Hāpai Research and Evaluation specialise in innovative social and health research and evaluation that strengthens Whānau Ora and advances Māori health.
Our team welcomes project partnerships, and regularly collaborate with external research organisations, provide kaupapa Māori research and evaluation advice, and are members of a number of boards and governance groups.
Our Service
We are a multidisciplinary team who can offer research and evaluation advice and support in the following areas:
- Results Based Accountability (RBA)
- Formative, Process and Outcome Evaluation
- Qualitative and Quantitative Research
- Information Communications Technology (ICT)
- Community and Participatory Action Research
- Collective Impact
- Tobacco Control
- Whānau Ora
- Well Child
- Social and Public Health Policy Development
- Health Leadership
- Mental Health
- Alcohol and other Drugs
- Whānau Ora
- Nutrition and Physical Activity
- Gambling Harm Minimisation
- Cultural Responsiveness
Our extensive network of stakeholders, and Collective Impact approach, means we are uniquely placed to leverage our relationships for specific skills and knowledge that can be used to enhance our work, or to provide a combined, cross organisational response to social and health issues that impact on Whānau Ora and Māori health.
Highlights
23 May, 2020
NZMJ - Beyond COVID-19: five actions which would improve the health of all New Zealanders
We congratulate the New Zealand government for the unprecedented steps taken to protect our population from the potentially catastrophic threat to public health posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
2 October, 2019
Hāpai te Hauora secures major research grant
The Health Research Council has awarded Hāpai te Hauora a Ngā Kanohi Kitea Full Project Grant to explore whānau Māori experiences with an FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder) diagnosis
22 August, 2019
This morning, the tobacco control sector and community members will be welcomed onto Kōkiri marae to celebrate the launch of the Whakahā o Te Pā Harakeke research programme which aims to help reduc
28 February, 2019
Pacific Health Governance Research Network - Workshop Report
In February, Hāpai te Hauora Senior Manager Stephanie Erick attended the 2nd workshop for the Pacific Health Governance Research Network (PHGRN) in Fiji hosted by the University of Queensland, the Pacific Community and Fiji National University.
Our Team
Our team provide support and advice across all Hāpai contracts as well as in-house mentoring, capability and capacity building. Having an in-house research and evaluation team also means our contract managers and stakeholders receive timely and pragmatic advice and support. This is especially important when working with diverse communities, which are often highly dynamic and challenging environments.
Stephanie Erick
Researcher/Evaluator
Stephanie is a Senior Advisor for Hapai Te Hauora Tapui and brings wide-ranging research experience including design, implementation, evaluation and dissemination. She is interested in producing and collecting sound evidence to enable policy makers and communities to contribute to the Smokefree 2025 goal. Her work on the annual ASH Year 10 survey ensured evidence was published and translated for end-users in particular Maori and Pacific communities. Other research interests include innovations to prompt mass stop smoking and building research capacity in others. Stephanie continues to participate in research advisory groups and projects with universities and research collectives.
Elizabeth Strickett
Researcher/Evaluator
Lizzie Jurisich Strickett holds Arts and Commerce degrees (Media, Marketing, Psychology) with a Master’s degree in Health Psychology from the University of Auckland. Her thesis explored the link between depression and obesity in pregnancy, and the impact of low social support and racism on mental health. It used a mixed methodology, employing both quantitative and qualitative approaches to data collection and analysis. Lizzie has also worked alongside various Maori research bodies, including Nga Pae O Te Maramatanga and Shore & Whaariki research centre on research projects that centred on parenting, sexuality and the representation of young Maori parents within healthcare spaces.
In her role at Hapai te Hauora within the Tobacco advocacy portfolio, Lizzie continues to use evidence- based research on to examine disparities in tobacco- related health outcomes between Maori and non- Maori as a means of monitoring government commitments to indigenous rights.
Strickett, E. J. (2017). Nau te Whatu Maori: Maori women’s experiences with obesity, depression, and racism in pregnancy. (Unpublished master's thesis), University of Auckland.
Strickett, E. J. (2014). Marginalising Maori Parents: Internship report. Wellington, New Zealand: Nga Pae O Te Maramatanga. Retrieved from http://www.maramatanga.co.nz/project/marginalising-m-ori-parents-interns...
Emma Espiner
Researcher
Emma (Ngāti Tukorehe, Ngāti Porou) holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Otago, a Graduate Diploma in Arts from Massey University, and is in the final year of a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery at the University of Auckland.
During her time at Hāpai Emma was the recipient of a Health Research Council (HRC) Māori Summer Studentship which she used to explore the role of the media in communicating information appropriate for Māori on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).
Emma is a named investigator on two current projects with Hāpai: the HRC-funded project looking into Māori experience of FASD, and the Alcohol Attributable Fractions Contract sponsored by the Health Promotion Agency and led by the University of Otago. She is also a named investigator on a project funded by Counties Manukau DHB looking into the retention of New Zealand-trained general surgeons.
Peer-reviewed publications
Espiner E. Hart S. Poole G. Mullaney T & Hoh S. M. Letter to the Editor “Beyond Covid-19: Five Actions Which Would Improve the Health of All New Zealanders” New Zealand Medical Journal. 2020; 133(1515)
Espiner E. Māori Health Review 2. New Zealand Medical Student Journal. 2020; 30
Espiner E. Māori Health Review 1. New Zealand Medical Student Journal. 2019;29
Janell Dymus-Kurei
Researcher
Janell Dymus-Kurei descends from Te Whakatōhea, Ngai Tūhoe, Ngāti Kuri and Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki. She is a third-year Law student at the University of Auckland and General Manager for Māori Public Health Leadership at Hāpai te Hauora Tāpui. Janell brings her whānau, hapū and Iwi derived understandings of Te Āo Māori, and a keen understanding of kaupapa Māori as an operative of everyday experiences as Māori. Her expertise in research focus on community-led research, co-design and walk-along. She also has extensive experience in Public Health practice and advocacy.