The College of Humanities and Social Sciences has a strong research tradition and profile. We represent a diverse range of themes, research methods and groups 鈥 from individual researchers to major research teams and centres.
Our research disciplines
Dive into each of our disciplines and explore their distinctive research activities.
Education research
Our researchers are committed to research that benefits all New Zealanders. Explore our projects and expertise.
Humanities, media, and creative communication research expertise
Discover research expertise in the School of Humanities, Media, and Creative Communication.
People, environment & planning research
Explore research projects and expertise in the School of People, Environment and Planning.
Psychology research
Our researchers help to make sense of humanity's impact on the world. Learn more about the School of Psychology鈥檚 innovative collaborations.
Toi rangahau
Te P奴tahi a Toi researchers are committed to building strong academic pathways that help staff, students and communities thrive in te ao M膩ori.
Humanities research in action
We apply research expertise across disciplines and work in partnership with organisations outside the university to create a wide-reaching impact and influence.
Climate change adaptation across the Pacific
Climate change adaptation across the Pacific Glenn Banks with John Overton.
We ask how we can bring together different knowledges and knowledge systems in the Pacific more effectively 鈥 to gain a richer and more grounded understanding of social, economic and environmental changes.
Our research will allow for more effective approaches to climate change adaptation across the Pacific.
Constructions of home, place and community
Constructions of home, place and community Trudie Caine
Trudie is a researcher on the Capturing the Diversity Dividend of Aotearoa NZ (CaDDANZ) programme 鈥撀燼 partnership with Waikato University. She looks at older adults鈥 constructions of home, place and community.
Outputs from the work include:
- policy briefs
- presentations to key stakeholders
- a collaborative workshop with end-users and stakeholders
Stakeholders on the project include Haumaru Housing, Onepoto Whina, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and the wider community. Our collaborative workshop was designed to extend the utility and uptake of the research.
Our ongoing pilot project (summer school scholarship) in partnership with Kainga Ora looks at the experiences of larger families living in public housing.
Gender in the Army
Gender in the Army Beth Greener and Nina Harding and MAJ Amy Brosnan with Prof Megan Mackenzie, and Kate Lewis.
The project titled 鈥楻ebalancing Army鈥 considers how gender is embodied, experienced and exemplified in the Army and how gender can constrain or enable the success of personnel.
It aims to theorise how we can 鈥榬egender鈥 military institutions 鈥 institutions typically seen as bastions of hypermasculinity 鈥 while also offering practical recommendations to Army leadership on how to best support and develop soldiers and officers.
Intelligence and security investigations
Intelligence and security investigations Damien Rogers and Shaun Mawdsley (PhD Candidate)
We are publishing work to help the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service improve its relationship with the public.
Our work also suggests a parliamentary Commissioner for Security would help to restore the public鈥檚 trust and confidence in New Zealand鈥檚 intelligence and security agencies.
鈥淭he agencies won鈥檛 like our arguments, but our research is informing the current . Shaun and I hosted the review team, and other New Zealand-based academics with expertise on intelligence, last month for a roundtable discussion at Albany.鈥 鈥 Damien Rogers
Taking stock of history resources for a new curriculum
Taking stock of history resources for a new curriculum Carol Neill, Michael Belgrave and Liz Ward.
We engaged in research for the Ministry of Education called 鈥楾he History Stock Take Project鈥欌 looking at resources available in local communities for teachers to use within the
Findings included the below.
- The local history landscape is not static. There is a growing awareness and interest in Aotearoa New Zealand鈥檚 history. Museums and other history groups know that Aotearoa New Zealand Histories will be compulsory from next year and are planning to adapt and produce new material to support kura.
- Given the resource issues and the aging volunteer base it is possible that the demands for museums to display history more reflective of Aotearoa Histories themes could led to issues within the sector. This could result in less local history resources being available for kura.
- History of groups other than P膩keh膩 remain absent or difficult to capture. Part of this is due to the greater focus on nineteenth century history. New Zealand 膩konga are increasingly diverse, and those in the classrooms learning Aotearoa New Zealand Histories were mostly born in the second decade of the twenty first century. On the whole the local history landscape does not reflect this reality.
Te Toi Whakaruruhau o Aotearoa 鈥 Mat膩uranga M膩ori Disaster Risk Reduction Centre
Te Toi Whakaruruhau o Aotearoa 鈥 Mat膩uranga M膩ori Disaster Risk Reduction Centre Professor Christine Kenney (Te 膧ti Awa, Ng膩ti Awa ki K膩piti, Ng膩ti Toarangatira, Ng膩i Tahu)
Our M膩ori researchers and community research partners contribute to a resilient Aotearoa New Zealand.
Our work seeks culturally informed solutions to the effects of climate change and natural disasters.
We use indigenous innovation to minimise the impacts on communities and the wider environment.
Urban wellbeing in times of crisis
Urban wellbeing in times of crisis Kelly Dombroski
Funded by Building Better Homes Towns and Cities, the Huritanga Urban Wellbeing programme is developing tools and approaches for transitioning urban spaces for holistic wellbeing in times of socio-ecological crisis.
Recent outputs from a partnership with have included a:
- public outdoor exhibition
- incubator space for creatives
- book
- journal article
- radio interview
- piece in The Conversation.
Urbanisation in the Melanesian Pacific
Urbanisation in the Melanesian Pacific Barbara Andersen
Looking into how housing pressures in Papua New Guinea鈥檚 growing towns impact residents鈥 understandings of security and well-being.
This research is part of a larger conversation on urbanisation in the Melanesian Pacific, interrogating questions around:
- national identity
- land ownership
- the resilience of indigenous social forms.
Research centres
Joint Centre for Disaster Research
JCDR is an international centre for research and teaching in disaster risk and emergency management. We develop community disaster resilience by providing state-of-the-art graduate teaching and research programmes to both New Zealand and people worldwide.
Centre for Defence and Security Studies
The Centre for Defence & Security Studies offers academic qualifications in security and defence studies 鈥 undergraduate to postgraduate, including PhDs. We have research and educational partnerships with several New Zealand government agencies.
Joint Research Centre in Applied Linguistics
Professor Cynthia White
The Centre contributes new knowledge via online language learning innovations such as pairing students with native Mandarin speakers via video. It's a partnership between 暴风资源 and Beijing Language and Culture University.
Outreach and connections
We have a strong outreach focus and are well-connected to government departments, including the Ministries of Education and Social Development and Treasury.
The college is also connected to national and international research and policy communities, including the:
- .
Humanities and social sciences research news
Opinion: 4 lessons NZ should take from another summer of weather disasters
Co-authored by Professor of Disaster and Emergency Management Julia Becker
Balancing paid work and wh膩nau: New study examines non-standard work hours
The Making Care Work project aims to reveal the family-life challenges of unpredictable work scheduling and suggest ways to better support working households in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Listening, learning and leading: Dr Michelle Musakwa鈥檚 role in amplifying African voices
Doctor of Clinical Psychology graduate Dr Michelle Musakwa鈥檚 research makes an important and timely contribution to mental health research in Aotearoa New Zealand as she shines a light on perspectives missing from the national conversation: the wellbeing narratives and experiences of Black African migrants and refugees.
Karakia as rongo膩: Elevating m膩tauranga M膩ori to create positive health outcomes
Karakia has long been a source of grounding, healing and connection. Yet despite its deep cultural significance and growing evidence of its therapeutic power, it remains overlooked in Aotearoa New Zealand鈥檚 mainstream healthcare system. Two researchers are working to change that.
Related content
Partnerships
We partner with communities and organisations that make a difference in the world. Find out more and contact us to get involved.
Postgraduate study
If you want to study at an advanced level, get ahead and expand your knowledge, a postgraduate qualification is for you.
Scholarships & awards
Apply for a scholarship to make your study more affordable 鈥 from undergraduate funding to doctorate and PhD awards.