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News archives

Pūranga karere

A career celebration in Wellington

Wednesday 1 June 2022

A Festschrift was held on the Wellington campus on 29 May 2022 to celebrate the career of Professor Dawn Elder, on the occasion of her retirement from her roles as Deputy Dean and Head of the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health at the University of Otago, Wellington.

Otago boosts economy by $1.79 billion

Tuesday 10 May 2022

The University of Otago contributed $1.79 billion in total value added to the New Zealand economy last year, a new report has revealed.

Janet Hoek wins Critic and Conscience award

Tuesday 3 May 2022

Regulatory loopholes are contributing to increases in the number of young New Zealanders exposed to nicotine through vaping, warns the winner of the 2022 Critic and Conscience of Society Award.

He Kete Kōrero – Autumn 2022

Friday 22 April 2022

Welcome to the Autumn 2022 edition of He Kete Kōrero, with all the latest news from the Wellington campus.

Summer of research

Friday 22 April 2022

It was a summer filled with research for 51 students from across the University who took part in the Summer Studentship research programme on the Wellington campus this year.

The price of keeping kids warm at night

Wednesday 30 March 2022

The cost of heating a child’s bedroom through the night in a Wellington winter would run through 46 per cent of the government’s Winter Energy Payment, which is paid to qualifying beneficiaries and all superannuitants to help with heating costs, a study by researchers at the University of Otago, Wellington has found.

Nitrate levels in drinking water and bowel cancer

Friday 4 March 2022

The formation of cancer-causing chemicals in the gut could be at the heart of understanding how high levels of nitrate in our drinking water contribute to increasing the risk of bowel (colorectal) cancer, New Zealand researchers say.

Lack of support for women who have early miscarriages, study finds

Thursday 3 February 2022

Women are not being offered the mental health support they need after experiencing a miscarriage in the first trimester of pregnancy, despite healthcare workers recognising it as a significant loss, researchers from the University of Otago, Wellington, have found.

Reimagining school uniforms

Thursday 27 January 2022

School uniforms need a radical redesign to better meet the needs of students, particularly for girls, who are often forced to wear uniforms that prevent them from being physically active in their lunch breaks and from cycling to and from school, a public health researcher says.

Addressing inequities in cancer care

Friday 21 January 2022

Three Otago researchers have secured significant grants for research aimed at addressing the stark inequities in cancer care and survival for Māori and Pacific peoples in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Call to report bottled water quality results on labels

Thursday 13 January 2022

Bottled water is often perceived as clean and free of contaminants compared to tap water, but University of Otago researchers believe water quality results need to be printed on the label.

Discrimination placing LGBTIQ+ people at risk of homelessness

Tuesday 21 December 2021

Discrimination in the housing market, as well as structural issues such as poverty, racism and instability, are placing Takatāpui and LGBTIQ+ people at higher risk of homelessness, researchers from the University of Otago, Wellington, have found.

He Kete Kōrero – Summer 2021

Friday 17 December 2021

In this issue we provide an update on our building situation and discuss our preparations for new ways of working across multiple sites in 2022.

Award for science communication for Baker

Tuesday 14 December 2021

New Zealand’s go-to science communicator on COVID-19, Professor Michael Baker MNZM, has been awarded the New Zealand Association of Scientists (NZAS) Cranwell Medal for science communication for 2021.

A marathon year for Wellington PhD Public Health grad

Friday 10 December 2021

While most people might feel like they deserved a break after completing their PhD, Caroline Fyfe, who graduates in absentia in December with a PhD in Public Health from the University of Otago, Wellington, instead set off to do a 44 kilometre run with a friend up and over the capital city’s steep hills.

Wellington campus celebrates student success

Thursday 2 December 2021

Wellington campus staff and students gathered together on 19 November for an end of year Hui Whakanui Tauira to celebrate the significant achievements of students over the past year.

Housing researchers win the Rutherford Medal, NZ’s top research honour

Thursday 18 November 2021

Distinguished Professor Philippa Howden-Chapman CNZM QSO FRSNZ and researchers at the He Kāinga Oranga – Housing and Health Research Programme at the University of Otago, Wellington, have been awarded the 2021 Rutherford Medal by the Royal Society Te Apārangi.

$2.9m HRC funding for Otago

Monday 15 November 2021

Two Otago researchers have been awarded prestigious Sir Charles Hercus Fellowships in this year’s Health Research Council Career Development Awards.

Māori dished out pills to mask chronic pain, study finds

Friday 8 October 2021

Māori adults who experience chronic pain are being prescribed painkillers at the expense of best practice treatments and are not being offered referrals to specialists, research from the Māori community health provider, Tu Kotahi Māori Asthma and Research Trust and the University of Otago, Wellington has found.

Urgent need to tackle smoking rates in Pacific adults and youth

Thursday 30 September 2021

New Zealand needs to take urgent action to reduce smoking in Pacific adults and youth if the country is to achieve its goal of reducing the number of smokers to less than five per cent of the population by 2025 according to a new report.

Wellington Activity Passport

Tuesday 21 September 2021

The pocket-sized Pōneke Puka Mahi passport offers students the chance to tick off 32 of the capital’s best attractions.

A road map to ending diesel vehicle pollution

Friday 17 September 2021

Researchers have developed a road map to accelerate the removal of light diesel vehicles, including cars, utes and vans, from New Zealand roads in a quest to clear the air.

He Kete Kōrero – Spring 2021

Wednesday 8 September 2021

Welcome to the Spring 2021 edition of He Kete Kōrero with the latest news from the Wellington campus.

Have doctor’s bag, will travel 

Monday 12 July 2021

Dr Jenny Visser has led the postgraduate interdisciplinary travel medicine programme from the Wellington campus since 1999.

New Vice-Chancellor appointed at University of Otago

Thursday 1 July 2021

The University of Otago announced this morning that Professor David Murdoch will be its next Vice-Chancellor. Professor Murdoch, a distinguished academic and recognised world-leader in the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, particularly pneumonia and other respiratory infections, is currently Dean and Head of Campus, University of Otago, Christchurch.

A career that cares for others

Thursday 17 June 2021

If you ask a young person what their dream career is, it’s not often that you’ll hear the response “Radiation Therapist”.

Shining a light on the shocking state of NZ’s acute mental health units

Wednesday 16 June 2021

A series published by news and current affairs website Newsroom highlights the findings of a major research project led by Director of the Suicide and Mental Health Research Group Dr Gabrielle Jenkin into the architectural design and social environment of New Zealand’s acute mental health facilities.

$1.64 million for Otago in HRC funding rounds

Tuesday 1 June 2021

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Enterprise) Professor Richard Blaikie says Otago is grateful for HRC’s ongoing support which enables the University to continue its world-leading research.

Otago projects receive $1.64m Health Research Council funding

Monday 31 May 2021

Better outcomes for women suffering from New Zealand’s most common gynaecological cancer and a bioactive toothpaste that will mean fewer visits to the dentist are just two University of Otago projects funded by the Health Research Council this week.

NZ Scientists’ award for Wellington researcher

Monday 31 May 2021

Dr Dianne Sika-Paotonu, the Associate Dean (Pacific) at the University of Otago, Wellington, has won the New Zealand Association of Scientists (NZAS) Cranwell Medal for science communication for 2020.

New Zealand housing lacking basic amenities, new report finds

Thursday 13 May 2021

Five per cent of New Zealand houses lack at least one of six basic amenities including drinkable tap water, electricity, a toilet, and a kitchen sink, a new report from the He Kāinga Oranga Housing and Health Research Programme at the University of Otago, Wellington has found.

Investigating epilepsy in Māori

Wednesday 5 May 2021

Understanding the reasons behind the higher burden of epilepsy experienced by Māori children is the focus of a Health Research Council (HRC) funded research project at the University of Otago, Wellington, led by PhD student and paediatric registrar Dr Ngaire Keenan.

Pūtea Tautoko steps up for Otago’s students

Tuesday 4 May 2021

International PhD students Grace Duke and Jessica Valisa say the support they received from Otago’s Pūtea Tautoko fund has made it possible for them to finish their degrees.

Summer research

Tuesday 27 April 2021

Forty-five students from across the University have taken part in research projects on the Wellington campus over summer, tacking a wide range of projects, from researching green transport solutions to working with the Ministry of Health contributing to research on the COVID-19 response.

He Kete Kōrero – Autumn 2021

Tuesday 27 April 2021

Welcome to the Autumn 2021 edition of He Kete Kōrero with the latest news from the Wellington campus.

Researchers welcome Smokefree 2025 Action Plan

Thursday 15 April 2021

Researchers from the University of Otago’s ASPIRE 2025 Research Centre, which carries out research to support the Smokefree 2025 goal, have welcomed and endorsed the action plan for achieving a Smokefree Aotearoa by 2025 released by Associate Health Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall today.

Silver linings in lockdown

Wednesday 7 April 2021

Two thirds of New Zealanders believed there were ‘silver linings’ to the country’s Alert Level 4 COVID-19 lockdown imposed in March last year, a University of Otago survey has found.

Honest answers, clear communication valued by pregnant patients

Tuesday 23 March 2021

Clear, honest communication and a good rapport with doctors are key factors in the high levels of satisfaction reported by patients with high risk pregnancies following consultation with specialist obstetricians, researchers at the University of Otago, Wellington, have found.

Pump up the volume on quality school PE, researchers urge

Friday 12 March 2021

Increasing the amount of time schools devote to physical education each week could dramatically reduce the number of children who are doing only minimal levels of exercise, researchers from the University of Otago, Wellington and Sport New Zealand have found.

We must have a better plan for the next pandemic, say Otago researchers

Wednesday 10 March 2021

Aotearoa New Zealand’s next pandemic plan needs a completely different approach to our previous plan that was focussed on influenza, say researchers from the University of Otago, Wellington in a new article that identifies key lessons from the COVID-19 response for managing future major outbreaks and pandemics.

Women supporting women in making change to energy poverty

Thursday 18 February 2021

When Dr Kim O’Sullivan returned to her high school to speak with students as part of her post-doctoral research; it was the beginning of a new chapter for (then) high school student Isobel Harris Clark.

Otago launches Medical Students’ Elective Inquiry

Wednesday 10 February 2021

The University of Otago is launching a formal inquiry into sixth year Medical Degree electives following failure to meet attendance requirements for overseas electives by a significant number of students in the 2019 MB ChB Trainee Intern Class.

University scanner the gold standard for Consumer tests

Monday 1 February 2021

Consumer NZ has used the full-body DXA X-ray scanner at the University’s Wellington campus as the gold standard against which to measure the accuracy of body fat bathroom scales and body composition scans.

Targeted health messaging needed in era of vaping, researchers say

Wednesday 27 January 2021

Health authorities should develop targeted health messages for vaping product and e-liquid packaging to encourage smokers to switch from cigarettes to e-cigarettes and to prevent non-smokers from taking up vaping, a researcher at the University of Otago, Wellington says.

Ones to Watch: Rebekah Amitrano

Wednesday 27 January 2021

“I’ve known for a long time that I want to do something that helps people and I decided law was a way of helping many people at once.”

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.

Boost for biomedical research at Otago

Monday 14 December 2020

The arrival of a new state-of-the-art $400,000 spectral flow cytometer on the Wellington campus will significantly enhance the University’s capacity to do biomedical research.

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.

Handmade in thanks

Friday 27 November 2020

New Zealand jewellers have put their hands together to create medals for three researchers at the University of Otago, Wellington, as a thanks for their work on New Zealand’s COVID-19 response.

Professional staff efforts recognised

Friday 20 November 2020

The annual University of Otago Staff Awards took place on 20 November, with an expanded list of awards to mark a truly remarkable year.

Liley Medal for ground-breaking asthma research

Monday 16 November 2020

University of Otago researcher Professor Mark Weatherall has been jointly awarded the prestigious Health Research Council’s Liley Medal, awarded annually for outstanding contributions to the health and medical sciences.

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.

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.

Medical students capture New Zealanders’ COVID-19 experiences

Wednesday 14 October 2020

Third-year medical students have been given a unique opportunity to become field assistants for a COVID-19 research project, conducting virtual interviews with community groups about the impact of the pandemic on their organisations.

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.

Making a world of difference

Thursday 1 October 2020

University of Otago academics and alumnae have been named as finalists in the Women of Influence awards.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Otago and COVID-19: Playing our part

Friday 5 June 2020

A campaign highlighting the role Otago’s academics and medical experts have played in shaping New Zealand’s response to COVID-19 will be released this weekend.

Responding to the global pandemic – Otago’s story

Friday 22 May 2020

As the University re-opens under Alert Level 2, and life takes on a new normal following the COVID-19 lockdown, Communications Adviser (Projects) Sean Flaherty takes a closer look at Otago's ongoing response to the global pandemic.

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.

Giving sports teams an edge

Thursday 7 May 2020

Professional footballers are used to having their fitness assessed, so when three first team players from the Wellington Phoenix visit the University of Otago, Wellington (pre-lockdown) for a state-of-the-art full body scan, they are unfazed.

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.

Delivering a message from the world to the world

Tuesday 7 April 2020

Concerned about the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic University of Otago medical school alumnus Dr Zeid Abussuud decided to spread the word on staying safe. With a little help from his friends, many of them also graduates of Otago, Dr Abussuud has made a moving YouTube video, ‘Do it for the whole world: Stay at home’.

Fulbright scholars excited by opportunities

Thursday 13 February 2020

Two University of Otago staff have received 2020 Scholar Awards from Fulbright New Zealand, allowing them to travel to the United States to pursue research and form international connections. 

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).