{"title":"The Inflation Illusion: How New Zealand Households Overestimate Increases in Food Prices.","authors":"Puneet Vatsa, Alan Renwick","doi":"10.1002/snz2.70018","DOIUrl":"10.1002/snz2.70018","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Using nationally representative survey data collected in February 2025, this article examines how New Zealand households perceive food price inflation. We find that perceived food price inflation significantly exceeds the official rate, with respondents estimating food price inflation to be over seven times higher than reported figures. Perceptions vary by age and gender: women report higher inflation estimates than men, and perceived inflation decreases with age. Quantile regressions suggest that these differences are concentrated around the median and the upper quantile of the distribution of inflation perceptions. These findings highlight a misalignment between statistical reporting and lived experience, with implications for nutrition, wellbeing, and communication of economic data.</p>","PeriodicalId":520341,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand","volume":"56 1","pages":"e70018"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12965021/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147380305","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Hayleigh Frost, Lisa Te Morenga, Sally Mackay, Christina McKerchar, Emily Cole, Victoria Egli
{"title":"Alcohol Marketing Exposure to Children in New Zealand: A Systematic Narrative Review.","authors":"Hayleigh Frost, Lisa Te Morenga, Sally Mackay, Christina McKerchar, Emily Cole, Victoria Egli","doi":"10.1002/snz2.70007","DOIUrl":"10.1002/snz2.70007","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Although the New Zealand Advertising Authority prohibits marketing alcohol to children, young people continue to be exposed to alcohol advertising, which is known to influence behaviour. This study systematically reviews literature on children's exposure to alcohol marketing in New Zealand. Following PRISMA guidelines, eight databases were searched for studies involving children aged 2-17 years, from inception through January 2024. Out of 1019 articles screened, 22 met the inclusion criteria. These were deductively coded and analysed using a framework adapted from unhealthy food and drink advertising research, particularly the ASEAN and UNICEF (2023) diagram outlining the progression from marketing exposure to consumption and health consequences. The findings, presented as a narrative review, revealed widespread exposure of children to alcohol marketing and demonstrated its significant role in shaping attitudes and behaviours leading to alcohol consumption. This persistent exposure suggests that current self-regulatory measures are inadequate. Stronger government-led legislation is needed to limit alcohol marketing and disrupt the pathway from exposure to harm. Protecting children from alcohol marketing is critical to improving their long-term health outcomes and reducing the burden of alcohol-related harm in New Zealand.</p>","PeriodicalId":520341,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand","volume":"56 1","pages":"e70007"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13014794/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147523718","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
James F Mbinta, Nicole Satherley, Andrew A Sporle, Jan Sheppard, Aliitasi Su'a-Tavila, Binh P Nguyen, Nigel French, Colin R Simpson
{"title":"Disparities in the Uptake of COVID-19 Vaccination Between Māori and Non-Māori in Aotearoa New Zealand.","authors":"James F Mbinta, Nicole Satherley, Andrew A Sporle, Jan Sheppard, Aliitasi Su'a-Tavila, Binh P Nguyen, Nigel French, Colin R Simpson","doi":"10.1002/snz2.70005","DOIUrl":"10.1002/snz2.70005","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Since the first COVID-19 case, the Aotearoa New Zealand response has been adjusted to match the evolving virus, transitioning from elimination to protection. Using whole-of-population data, this study aimed to examine variables associated with COVID-19 vaccination among Māori and quantify the gap in COVID-19 immunisation coverage between Māori and non-Māori. A retrospective study was conducted using microdata from Stats NZ. Logistic regression was used to estimate the odds of being unvaccinated or only partially vaccinated as a function of the independent variables, adjusting for the effects of all other variables in the adjusted model. Primary Health Organisation (PHO) enrolees (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.10, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.10-0.11) and individuals with a household income exceeding NZ$100,001 per annum (aOR = 0.33, 95% CI: 0.30-0.36) had lower odds of being unvaccinated (more likely to be vaccinated). Disability (aOR = 1.52, 95% CI: 1.48-1.56), household crowding (aOR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.17-1.24), poor housing quality (aOR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.07-1.14), three or more generation family type (aOR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.13-1.21) and the presence of a child aged under five in the household (aOR = 1.51, 95% CI: 1.47-1.55) were associated with being unvaccinated. We found sizeable gaps in COVID-19 vaccination rates between Māori and non-Māori.</p>","PeriodicalId":520341,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand","volume":"56 1","pages":"e70005"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12964992/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147380455","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"\"If It Don't Talk, It's Not Whakapapa Data\": Conceptualising Whakapapa Data in a Digital Age.","authors":"Ella Pēpi Tarapa-Dewes, Tahu Kukutai","doi":"10.1002/snz2.70016","DOIUrl":"10.1002/snz2.70016","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In Te Ao Māori, whakapapa is a sacred framework that connects all aspects of existence. Whakapapa is highly sensitive information and a taonga that requires active protection. But what can be considered whakapapa data in a digital age where data linkage is ubiquitous and the boundaries between personal and collective information are increasingly blurred? We explore this question through a case study with Ngāti Tiipa, a hapū that is actively engaged in its own data sovereignty research. Reflexive thematic analysis of whānau kōrero identified three types of whakapapa data, each denoting a specific kind of connection: 1) between relatives, both living and deceased; 2) between people and places of cultural significance; and 3) between people and the spiritual realm. Whānau concepts of whakapapa data tend to be context-specific, suggesting that it is more useful to think of whakapapa data as dynamic and relational rather than a fixed, inherent attribute.</p>","PeriodicalId":520341,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand","volume":"56 1","pages":"e70016"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12965030/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147380494","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Xiaoyun Jia, Minyi Wang, Anni Lu, Andrew Zhu, Jun Lu, Liangni Sally Liu
{"title":"Effects of Social Media Consumption on Loneliness and Depression During the Pandemic: A Quantitative Online Survey With the Asian Community of New Zealand.","authors":"Xiaoyun Jia, Minyi Wang, Anni Lu, Andrew Zhu, Jun Lu, Liangni Sally Liu","doi":"10.1002/snz2.70014","DOIUrl":"10.1002/snz2.70014","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Objective:</b> This article investigates whether and how social media consumption of COVID-19 related information influenced the levels of loneliness and depression during the pandemic in the Asian community of New Zealand. <b>Methods:</b> An online survey (<i>N</i> = 402) explored the impact of COVID-19 on New Zealand's Asian community during the first year of the pandemic. Employing the 2018 New Zealand Census's Asian adult population distribution by age, gender, and location, stratified sampling technique was used to ensure that all Asian New Zealanders in the country were statistically represented. <b>Results:</b> Social media consumption of COVID-19 information has no significant effects on loneliness or depression. Higher age is associated with lower levels of loneliness and lower levels of depression. Higher trust/confidence in media information is associated with higher levels of depression, but higher trust/confidence in medical workers and organizations (i.e. doctors and hospitals) is associated with lower levels of depression. <b>Conclusions:</b> Social media consumption of COVID-19 related information did not influence loneliness and depression among Asian community during the pandemic. <b>Implications for Public Health:</b> This article presents data for public health strategy development to combat and reduce loneliness and depression.</p>","PeriodicalId":520341,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand","volume":"56 1","pages":"e70014"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12965022/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147380435","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sok L Chheang, Sara R Jaeger, Birgit Ha, Duncan I Hedderley, F Roger Harker
{"title":"New Zealanders' Sentiments and Attitudes Towards a \"Beyond Organic\" Food Production System.","authors":"Sok L Chheang, Sara R Jaeger, Birgit Ha, Duncan I Hedderley, F Roger Harker","doi":"10.1002/snz2.70010","DOIUrl":"10.1002/snz2.70010","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A novel consumer research methodology, text highlighting, was used to explore what New Zealand consumers like and dislike about a 20-sentence text describing a \"beyond organic\" food production system, based on biodynamic practices. The results were compared with those previously collected and published for Australian, Singaporean, British and German consumers. The method allows consumer sentiments (liking minus disliking) to be calculated for individual sentences, and New Zealanders' sentiments varied from +46.9 to -19.0. New Zealanders responded positively to sentences about \"balanced ways of farming,\" \"soil fertility and wellbeing,\" \"biodiversity,\" \"ecosystems,\" and \"guardians of the land.\" The highest sentiment (+46.9) was for the sentence: \"Beyond organic\" farmers care for the soil, groundwater, and wildlife to build healthy ecosystems and rich biodiversity.\" Differences between countries, when they existed, suggest that New Zealanders are more supportive of farmers and the role of farming in local communities.</p>","PeriodicalId":520341,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand","volume":"56 1","pages":"e70010"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12964998/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147380136","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Carolina Loch, Paul Brunton, Susan Moffat, John Aarts, Samuel Carrington, Karl Lyons, Andrew Gray, Elana Curtis, Zoe Bristowe, Bridget Kool, Chris Hendry, Warwick Bagg, Damian Scarf, Susan Shaw, Collin Tukuitonga, Jonathan Williman, Denise Wilson, Peter Crampton
{"title":"Sociodemographic Characteristics of Aotearoa New Zealand Oral Health Students: Do Student Cohorts Reflect the Society They Will Serve?","authors":"Carolina Loch, Paul Brunton, Susan Moffat, John Aarts, Samuel Carrington, Karl Lyons, Andrew Gray, Elana Curtis, Zoe Bristowe, Bridget Kool, Chris Hendry, Warwick Bagg, Damian Scarf, Susan Shaw, Collin Tukuitonga, Jonathan Williman, Denise Wilson, Peter Crampton","doi":"10.1002/snz2.70003","DOIUrl":"10.1002/snz2.70003","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study evaluated sociodemographic characteristics of students enrolled in dentistry, oral health and dental technology in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) between 2016 and 2020. Sociodemographic data were obtained from central student record systems and NZ population data from the 2018 Census. Age, gender and citizenship status were analysed for the whole cohort, whilst other categories were analysed for NZ citizens and permanent residents only. Descriptive statistics were presented as raw counts or rates per 100,000 of the population. Most NZ students were educated in the public system. For dentistry and dental technology, a third of the cohort were international students, contrasting with only 4% of oral health students. Most NZ-educated students attended schools serving socioeconomically privileged communities. For all programmes, most students came from urban areas and there were more female than male students enrolled. Māori and Pacific students represented 9.3% and 5.4% of enrolments, despite representing 20% and 9% of the NZ population. Māori and Pacific peoples and those from rural and low socioeconomic areas were underrepresented, despite efforts to address such inequities. Admission policies in NZ universities need to ensure that Māori and Pacific peoples and those from rural and low socioeconomic areas are considered from a social justice and equity positioning.</p>","PeriodicalId":520341,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand","volume":"56 1","pages":"e70003"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12964988/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147380335","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
David A J Middleton, Finlay N Thompson, Adam D Langley, Philipp Neubauer
{"title":"Implementing Reproducible Fisheries Research: A Decade of Experience With the Kahawai Reporting System.","authors":"David A J Middleton, Finlay N Thompson, Adam D Langley, Philipp Neubauer","doi":"10.1002/snz2.70011","DOIUrl":"10.1002/snz2.70011","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Scientific publishing is widely perceived to be in a state of crisis. A contributing factor is reproducibility: the extent to which the results can be replicated is key to assessing the reliability of a study. Reproducibility rates have often been found to be low, a situation complicated by the fact that many studies provide insufficient details of their methods. For the last decade, we have been using a framework that allows us to fully reproduce the results of analyses of fisheries data. Key features are that the analyses are fully defined in code and run within a consistent computing environment. The approach has proven to be transferable, with the framework being adopted in a range of other disciplines. Incentivising the broader adoption of fully reproducible analyses would assist in re-establishing trust in scientific publications, addressing the \"reproducibility crisis\" while also providing a basis for strengthened peer review processes and increasing the likelihood that questionable research practices are identified. Implementing fully reproducible analyses has some overhead, especially where the software tools that support the approach are unfamiliar. We have found that the benefits of openness, transparency, and efficiency, together with increased collaboration, make this overhead worthwhile.</p>","PeriodicalId":520341,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand","volume":"56 1","pages":"e70011"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12964991/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147380079","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Andrew N Shelling, Harry G Fraser, Kimberley Gamet, Fay Sowerby
{"title":"Genomics and Discrimination in New Zealand Health and Life Insurance.","authors":"Andrew N Shelling, Harry G Fraser, Kimberley Gamet, Fay Sowerby","doi":"10.1002/snz2.70004","DOIUrl":"10.1002/snz2.70004","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The use of genomics offers substantial benefits to society by revolutionising approaches to healthcare and personalised medicine. It enables early detection of genetic predispositions to various diseases, allowing for proactive and tailored treatment plans, access to clinical trials, and improved health outcomes. Additionally, genomic testing plays an important role in focusing research activity by advancing our understanding and knowledge of molecular contributions to diseases and driving innovation in medical science. 'Genetic testing' is sometimes used interchangeably with 'genomic testing' but they have different meanings. Genetic testing examines the functioning and composition of single genes. Genomic testing can be defined as a more complex test that analyses or provides interpretation of information about a single gene or genes, RNA, or chromosomes, with the addition of other types of molecular testing. The use of the term 'genomic testing' is future proofing our use of this type of information, as we are moving from a single gene test (genetic testing) towards more complex and nuanced methods (genomic testing).</p>","PeriodicalId":520341,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand","volume":"56 1","pages":"e70004"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13014783/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147523745","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Vital Role of Research in Transforming Mental Health in Aotearoa New Zealand.","authors":"Denisse Sanchez, Ian Soosay","doi":"10.1002/snz2.70009","DOIUrl":"10.1002/snz2.70009","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Improving our mental health and wellbeing is the challenge of our generation. As the mental health landscape evolves, a comprehensive research framework is essential to address the growing prevalence of mental health disorders in Aotearoa New Zealand. This viewpoint article highlights the need for a diverse research approach, encompassing interventional research, condition-specific studies, treatment-based research, longitudinal research, and health services research. Effective mental health policies require a combination of robust data analysis, international collaboration, and direct engagement with communities. By integrating these elements, we can ensure that interventions are both evidence-based and locally relevant.</p>","PeriodicalId":520341,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand","volume":"56 1","pages":"e70009"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13014790/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147523776","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}