Otago appoints Acting Vice-Chancellor
Monday 21 December 2020
Professor Helen Nicholson will take up the role of Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Otago in 2021.
He Kete Kōrero – Summer 2020
Wednesday 16 December 2020
Welcome to the Summer 2020 edition of He Kete Kōrero, with the latest news from the Wellington campus.
Marsden Grants for Wellington research
Monday 14 December 2020
Three researchers at the University of Otago, Wellington, have received grants from the Marsden Fund to conduct research into topics ranging from tissue grafting to youth substance use to energy use in a warming world.
Radiation Therapy scholarship a special accomplishment
Monday 14 December 2020
The first thing Jesse Miller did when he found out he’d received the 2019 Angela Allen Travelling Scholarship for top Bachelor of Radiation Therapy graduate was call his mum.
Otago announces 26 new Professors
Tuesday 8 December 2020
Twenty-six University of Otago academics have been promoted to the position of professor this year.
Use of controversial restraints varies wildly across the Pacific – Otago-led study reveals
Friday 4 December 2020
Despite being considered a form of torture, and policies to reduce or abolish it in place, the use of mechanical restraints in psychiatric settings continues, a University of Otago-led study shows.
COVID-19 unemployment may bring increased risk of heart disease
Friday 4 December 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic-induced recession and rising unemployment may increase the occurrence of heart disease in New Zealand, particularly in middle-aged men.
Travel Medicine in a time of COVID
Thursday 3 December 2020
With COVID-19 vaccines now on the horizon, a travel doctor and convenor of the travel medicine programme at the University of Otago, Wellington, is urging general practice staff to undertake further study to upgrade their travel medicine skills.
Significantly worse outcomes after stroke for rural New Zealanders and Māori, research finds
Friday 20 November 2020
New Zealanders who live outside the major urban centres are significantly more likely to experience adverse long-term health outcomes after a stroke than those managed in urban hospitals, research from the University of Otago, Wellington has found.
Bars facilitating smoking in young adults, study shows
Tuesday 17 November 2020
Designated outdoor smoking areas in bars are facilitating experimentation and tobacco use among young adults, a new study has found.
Otago researchers secure $17.5m in Marsden funding
Tuesday 10 November 2020
University of Otago researchers have secured $17.5 million in Marsden funding for 30 world-class research projects.
Significant psychological toll from COVID-19 lockdown
Thursday 5 November 2020
Research published today has confirmed the nationwide Alert Level 4 COVID-19 lockdown had a significant toll on New Zealanders’ well-being, especially for younger people – but the results were not all negative.
‘Epidemic’ of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder among Māori to come under spotlight
Friday 30 October 2020
A University of Otago researcher has been awarded a grant to undertake vital research on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) which she says disproportionately affects Māori in epidemic proportions.
Otago health careers development boosted by $2.7 million
Thursday 29 October 2020
The work of 22 University of Otago researchers has been recognised with Career Development Awards from the Health Research Council.
Eliminating COVID-19: what the world can learn from NZ and Taiwan
Thursday 22 October 2020
Both Taiwan and New Zealand have successfully eliminated COVID-19 with world-leading pandemic responses. By taking a particularly proactive approach, Taiwan’s response was probably the most effective and least disruptive of any country’s, researchers say.
Otago appoints new head of External Engagement
Wednesday 14 October 2020
Leading historian Professor Tony Ballantyne, FRSNZ, has accepted a new role at the University of Otago as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (External Engagement), effective from next year.
School zoning could increase adolescent exercise rates, Otago researcher
Monday 12 October 2020
If effective school zoning policies were widely applied, more adolescents would get valuable exercise walking or cycling to their nearest school, an Otago researcher says.
Public health experts urge a ‘yes’ vote in cannabis referendum
Friday 9 October 2020
Leading specialists in addiction treatment, public health, health promotion and epidemiology are calling on New Zealanders to vote for cannabis law reform in the current referendum.
Otago’s first female Vice-Chancellor to leave after a decade
Thursday 8 October 2020
The University of Otago announced this afternoon that Professor Harlene Hayne is leaving her role as Vice-Chancellor in April 2021. Professor Hayne has been appointed to the role of Vice-Chancellor at Curtin University in Perth, Western Australia.
Ones to Watch: Gisela Kristono
Monday 5 October 2020
Even before she came to Otago Gisela Kristono always knew she wanted to help people.
Self-harm content on Instagram: “self-harm or self-help?”
Wednesday 23 September 2020
Instagram users who post self-harm content online are choosing ambiguous hashtags in an attempt to circumvent the social media platform’s ban on harmful content, a researcher at the University of Otago, Wellington, has found.
Smokers increasingly using e-cigarettes to quit, survey shows
Friday 18 September 2020
People who smoke are increasingly using e-cigarettes to try to quit smoking, a study by researchers at the University of Otago, Wellington, has found.
Otago University medical admission joint statement
Tuesday 15 September 2020
Much has been said of late about Medical School admissions at the University of Otago and our Mirror on Society Policy.
Funding success for Otago in 2020 Health Research Council grants
Tuesday 15 September 2020
Ten University of Otago proposals have been awarded funding through the Health Research Council’s (HRC) new Health Delivery Research Investment round. The 32 research grants are the first of two funding announcements for the HRC’s new Health Delivery Research portfolio.
Otago research rewarded with NZ$27.4 million in Endeavour Fund grants
Friday 11 September 2020
Two University of Otago proposals have been awarded over NZ$27 million in the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s (MBIE) Endeavour Fund 2020 grants.
6 months after New Zealand’s first COVID-19 case, it’s time for a more strategic approach.
Thursday 27 August 2020
This week marks six months since New Zealand’s first COVID-19 case was identified on February 26.
He Kete Kōrero – Spring 2020
Monday 24 August 2020
Welcome to the Spring 2020 edition of He Kete Kōrero with the latest news from the Wellington campus.
High fructose diet in pregnancy impacts metabolism of offspring, study finds
Tuesday 18 August 2020
An increased level of fructose intake during pregnancy can cause significant changes in maternal metabolic function and milk composition and alter the metabolism of their offspring, researchers from the University of Otago, Wellington, have found.
Fulbright honours to eight University of Otago graduates
Thursday 6 August 2020
Eight University of Otago graduates from across the University have been named Fulbright New Zealand award winners.
Otago experts deemed ‘critic and conscience’ of society
Monday 3 August 2020
For the first time, the Gama Foundation has recognised two people at once for their efforts in being the ‘Critic and Conscience of Society’ – both University of Otago academic staff members.
Media coverage fostered support for gun control in wake of mosque shootings, study finds
Tuesday 28 July 2020
Media coverage of the March 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings contributed to an increase in public support for gun control, a study by researchers at the University of Otago, Wellington has found.
Smokers support Smokefree 2025 goal and measures to help achieve it
Wednesday 8 July 2020
Most people who smoke or have recently quit smoking support New Zealand’s goal of becoming a smokefree nation by 2025, researchers at the University of Otago, Wellington have found.
Food taxes and subsidies would bring major health gains, study shows
Wednesday 1 July 2020
A consumer tax on the saturated fat, salt and sugar content of food, accompanied by a 20 per cent subsidy on fruit and vegetables, would bring major benefits for the health sector, researchers from Otago, Auckland and Melbourne Universities say.
Otago scientists secure more than $26m for health research
Tuesday 30 June 2020
University of Otago, Wellington infectious diseases expert Professor Michael Baker has received almost $5 million from the Health Research Council for a programme investigating the connection between infectious diseases and long-term conditions, something he was planning well prior to the outbreak of Covid-19.
NZ’s long history of decapitations and paint attacks on public statues: new study
Tuesday 16 June 2020
Controversy over public statues is nothing new, with protestors taking to New Zealand’s statues with a range of weapons including an axe, a concrete cutter and a hammer over recent decades, a study by researchers from the University of Otago, Wellington, has found.
Fuel walking and cycling with low carbon diets, researchers say
Friday 12 June 2020
Walking and cycling have many benefits and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but researchers say we need to think about what people eat to fuel their walking and cycling.
Pūtea Tautoko provides vital support for University of Otago students
Thursday 11 June 2020
Just a few weeks since it was launched, the University of Otago student financial relief fund Pūtea Tautoko has provided NZD$659,156 in grants to support students facing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Women generate lower travel-related greenhouse gas emissions, study finds
Wednesday 10 June 2020
Women use more diverse modes of travel and generate lower greenhouse gas emissions than men, despite men being more than twice as likely to travel by bike, a New Zealand study has found.
New Zealand hits zero active coronavirus cases. Here are 5 measures to keep it that way
Monday 8 June 2020
Today, for the first time since February 28, New Zealand has no active cases of COVID-19.
University offers training in refugee and migrant health
Friday 5 June 2020
A post-graduate course on refugee and migrant health being run by the University of Otago, Wellington is offering primary health care professionals the opportunity to improve their training in the area, ahead of a likely increase in the number of refugees coming to the country.
Protecting young people from smoking uptake as the tobacco industry targets a new generation
Friday 29 May 2020
The tobacco industry is targeting a new generation of smokers with sophisticated marketing designed to associate smoking with rebellion, social prestige and attractiveness, researchers from the tobacco control research centre ASPIRE 2025, at the University of Otago, say.
New insights into vaping uptake among Māori and Pacific peoples
Monday 25 May 2020
Māori and Pasifika who have not been able to quit smoking may need more support to move from smoking to vaping, researchers from the University of Otago and Māori public health collective Hāpai Te Hauora have found.
Teens shocked by suicide portrayal in ‘13 Reasons Why’ study finds
Tuesday 19 May 2020
Teenagers interviewed about their views on the suicide portrayed in the controversial Netflix series 13 Reasons Why report being shocked by the graphic detail of the scene, which they saw as excessive, researchers from the University of Otago, Wellington, have found.
Otago welcomes students back, seeking “collective responsibility”
Friday 15 May 2020
The University of Otago is delighted to welcome back students to all its campuses and colleges after they played a major role, and made their own sacrifices, when the nation united against COVID-19.
COVID-19 catalyst for significant change in general practice: Otago experts
Monday 11 May 2020
COVID-19 may well be the catalyst for significant change in how general practice operates in New Zealand in future, according to University of Otago general practice experts.
He Kete Kōrero – Autumn 2020
Tuesday 5 May 2020
Welcome to the Autumn 2020 edition of He Kete Kōrero, with recent highlights from the Wellington campus.
University of Otago announces Pūtea Tautoko support fund for students
Friday 24 April 2020
The University of Otago is committing $1.5 million as an initial investment to support Otago students facing financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 global outbreak.
Otago researchers making major contribution to Covid-19 response
Friday 17 April 2020
A University of Otago molecular biologist has received new Government funding of $235,746 for Covid-19 related research to develop an effective point-of-care test for the infectious disease.
Smokers turned off by plain packs, survey shows
Wednesday 15 April 2020
Plain packaging is making tobacco products less appealing and warning labels more noticeable, researchers at the University of Otago, Wellington, have found.
Tougher rules needed to prevent lead poisoning of shooters: researcher
Wednesday 15 April 2020
The Government must impose tougher regulations on indoor firing ranges to keep shooters and their families safe from lead poisoning, says a public health researcher at the University of Otago, Wellington.
Self-isolating for coronavirus is impossible for tens of thousands of New Zealanders – unless we help them fast
Friday 27 March 2020
In less than 48 hours, all people in New Zealand will have to self-isolate, unless they are essential service workers. This is our best chance to stop the spread of COVID-19.
'Overjoyed': a leading health expert on New Zealand's coronavirus shutdown, and the challenging weeks ahead
Tuesday 24 March 2020
Professor Michael Baker on New Zealand’s coronavirus shutdown, and the challenging weeks ahead
NZ must urgently build contact tracing for COVID-19 to make nationwide lockdown worthwhile, infectious diseases expert says
Tuesday 24 March 2020
New Zealand must urgently build its capacity for COVID-19 case identification and contact tracing capacity, as the country goes into ‘lockdown’, Dr Ayesha Verrall, an infectious diseases doctor and epidemiologist at the University of Otago, Wellington, says.
Why New Zealand needs to continue decisive action to contain coronavirus
Friday 20 March 2020
With some of the toughest border restrictions and a newly-announced NZ$500 million boost to health services, New Zealand is among a small number of countries with a strategy to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.
Evidence clearly favours taxing sugary drinks – new study
Friday 13 March 2020
New Zealand should follow the UK and more than 30 other countries in introducing a tax on sugary drinks to tackle obesity and reduce deaths from chronic diseases, leading researchers say.
Misinformation on vaccines readily available online, study finds
Wednesday 11 March 2020
Parents researching childhood vaccinations online are likely to encounter significant levels of negative information, researchers at the University of Otago, Wellington, have found.
New Zealand must learn lessons from China’s success in managing Covid-19
Monday 9 March 2020
While the world has been focused on Covid-19’s spread to new countries many might not have noticed that the outbreak in China is slowly being brought under control.
COVID-19 has now reached New Zealand. How prepared is it to deal with a pandemic?
Wednesday 4 March 2020
New Zealand joined 48 other countries affected by the novel coronavirus last week when health authorities confirmed the first COVID-19 case.
Damp and mouldy housing new measure in latest deprivation index
Thursday 30 January 2020
Damp and mouldy housing has been included as an indicator of socioeconomic deprivation in New Zealand by University of Otago researchers developing the latest version of the New Zealand Index of Socioeconomic Deprivation (NZDep2018).
What does the coronavirus epidemic mean for New Zealand?
Wednesday 29 January 2020
Unlike armed conflict, here we are fighting an external threat to global health where collaboration and sharing of information benefits all nations.
Cycling to work? You may live longer
Wednesday 29 January 2020
People who cycle to work have a lower risk of dying, a New Zealand study has found.
Untimely access to diagnosis not main reason why Māori are dying of cancer: Otago research
Monday 20 January 2020
Māori have poorer access to early diagnosis for some key cancers including breast and colorectal cancers though, this is not the case for all cancers and is not necessarily why more Māori are dying of cancer, new University of Otago research shows.
Best practice treatments for chronic pain overlooked as media focus on opioids and medicinal cannabis
Friday 17 January 2020
Media reports on chronic pain are focusing on treatments involving opioids and cannabis at the expense of best practice non-drug treatments, researchers have found.
Call for volunteers as development of diabetes supplement progresses
Monday 13 January 2020
Development of an innovative dietary supplement to combat diabetes with a natural extract derived from the dahlia plant has reached a second round of human trials, with volunteers required in the Wellington region.
He Kete Kōrero – Summer 2019
Wednesday 18 December 2019
Welcome to the Summer 2019–2020 edition of He Kete Kōrero, with recent highlights from the Wellington campus.
Remove profit motive from tobacco to deal with mass addiction, researchers urge
Tuesday 17 December 2019
Governments worldwide need to create non-profit supply systems for tobacco and nicotine products because of their potential to cause significant and avoidable harm, researchers from the University of Otago say.
Sharp drop in birth rate as a result of miscarriages in 1918 flu pandemic, study finds
Monday 16 December 2019
The 1918 influenza pandemic in New Zealand resulted in thousands of fewer births, particularly in the 1919 year, largely because of miscarriages from influenza infection during pregnancy, researchers have found.
30 new Professors for the University of Otago
Tuesday 10 December 2019
Thirty University of Otago academics have been promoted to the position of professor this year.
Nineteen new Associate Professors for Health Sciences
Friday 6 December 2019
A swathe of the University of Otago Division of Health Science’s finest staff have been promoted to Associate Professor.
Uncontrolled online marketing of e-cigarettes putting youth at risk, study finds
Friday 29 November 2019
Only 10 per cent of New Zealand websites selling vaping products require proof of age before purchase, researchers from the University of Otago, Wellington, have found.
Real world focus for postgrad primary health care curriculum
Tuesday 26 November 2019
The convenor of refreshed postgraduate qualifications in primary health care at the University of Otago, Wellington, has brought years of experience working as a field medic for Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) in such global hotspots as Afghanistan and Sierra Leone – as well as on-the-ground work in rural and urban New Zealand - to the task.
Spirituality and Mental Health Symposium
Thursday 21 November 2019
A symposium being held at the University of Otago, Wellington on Monday 25 November offers a chance to tackle some of life’s most fundamental questions, including the nature of reality and the meaning of life.
Call for a new funded palliative care model as more Kiwis admitted to rest homes to die
Thursday 14 November 2019
Increasing pressure on both public hospitals and hospices is resulting in more patients being “admitted-to-die” into aged residential care facilities (rest homes), which are not typically set up to provide specialist palliative care services.
Otago researchers recipients of inaugural $3m Marsden Fund Award
Tuesday 5 November 2019
University of Otago researchers are the recipients of an inaugural Marsden Fund Council Award worth $3 million to investigate genetic predisposition to metabolic diseases like diabetes and gout among Pacific people.
$3.8 million to Otago researchers in Career Development Awards
Thursday 31 October 2019
The Health Research Council has awarded 23 University of Otago researchers $3.8 million in Career Development Awards.
Significant association between use of long-acting contraceptives and unprecedented decline in abortion rate, study finds
Tuesday 29 October 2019
A shift towards the use of long-acting reversible contraceptives, particularly by young women, is associated with declining abortion rates in New Zealand, new research has found.
New Otago Medical School Dean brings international expertise
Tuesday 8 October 2019
A prominent neuroradiologist and nuclear medicine physician with a wealth of international experience has been named the new Dean of the University of Otago medical school.
Translational Research Grant applications sought
Friday 4 October 2019
All academic staff in the Division of Health Sciences are eligible to apply for the Translational Research Grant.
Cannabidiol gel reduces seizures in children with severe epilepsy, Australasian trial shows
Wednesday 2 October 2019
A cannabidiol gel has been shown to reduce epileptic seizures in children in a clinical trial conducted in New Zealand and Australia.
New Zealand could be lifeboat to save humanity from extinction in a catastrophic pandemic, researchers say
Tuesday 1 October 2019
New Zealand, Australia and Iceland could act as island refuges to save humanity from extinction in the event of a catastrophic global pandemic, researchers have found.
Seven inaugural Sesquicentennial Distinguished Chair appointments to mark 150th
Monday 30 September 2019
In a new initiative, the University is celebrating its internationally acclaimed scholars by creating a prestigious new role - the Sesquicentennial Distinguished Chair (Poutoko Taiea).
Through the haze: smoke-free laws failing to protect bar staff, patrons
Monday 23 September 2019
Patrons and workers continue to be exposed to hazardous tobacco smoke in bars, restaurants and cafés, despite legislation designed to protect them, researchers have found.
Remove nicotine from cigarettes, smokers say
Monday 16 September 2019
New Zealand smokers overwhelmingly support removing the nicotine from cigarettes to make them less addictive, a national survey has found.
Smokers concealing cigarette packs’ graphic warnings, study finds
Tuesday 10 September 2019
Smokers are less likely to display packs of cigarettes and tobacco on tables at cafés and bars now that standardised packs with larger graphic health warnings have been introduced, according to a new study.
He Kete Kōrero – Spring 2019
Monday 9 September 2019
The Spring 2019 edition of the University of Otago, Wellington newsletter
Otago academic to head new national cancer strategy
Monday 2 September 2019
The new interim National Director of Cancer Control, University of Otago academic Professor Diana Sarfati, believes lives will be saved as a result of the new National Cancer Action Plan.
New research collaboration to fight cancer in New Zealand
Tuesday 20 August 2019
University of Otago cancer researchers are coming together in a new collaboration awarded a $2 million grant by the Cancer Society in a bid to better tackle a leading cause of death in New Zealand.
Teenagers say ‘nope’ to dope
Friday 16 August 2019
New research from the University of Otago, Wellington, has shed light on the declining use of cannabis use by teens.
Healthier homes could cut hospital stays for young children, researchers find
Thursday 15 August 2019
Almost 20 per cent of hospital admissions of young children with acute respiratory infections could be prevented if their houses were free from damp and mould, researchers have found.
Moving house related to behavioural difficulties in four-year-olds, study finds
Tuesday 13 August 2019
Moving house is linked with increases in emotional and behavioural difficulties in four-year-olds, with the problems compounding each time a family moves, researchers have found.
Old vaccine brings new surprises
Friday 19 July 2019
New research about an old vaccine – one that has been in use for nearly 100 years – has not only shown how effective it is but also suggests it improves our immune response to a wider range of bacteria than originally intended.
Massive potential health gains in switching to active transport – Otago study
Thursday 18 July 2019
Swapping short car trips for walking or biking could achieve as much health gain as ongoing tobacco tax increases, according to a study from the University of Otago, Wellington.
New data on e-cigarette use among New Zealand adults
Monday 15 July 2019
Around one in six New Zealand adults have tried e-cigarettes but only 2 per cent are using them currently, a national survey has found.
Eliminating waiting lists for cataract surgery prevents falls and is cost effective
Thursday 4 July 2019
Eliminating waiting times for cataract surgery would be a cost-effective health system intervention, largely driven by the falls prevention benefits related to improved vision, a just-published New Zealand study has found.
HRC Grants of almost $35 million to Division of Health Sciences researchers
Thursday 27 June 2019
Beta blockers, smoking cessation, stress suppression in motherhood and synthetic cannabinoid signalling are just a few of the areas of University of Otago Division of Health Sciences research to receive a total of almost $35 million in funding this year from the Health Research Council.
HRC grants $40m to Otago research tackling issues from climate change to heart failure
Wednesday 26 June 2019
Climate change and its impact on people’s health and using DNA to help predict who may suffer heart failure are just two of many University of Otago-led research projects being funded this year by the Health Research Council to the tune of more than $40 million.
Sugary drink taxes reduce consumption, major review shows
Tuesday 25 June 2019
A 10 per cent tax on sugary drinks has cut the purchase and consumption of sugary drinks by an average of 10 per cent in places it has been introduced, a just published major review shows.
High quality websites and apps could help those in chronic pain to manage symptoms, researcher says
Tuesday 18 June 2019
Smartphone apps and pain management websites could fill a significant gap in helping to support the one in five New Zealanders living with chronic or persistent pain, a pain researcher from the University of Otago, Wellington says.
Butting Out: Researchers gauge public opinion on tobacco product waste
Friday 14 June 2019
Requiring cigarettes to contain biodegradable filters, fining smokers who litter cigarette butts and expanding smoke free outdoor areas are measures the public considers are most likely to reduce tobacco product waste, new University of Otago research reveals.
More awareness needed about lead exposure from firearms, researchers say
Tuesday 11 June 2019
Researchers are warning that lead-based ammunition is posing a risk to firearms’ users and their families, with a culture of denial about the issue among the firearms community.
Study points to need for care in inappropriate use of stigmatising terms in weight management
Friday 7 June 2019
A large quantitative research study has found using the terms ‘weight’ or ‘high BMI (body mass index)’ to describe excess fatness was rated as less stigmatising and less blaming than commonly used medical terms, such as ‘fat’ or ‘obese’.
Opinion: Why are taxpayers subsidising licensed firearms owners?
Wednesday 22 May 2019
OPINION: Online comment from some local gun lobbyists after the Christchurch shooting bypassed sympathy and jumped straight to worries about government "taking our guns away". Despite such attitudes, firearm owners are happy for the rest of us to subsidise them through our taxes.
Cat, horse, cow allergens found in primary school classrooms
Friday 17 May 2019
Cats and farm animals are making their presence felt in classrooms, with allergens rubbing off children’s clothes and on to classroom carpets, researchers from the University of Otago, Wellington have found.
Otago’s emerging researchers secure more than $1.7 million in HRC funding
Thursday 16 May 2019
An occupational therapist who aims to improve the quality of life for children with disabilities is one of several University of Otago early-stage researchers who have together been awarded more than $1.7 million in Health Research Council funding.
Making the homeless count
Thursday 9 May 2019
When Dr Kate Amore began researching homelessness for her PhD at the University of Otago, Wellington, the country was in denial that the issue was even a problem, she says.
Otago alumna behind UK Government’s move to help cerebral palsy children walk
Wednesday 1 May 2019
An Otago alumna has led a study into spinal surgery for children with cerebral palsy in the UK, which has proven it helps them walk and reduces pain, triggering the UK Government to fund the procedure.
Urgent action needed to end our love affair with cars, report finds
Monday 29 April 2019
The authors of a University of Otago report on active transport say urgent steps must be taken to encourage New Zealanders to walk, cycle or take public transport, with our use of cars harming both our health and our environment.
He Kete Kōrero – Autumn 2019
Tuesday 23 April 2019
The Autumn 2019 edition of the University of Otago, Wellington newsletter
Wood is good, research on 1931 Hawke’s Bay earthquake shows
Tuesday 16 April 2019
New research has found that only three per cent of deaths in the 1931 Hawke’s Bay earthquake occurred in people’s homes, almost all of which were at that time constructed from wood.
Housing WOFs need to be combined with education, study shows
Tuesday 9 April 2019
Alongside funding and regulatory support, understanding how housing affects health and safety can spur owners to make improvements to their properties, researchers from the University of Otago, Wellington and WISE Better Homes have found.
Kids’ everyday exposure to food marketing
Monday 8 April 2019
You can view an introduction to a paper where Professor Louise Signal is a lead author. Her research used cameras on children to study their exposure to food marketing.
Otago researchers encourage New Zealanders to support Arms Amendment Bill
Wednesday 3 April 2019
University of Otago firearms researchers are encouraging New Zealanders who are not gun owners to support MPs and political parties with the Arms Amendment Bill.
Otago researchers call for urgent law change
Sunday 17 March 2019
Firearms law changes promised by the Prime Minister are long overdue, according to experts in the Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington, Dr Marie Russell and Dr Hera Cook.
Message from the Vice-Chancellor
Friday 15 March 2019
The University of Otago community stands shoulder to shoulder with the Muslim community. Following the tragic events in Christchurch last Friday, several events are being held on the Dunedin campus on Thursday, 21 March.
Liberal access to e-cigarettes likely to bring health benefits, NZ study finds
Tuesday 12 March 2019
New Zealand’s approach of allowing wide access to e-cigarettes is likely to be bringing overall health gains and cost savings for the health system, researchers from the University of Otago, Wellington have found.
‘Invisible wounds’ may have cut WWII veterans’ lives short
Friday 8 March 2019
Kiwi men who were veterans of World War II appear to have had a shorter lifespan than other New Zealand men who were born at the same time, new research shows.
New WHO housing and health guidelines could save millions each year
Monday 25 February 2019
Preventable injuries and hospitalisations due solely to poor housing conditions in New Zealand could be costing more than $145 million annually in ACC claims and hospitalisation costs, according to new research.
Train station signs send weak smokefree signal
Friday 22 February 2019
More than 20 per cent of the 54 railway stations in the lower North Island have no smokefree signs at all and many others have signs of poor quality, researchers from the University of Otago, Wellington have found.
Are we closing the health gap?
Thursday 21 February 2019
Listen to Professor Louise Signal, Director of the Health Promotion and Policy Research Unit, participate in a radio panel interview considering progress in addressing health inequities.
Surprise te reo Māori finding in pre-diabetes research
Monday 18 February 2019
New research from the Healthier Lives National Science Challenge has found people who speak te reo Māori have a reduced risk of progressing from pre-diabetes to diabetes.
New Zealand leads global effort to control rheumatic fever
Monday 11 February 2019
A three-year project aimed at pinpointing the most effective ways to prevent and control rheumatic fever and associated heart disease in New Zealand is being launched tomorrow (Tuesday 12 February) at the University of Otago, Wellington.
Cancer Society calls for an end to DHB-led cancer care
Thursday 31 January 2019
New Zealand is at a major crossroads in cancer care and the Cancer Society are calling on government to back a nationally-led, coordinated approach to cancer.
‘Choosing Wisely’ reduces unnecessary tests and antibiotic use, study finds
Tuesday 22 January 2019
A Hutt Valley District Health Board campaign to cut the number of urine tests being carried out on hospital patients not only significantly reduced the number of unnecessary tests being ordered but also lowered the level of antibiotic prescribing, a study published in the New Zealand Medical Journal has found.
One plus one equals more than two for health expenditure in patients with multiple conditions, study finds
Wednesday 9 January 2019
Caring for patients with two or more chronic diseases costs the health system more than it would to treat each disease in isolation, a new study has shown.
He Kete Kōrero – Summer 2018
Tuesday 18 December 2018
The Summer 2018 edition of the University of Otago, Wellington newsletter
Probiotic gives long-standing protection against childhood eczema, study finds
Monday 17 December 2018
Giving a probiotic supplement to pregnant mothers and their infants significantly reduces the chances of a child developing eczema for the first 11 years of their life, researchers have shown.
Call for pandemic research fund as “living memorial” to 1918 flu victims
Friday 14 December 2018
Professors from the Department of Public Health at the University of Otago, Wellington are calling on the government to set up a research fund to help prevent pandemics and increase New Zealand’s preparedness to deal with such disasters.
Licence to Swill: James Bond’s drinking over six decades
Monday 10 December 2018
He may be licensed to kill but fictional British secret service agent James Bond has a severe alcohol use disorder, according to an analysis of his drinking behaviour published in the Medical Journal of Australia’s Christmas issue.
Cycle lanes and walkways cut car use, reduce emissions, study finds
Monday 3 December 2018
Researchers have shown for the first time that investing in cycle lanes and walkways encourages people to drive less and cuts carbon emissions.
Otago health researchers share more than $3.5m in Career Development Awards
Tuesday 20 November 2018
A University of Otago Christchurch engineer is developing a ‘lego’ system to 3D-bioprint bone; a solution that could one day replace the billions-of-dollars-worth of ceramic and titanium implants required by New Zealand patients annually.
The challenge of reducing health inequities and improving health outcomes in New Zealand
Monday 19 November 2018
The Healthier Lives – He Oranga Hauora National Science Challenge, hosted by the University of Otago, welcomes the announcement from the Minister of Research, Science and Innovation Hon Megan Woods, confirming funding for its 2019-2024 research strategy
Sobering insights into alcohol marketing and Māori children
Thursday 1 November 2018
Innovative camera research has revealed that New Zealand children are exposed to alcohol marketing in their residential and school neighbourhoods. The collaborative research by the Universities of Otago and Auckland, found children’s exposure to alcohol marketing was higher in neighbourhoods with greater numbers of alcohol outlets and for Māori participants.
WWI cast a long shadow over New Zealanders’ health, study finds
Tuesday 30 October 2018
World War I cast such a long shadow over New Zealand that the health and social impacts continued through to the next generation, public health researchers say.
Increasing alcohol tax could benefit health and save money for society – NZ study
Monday 29 October 2018
Increasing the excise tax on alcohol would likely result in fewer people dying or being injured in vehicle crashes – and generate savings for society, according to a just-published New Zealand study.
Kiwis failing to slip into shade and slap on a hat for sun protection, researchers find
Friday 26 October 2018
An alarming proportion of New Zealanders are neither wearing hats nor seeking shade to protect themselves from the sun, University of Otago research reveals.
Flavoured capsule cigarettes pose a threat to smokefree goals
Tuesday 23 October 2018
New research from ASPIRE2025, a University of Otago research theme, challenges tobacco companies’ claims they are working towards a smokefree world and suggests young people are vulnerable to tobacco companies’ product innovations.
Six Otago researchers recognised in NZ research honours
Thursday 18 October 2018
University of Otago Research Fellow Helen Taylor’s science communication around conservation genetics and threatened species has earned her recognition at this year’s New Zealand Research Honours.
Otago research aims to explain high testicular cancer rates in Māori
Friday 12 October 2018
A new University of Otago study is aiming to tackle why Māori men have abnormally higher rates of testicular cancer compared to their non-Māori counterparts.
Researchers call for end to fat stigma
Thursday 11 October 2018
Researchers are using World Obesity Day today to call for an end to the stigma which fat people experience in their daily lives.
Education and support for menstrual periods needed at primary school
Wednesday 3 October 2018
Primary school is the correct place to educate girls about periods and provide sanitary bins and pads, say University of Otago researchers.
Otago scientists secure almost $1.6 million for heart research
Monday 17 September 2018
Otago scientists secure almost $1.6 million for heart research
Tackling diet-related disease in New Zealand
Monday 3 September 2018
Unhealthy diet is the leading preventable risk for poor health in New Zealand. Diet-related diseases (and how we manage them) is becoming a pressing issue for the country.
Otago scientist urges NZ to lead the way in eliminating top infectious disease killer
Wednesday 29 August 2018
A University of Otago doctor and scientist is calling on New Zealand to be the first country in the world to eliminate tuberculosis (TB), the top infectious disease killer in the world.
Otago experts question use of consultants who worked for tobacco industry in NZ tobacco review
Friday 24 August 2018
University of Otago researchers believe Government actions may be inconsistent with its tobacco treaty obligations by employing a consulting firm that has worked globally for the tobacco industry, to advise on tobacco taxation.
Honing in on the key ingredients for successful self-management of chronic pain
Friday 24 August 2018
The outlook for the one in five New Zealanders with persistent or chronic pain has the potential to be more positive according to an extensive study review by researchers from the School of Physiotherapy, University of Otago, Wellington (UOW) and Pain Management Service, Capital Coast District Health Board.
Closing NZ’s border in severe pandemics cost-effective – New study
Thursday 9 August 2018
Closing the border may make sense for New Zealand in some extreme pandemic situations, according to a newly published study of the costs and benefits of taking this step.
Otago researcher secures funding for therapy to help prevent disorders in preterm babies
Wednesday 1 August 2018
A University of Otago researcher has received funding from the Neurological Foundation of New Zealand to investigate a new therapy which could potentially prevent disorders developing in children born prematurely.
Anywhere, anytime: New Zealand children’s exposure to alcohol marketing
Tuesday 31 July 2018
Innovative camera research has revealed New Zealand children are exposed to alcohol marketing on average 4.5 times per day.
He Kete Kōrero – Winter 2018
Thursday 26 July 2018
The Winter 2018 edition of the University of Otago, Wellington newsletter
Major fundamental changes required to achieve health equity
Monday 9 July 2018
In comparing efforts to address health inequities, researchers in Aotearoa/New Zealand (NZ) and the United States (US) have found that both countries are failing to align policy with evidence-based approaches that could help achieve equity.
Junk food dominates NZ sport
Monday 9 July 2018
Junk food dominates New Zealand sport venues, according to new research led by the University of Otago, Wellington.
Multimorbidity impacts on employment and financial wellbeing, Otago report shows
Monday 25 June 2018
Multimorbidity has a substantial impact on sufferers who report not only poorer health but also adverse impacts on their employment and financial wellbeing compared to the general population, new University of Otago research reveals.
Preparing for increased stroke volumes in New Zealand
Friday 22 June 2018
Although the incidence of stroke and mortality are declining due to better management strategies, stroke volumes are going up in New Zealand due to a growing and ageing population.
Smokefree 2025: An opportunity for big scores by the Government
Friday 22 June 2018
A group of tobacco control experts today published an open letter in the New Zealand Medical Journal calling for bold new actions from the New Zealand Government to achieve the Smokefree 2025 goal.
Almost $19 million awarded to Otago researchers in Health Research Council funding
Monday 18 June 2018
A new study investigating for the first time the health of occupants of leaky homes in New Zealand is one of many University of Otago-led projects being funded this year by the Health Research Council to the tune of almost $19 million.
New Zealand leads call to improve health for indigenous people globally
Friday 1 June 2018
An open letter published today in a leading international medical journal, Lancet Oncology, calls on the World Health Organization (WHO) and Governments to prioritise health improvements for Indigenous peoples worldwide.
Cold New Zealand council housing getting an upgrade
Wednesday 30 May 2018
University of Otago, Wellington researchers are advocating for standards to bring all New Zealand housing up to the World Health Organization minimum standard which recommends indoor temperature of 18 degrees celcius.
Warning labels on alcohol containers highly deficient, new research shows
Monday 21 May 2018
Current health warning labels on alcohol beverage containers in New Zealand are highly deficient, new research from the University of Otago, Wellington shows.
Obesity a tough topic for GPs, Otago research reveals
Friday 18 May 2018
New University of Otago research highlights the difficulties for GPs of discussing obesity with patients who are overweight and signals the need for resources to support them and other community health providers in this role.
HRC funding enables Otago researcher to investigate early detection test for bowel cancer
Thursday 17 May 2018
A researcher aiming to develop an early-detection genetic-based test for bowel cancer is one of several University of Otago researchers who have been awarded almost $1.5 million in Health Research Council funding.
Radical new framework for trade and investment treaties
Monday 14 May 2018
A team from the University of Otago, Wellington has just published a radical new framework for designing international trade and investment treaties.
Gaps in patient care pathway may perpetuate high rates of sexually transmitted infections
Wednesday 9 May 2018
There are gaps between best practice and documented management of patients diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections in primary care, which may contribute to high rates of infection, new University of Otago research shows.
Study aiming to improve New Zealand’s low breastfeeding rates
Thursday 3 May 2018
University of Otago, Wellington (UOW) researchers are leading a new collaborative study to find out why New Zealand breastfeeding rates are so low and even dropping.
Genetic research reveals new insights into severe childhood epilepsy
Tuesday 1 May 2018
In a new study on children with severe forms of epilepsy, researchers have found the genetic copying mistake that causes the severe epilepsy in children can be found in their parents who do not have epilepsy.
Otago researchers claim inaugural Māori researcher fellowships
Monday 30 April 2018
Two University of Otago researchers of Ngāpuhi descent are being rewarded with new prestigious four-year fellowships aimed at providing better health and well-being for Māori.
International agreement provides Otago opportunity to help shape global cancer agenda
Friday 20 April 2018
In a New Zealand first, the University of Otago has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
Safety warning labels needed on fresh chicken, say researchers
Tuesday 17 April 2018
New research has found that many New Zealand consumers are unaware of the high levels of Campylobacter contamination of fresh chicken and most want safety labelling about the risks on poultry products.
He Kete Kōrero – Autumn 2018
Tuesday 17 April 2018
The Autumn 2018 edition of the University of Otago, Wellington newsletter
Taxing sugary drinks a no-brainer for New Zealand
Wednesday 4 April 2018
On 1 April 2018, the United Kingdom introduced a sugary drinks tax, an important public health measure that University of Otago, Wellington, public health researchers believe should be happening in New Zealand too.
Yoghurt may reduce eczema and allergy in infancy
Wednesday 28 March 2018
Yoghurt given to infants in the first year of life may protect them from developing eczema and allergy, researchers from the University of Otago, Wellington, and the University of Auckland have found.
Summer Studentship programme 2017/2018
Monday 26 March 2018
University of Otago, Wellington hosts the Summer Studentship Programme each year. The Department of Medicine has had a number of students this summer participating in 10 week research projects.
More sustainable transport for better health in New Zealand cities
Friday 23 March 2018
Can your local council stop you getting heart disease or cancer? Yes, say researchers in a new study led by the University of Otago, Wellington.
Research suggests promoting smokefree homes may help reduce teen smoking
Thursday 22 March 2018
New Zealand children and teens growing up in smokefree homes are less likely to take up smoking, even if their parents are smokers, a University of Otago, Wellington, study has found.
Study of smoking among doctors and nurses shows very low smoking prevalence and Smokefree 2025 goal can be achieved
Friday 9 March 2018
A new study on smoking trends among doctors and nurses in New Zealand finds smoking has declined steadily within these healthcare professions. Researchers say this shows that very low smoking rates can be achieved in large occupational groups, suggesting that New Zealand’s Smokefree 2025 goal is reachable.
New Chair for research foundation’s advisory committee
Wednesday 7 March 2018
Dr Rebecca Grainger from the Department of Medicine at the University of Otago, Wellington has been appointed Chair of the Research for Life’s Research Advisory Committee.
Out of prison and back to smoking?
Friday 23 February 2018
A lack of support means many prisoners relapse back to smoking on release, despite many wanting to stay smokefree, a new study has found.
Third vaccine dose needed to protect young New Zealanders from mumps outbreak
Tuesday 13 February 2018
Urgent and proactive action is needed to protect young people from the current mumps outbreak in New Zealand, says Dr Ayesha Verrall, an infectious diseases physician and researcher at the University of Otago, Wellington.
First human trial of potentially game-changing diabetes treatment set to commence
Wednesday 7 February 2018
University of Otago researchers are ready to take a significant step in the development of a new natural product that could potentially prevent diabetes.
Considering public health issues- the 22nd Public Health Summer School
Monday 5 February 2018
Leading international and New Zealand health experts will be in Wellington to participate in the 22nd Public Health Summer School run by the University of Otago, Wellington in February. The Public Health Summer School will be officially opened by the Minister of Health, Hon Dr David Clark on 7 February.
Few drinking fountains in New Zealand playgrounds – New study
Friday 2 February 2018
New research has found that only a fifth (20 per cent) of childrens’ playgrounds in the lower North Island of New Zealand had drinking fountains (11 out of 54 playgrounds).
Talking about diabetes – improving health, one sentence at a time
Wednesday 17 January 2018
Primary care physicians can improve their communication to newly-diagnosed diabetes patients by offering more information specific to the patient’s experience, new research from Otago, Auckland and Victoria universities shows.
Predator Free 2050 has major benefits for human health
Monday 15 January 2018
The Predator Free 2050 campaign to rid New Zealand of rats and possums will have major benefits for human health as well as for native plants and animals, says University of Otago, Wellington public health researcher Dr Mary McIntyre.
Shade shortage in Wellington playgrounds: Otago research highlights the need to ‘slip, slop, slap and wrap’ this summer
Tuesday 9 January 2018
Children visiting playgrounds this summer may be at high risk of sunburn, according to a new study from the University of Otago, Wellington.
University of Otago announces academic promotions
Friday 15 December 2017
The University of Otago will this year promote 23 academics to the position of Professor across its Dunedin, Christchurch, and Wellington campuses.
Sex advice and Siri? To Google or not to Google? These are the questions
Thursday 14 December 2017
In an article published today in the Christmas issue of the British Medical Journal, New Zealand researchers found that Google laptop searches performed better at finding online sexual health advice than the digital assistants on smartphones.
How do firearms, floods and flu impact public health?
Wednesday 13 December 2017
Firearms and public health, impacts of New Zealand’s most common natural hazard - flooding, and lessons from the 1918 flu pandemic are just some of the courses and seminar talks being offered by the University of Otago, Wellington’s Public Health Summer School.
Giving cash without strings attached can improve health
Thursday 23 November 2017
New research has shown governments can help improve health in low and middle income countries, simply by providing cash to people living in poverty.
Kids in Space Study: Where do our children go?
Thursday 9 November 2017
New Zealand children stick close to home, innovative research from Otago, Auckland and Harvard Universities has revealed.
He Kete Kōrero – Spring 2017
Tuesday 7 November 2017
The Spring 2017 edition of the University of Otago, Wellington newsletter
Otago health researchers gain career development awards
Tuesday 31 October 2017
Four up–and–coming University of Otago researchers have each been awarded around $500,000 from the Health Research Council (HRC) to pursue world-class projects aimed at improving New Zealander’s health and wellbeing and contributing to international progress in these areas.
Study shows NZers who cycle and walk for transport are more physically active
Tuesday 31 October 2017
New Zealanders who walk and cycle for transport are much more likely to have adequate levels of physical activity than those who drive cars.
No smokefree signs at New Zealand racecourses, study shows
Friday 27 October 2017
A survey of New Zealand racecourses and sports grounds with stands has found no smokefree signs at the racecourses and signage at less than half the sports grounds.
Provide more water fountains at playgrounds, say researchers
Thursday 19 October 2017
A new study from the University of Otago, Wellington, has found that only six per cent of Wellington City children’s playgrounds have drinking water fountains.
NZ kids can’t escape alcohol marketing next to bread and milk
Tuesday 10 October 2017
New Zealand children are exposed to alcohol marketing on nearly every visit to the supermarket, innovative camera research from Otago and Auckland Universities reveals.
New research shows NZ children are surrounded by junk food ads
Monday 9 October 2017
New Zealand children are exposed to around 27 unhealthy food advertisements per day, innovative camera research from Otago and Auckland Universities reveals.
Improving assessment of acute abdominal pain
Friday 6 October 2017
Surgical admissions for people with abdominal pain to Wellington Hospital’s department of general surgery have nearly doubled over the past decade, a University of Otago, Wellington (UOW) study has found.
New Zealand teens’ risky behaviour rates reduced since the 1990s
Wednesday 4 October 2017
Overall today’s adolescents are ‘better behaved’ than teens in the 1990s, says a University of Otago, Wellington researcher.
New study shows General Practices at health training capacity
Friday 22 September 2017
A comprehensive survey in the lower North Island and South Island has revealed that general practices, although crucial for teaching our future health professionals, are at training capacity.
New research shows surge in outdoor smokefree action around NZ
Friday 22 September 2017
Local outdoor smokefree action is rapidly growing around New Zealand, according to new research from the University of Otago, Wellington.
Book shines spotlight on our cities
Tuesday 19 September 2017
A new book sets out important ideas for helping New Zealand cities resolve the challenges of providing quality, affordable housing, designing healthy transport systems and dealing with climate change.
