PhD, MA (Dist. Translation), LLB, BA (Hons, French and German), PGDipArts (English Language), PGCert PH (endorsed in health systems)
Lecturer Health Systems
Teaches PUBH738 Global Health Law and Ethics, PUBH742 Global Health and International Health Systems
Contact details
Fax +64 4 389 4807
Email johanna.reidy@otago.ac.nz
Research interests and activities
Johanna teaches postgraduate papers in PUBH 738 Global Health Law and Ethics and PUBH 742 Global and International Health Systems. She also teaches health systems to fourth year medical students, and convenes an Introduction to the New Zealand Health System as part of the Department of Public Health's annual summer school.
Johanna works freelance in the health sector, and has experience working for the WHO, for a range of institutions in the New Zealand Health System. She trained as a lawyer and has worked in various roles in service contracting, planning, evaluation and programme management in DHBs.
Johanna enjoys working in public health because it allows her to combine her various interests in language, cultures, law and governance under one disciplinary umbrella.
Research interests include:
- Governance at the systems interface between primary care and public health
- Research methodologies, evidence and evaluation for innovations in primary health care
- Prioritisation of health systems and resources
- Johanna is the principal investigator on a pilot project entitled "Sameness as fairness? Exploring the impacts of school uniforms on health and equity in Aotearoa New Zealand”. It is funded by a University of Otago Research Grant (2023). Johanna and colleagues (Lucy Telfar Barnard and Michaela Pettie) are studying school uniform use in Aotearoa New Zealand and how it affects physical, mental, social and cultural wellbeing, and what makes uniform appealing and comfortable to wear. The project explores these ideas through a mix of surveys, student interviews and key stakeholder interviews (e.g. uniform manufacturers, designers, school principals). The project is due for completion in mid 2024.
Publications
Reidy, J., Pettie, M., & Telfar Barnard, L. (2026). The cost of belonging: School uniform affordability in Aotearoa New Zealand. Kōtuitui, 21(1), e70020. doi: 10.1002/kot2.70020 Journal - Research Article
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
Reidy, J., Bevin, N., Matheson, D., Rae, N., Keenan, R., Crampton, P., & Harris, M. (2025). Equity, power and resources in primary health care reform: Insights from Aotearoa New Zealand. International Journal for Equity in Health, 24, 124. doi: 10.1186/s12939-025-02463-w Journal - Research Article
Reidy, J., Matheson, D., Keenan, R., & Crampton, P. (2023). The ownership elephant is becoming a mammoth: A policy focus on ownership is needed to transform Aotearoa New Zealand's health system. New Zealand Medical Journal/Te ara tika o te hauora hapori, 136(1576), 74-81. Retrieved from https://journal.nzma.org.nz/ Journal - Research Other
Reidy, J. (2023). The cost of school uniforms is a barrier to education: But there are ways to level the playing field. The Conversation. Retrieved from https://theconversation.com/the-cost-of-school-uniforms-is-a-barrier-to-education-but-there-are-ways-to-level-the-playing-field-198153 Journal - Research Other