission].
2017
Chapter in Book - Research
Howden-Chapman, P., Chisholm, E., Telfar Barnard, L., Viggers, H., O'Sullivan, K., Bennett, J., Bierre, S., Preval, N., Randal, E., Tiatia, R., Ombler, J., Amore, K., Rivera-Muñoz, G., … Davies, C., Aspinall, C., Oliver, J., Baker, M., Keall, M., … Crane, J., & Pierse, N. (2017). Housing, energy and health in resilient cities. In P. Howden-Chapman, L. Early & J. Ombler (Eds.), Cities in New Zealand: Preferences, patterns and possibilities. (pp. 95-106). Wellington, New Zealand: Steele Roberts Aotearoa.
Journal - Research Article
Chisholm, E., & O'Sullivan, K. (2017). Using Twitter to explore (un)healthy housing: Learning from the #Characterbuildings Campaign in New Zealand. International Journal of Environmental Research & Public Health, 14(11), 1424. doi: 10.3390/ijerph14111424
O'Sullivan, K., & Howden-Chapman, P. (2017). Mixing methods, maximising results: Use of mixed methods research to investigate policy solutions for fuel poverty and energy vulnerability. Indoor & Built Environment, 26(7), 1009-1017. doi: 10.1177/1420326X17707327
O'Sullivan, K. C., Howden-Chapman, P., Sim, D., Stanley, J., Rowan, R. L., Harris Clark, I. K., … the Waiopehu College 2015 Research Team. (2017). Cool? Young people investigate living in cold housing and fuel poverty: A mixed methods action research study. SSM Population Health, 3, 66-74. doi: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2016.12.006
Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)
O'Sullivan, K. C. (2017, April). Energy use when the home is the office: An exploratory interview study. Poster session presented at the First International Conference on Energy Research and Social Science, Sitges, Spain.
2016
Journal - Research Article
O'Sullivan, K. C., Stanley, J., Fougere, G., & Howden-Chapman, P. (2016). Heating practices and self-disconnection among electricity prepayment meter consumers in New Zealand: A follow-up survey. Utilities Policy, 41, 139-147. doi: 10.1016/j.jup.2016.07.002
O'Sullivan, K., Telfar Barnard, L., Viggers, H., & Howden-Chapman, P. (2016). Child and youth fuel poverty: Assessing the known and unknown. People, Place & Policy, 10(1), 77-87. doi: 10.3351/ppp.0010.0001.0006
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
O'Sullivan, K., Howden-Chapman, P., and the Cool? 2015 Research Team. (2016). Cool young things: Youth research peer experiences of energy inefficient homes. Proceedings of the SENIX Conference: The Role of Social Sciences in a Low-Carbon Energy Mix. (pp. 11). Retrieved from https://www.delegia.com/app/attendee/default.asp?PageId=41698&MenuItemId=37285&ProjectId=7056
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
O'Sullivan, K. C., Viggers, H., Howden-Chapman, P., and Waiopehu College Social Action Research Team 2016. (2016, September). Cool at school? Pilot study: Mixed methods action research with youth to investigate the indoor environments of New Zealand classrooms. Verbal presentation at the 4th European Conference on Behaviour and Energy Efficiency (Behave), Coimbra, Portugal.
O'Sullivan, K. (2016, July). Youthful energy: Finding opportunities for improving thermal comfort through energy transition with youth-led participatory research. Verbal presentation at the Energy Cultures Conference: Sustainable Energy Futures: Understanding Behaviour and Supporting Transitions, Wellington, New Zealand.
2015
Journal - Research Article
Howden-Chapman, P., O'Sullivan, K., Bierre, S., Chisholm, E., Hamer-Adams, A., Ombler, J., & Amore, K. (2015). What effect will the 2015 budget have on housing? Policy Quarterly, 11(3), 13-19.
O'Sullivan, K. C., Howden-Chapman, P. L., & Fougere, G. M. (2015). Fuel poverty, policy, and equity in New Zealand: The promise of prepayment metering. Energy Research & Social Science, 7, 99-107. doi: 10.1016/j.erss.2015.03.008
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
O'Sullivan, K., & Howden-Chapman, P. (2015, June). Cool? Collaborating with youth to explore fuel poverty: Participation, pitfalls, and progress. Verbal presentation at the 3rd International Conference of the International Childhood and Youth Research Network: Theory and Method in Child & Youth Research, Nicosia, Cyprus.
2014
Journal - Research Article
O'Sullivan, K. C., Viggers, H. E., & Howden-Chapman, P. L. (2014). The influence of electricity prepayment meter use on household energy behaviour. Sustainable Cities & Society, 13, 182-191. doi: 10.1016/j.scs.2013.10.004
2013
Journal - Research Article
O'Sullivan, K. C., Howden-Chapman, P. L., Stanley, J., & Hales, S. (2013). Kids in the cold: Outcomes for New Zealand households with children using prepayment metering for electricity. New Zealand Medical Journal, 126(1371). Retrieved from http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal
O'Sullivan, K. C., Howden-Chapman, P. L., Fougere, G. M., Hales, S., & Stanley, J. (2013). Empowered? Examining self-disconnection in a postal survey of electricity prepayment meter consumers in New Zealand. Energy Policy, 52, 277-287. doi: 10.1016/j.enpol.2012.09.020
Awarded Doctoral Degree
O'Sullivan, K. C. (2013). Power and control: A multiphase mixed methods investigation of prepayment metering and fuel poverty in New Zealand (PhD). University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10523/4451
2012
Journal - Research Article
O'Sullivan, K. C., Howden-Chapman, P. L., & Fougere, G. (2012). Death by disconnection: The missing public health voice in newspaper coverage of a fuel poverty-related death. Kōtuitui, 7(1), 51-60. doi: 10.1080/1177083x.2012.672434
Howden-Chapman, P., Viggers, H., Chapman, R., O'Sullivan, K., Telfar Barnard, L., & Lloyd, B. (2012). Tackling cold housing and fuel poverty in New Zealand: A review of policies, research, and health impacts. Energy Policy, 49, 134-142. doi: 10.1016/j.enpol.2011.09.044
2011
Journal - Research Article
O'Sullivan, K. C., Howden-Chapman, P. L., & Fougere, G. (2011). Making the connection: The relationship between fuel poverty, electricity disconnection, and prepayment metering. Energy Policy, 39(2), 733-741. doi: 10.1016/j.enpol.2010.10.046
2009
Journal - Research Article
Howden-Chapman, P., Viggers, H., Chapman, R., O'Dea, D. J., Free, S., & O'Sullivan, K. (2009). Warm homes: Drivers of the demand for heating in the residential sector in New Zealand. Energy Policy, 37(9), 3387-3399. doi: 10.1016/j.enpol.2008.12.023
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
O'Sullivan, K. (2009, April). Fuel poverty in NZ. Verbal presentation at the National Energy Research Institute Second Energy Research Conference: NERI'09, Wellington, New Zealand.
