Equity of Māori health outcomes is essential for the wider social and economic advancement of Aotearoa. This collaborative programme of research, hosted by an Iwi-owned research centre, will explore the positive change that can occur when Māori have the opportunity to drive solutions and work in authentic partnership models. The collaborative, cross-disciplinary team brought together in this programme has a wealth of experience in working alongside Māori communities to frame and implement research that seeks to contribute to enhanced wellbeing outcomes. Co-creation of solutions with whānau, and a focus on translation, uptake and impacts of research results, are novel elements of the programme.
Our School's research is multidisciplinary and internationally renowned: we're passionate about producing research which has a positive impact for society. Our expert staff tackle some of the most challenging issues in psychology and social sciences to develop innovative solutions to understanding minds and behaviour.
Research areas
Our School conducts research in a range of areas, with staff often active in research that crosses traditional boundaries. Our research includes primary and applied topics: working to uncover basic understanding about how our minds work and applying our knowledge to improve society. We have organised our research into the following broad areas:
Health and well-being
This is perhaps our broadest theme and includes a wide range of research on issues such as authenticity and well-being at work; clinical psychology; health inequities; mindfulness; transgender health; well-being and parent-child interaction; youth well-being.
Cognitive psychology
Staff in this area conduct research on attention and decision-making by drivers; future thinking and memory. The multi-disciplinary Transport Research Group focuses on applying cognitive psychology to transport-related issues.
Behavioural psychology
Research in this theme includes facilitating employment for individuals with disabilities; scent detection and learning in animals; as well as school-based intervention to promote improve academic achievement and faciltate inclusion.
Applied social psychology
Many of our staff are involved in research on applied topics such as environmental psychology and community development, including climate change, homelessness, inclusion, and societal and structural change, and building better workplaces.
Developmental and family psychology
Our developmental science research covers the whole lifespan from pre- and perinatal development through to gerontology, including both brain and social development. We also research family dynamics and systems, perception, parenting and the needs of individuals with developmental disabilities.
Kaupapa māori psychology and Indigenous psychology
We have a specialist Māori and Psychology Research Unit (MPRU) and research here covers cultural change, adaptation and human flourishing; (de)colonisation; social justice; diversity and cultural pluralism
Forensic psychology
In collaboration with the cross-disciplinary Te Puna Haumaru - New Zealand Institute for Security and Crime Science, our researchers investigate criminal justice; correctional, policing and psycholegal issues.
Research Units and Institutes
The School of Psychological and Social Sciences is proud to host specialist research units and groups.
The Māori and Psychology Research Unit (MPRU) has an international reputation for facilitating research that holds Māori as central to the issue under investigation. With the involvement of students, research projects include the study of Tangihanga, media representations of Māori, homelessness, mental health and recovery, domestic violence, the recruitment and retention of Māori in tertiary institutions, Māori cultural change, Moko - Māori skin art, Maori men’s relational health, Pacific health and Māori migration.
Transport affects many aspects of everyday life. In the multi-disciplinary Transport Research Group at the University of Waikato, we are interested in how transport fosters a strong and sustainable economy, how transport can be maintained in a way that supports healthy environments and how drivers might respond to changes in vehicle technology. We focus on how research findings might inform decision-making in government and industry.
The School of Psychological and Social Sciences also has strong links with the cross-disciplinary Te Puna Haumaru - New Zealand Institute for Security and Crime Science.
Māori & Psychology Research Unit
The Māori and Psychology Research Unit (MPRU) provides critical research that centers the priorities of Māori communities.
Transport Research Group
The Transport Research Group at the University of Waikato examines how transportation influences economy, environment, technology, and decision-making.
Te Ngira Institute for Population Research
Te Ngira is Aotearoa's population research leader, focused on Māori, Pacific, and migration studies.
Te Puna Haumaru | NZ Institute for Security and Crime Science
Te Puna Haumaru (NZISCS), founded in 2017, leads NZ Evidence-Based Policing Centre. Research aims to reduce crime via multi-disciplinary studies.
