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Social sciences and public policy news
Celebrating AUTs women academics
08 Mar, 2021
Today is International Women’s Day. Read a sample of the research from AUT’s women academics who are working to improve the lives of women in our society.
Covid-19 stimulus a lost opportunity
Social sciences and public policy
25 Feb, 2021
Did the NZ government embrace the call to "build back better" by directing COVID-19 stimulus towards a low-emission economy?
Would 'COVID loans' be more affordable?
16 Feb, 2021
Faced with a COVID-19 pandemic of unknown severity and duration, governments are looking for effective and sustainable ways to maintain their economies.
Using data to create social equity
Social sciences and public policy
03 Feb, 2021
Researchers at the AUT Centre for Social Data Analytics help agencies use data to make better decisions about how to support the most vulnerable people.
Climate emergency: Inspire hope not fear
Social sciences and public policy
01 Dec, 2020
A declaration of a climate emergency is not the same as action.
A roadmap to action for climate finance
Social sciences and public policy
10 Nov, 2020
AUT academics have helped put together a comprehensive new report on how we can reform our financial system to help fight the climate crisis.
Social sciences and public policy
22 Oct, 2020
New research establishes an association between the daily mood of trainee doctors and their intention to quit.
Employment relations journal now free
Social sciences and public policy
13 Oct, 2020
The New Zealand Journal of Employment Relations will now make itself available free on Tuwhera, AUT’s open access journal hosting service.
Do we follow or lead on climate change?
Social sciences and public policy
06 Oct, 2020
When the Zero Carbon Act was passed, back in pre-Covid times, the Prime Minister insisted “New Zealand will not be a slow follower” on climate change.
Social sciences and public policy
21 Sep, 2020
A world-first machine learning tool developed at AUT for a county in the United States, accurately prioritises requests for housing help.
AUT launches new advertising campaign
04 Sep, 2020
AUT graduates are telling the story in their own words of how their AUT experience inspired them and shaped their lives and futures.
Former refugee now Ivy League student
Social sciences and public policy
05 Aug, 2020
AUT alumnus Guled Mire says his new Fulbright NZ scholarship to study at an Ivy League university sends a strong message to other refugee kids.
Algorithm predicts child injuries
Social sciences and public policy
04 Aug, 2020
New AUT research confirms the value of predictive risk modelling technology to support child maltreatment decisions.
Social sciences and public policy
08 Jul, 2020
One of the most entrenched existing biases in economic practice was highlighted and magnified by the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown in Aotearoa.
Digital contact tracing for COVID-19
Social sciences and public policy
03 Jun, 2020
Digital contact tracing solutions for COVID-19 must offer exceptional speed and achieve high take-up rates to be useful, a working paper has found.
Lessons From NZ’s Bubbles For The World
Social sciences and public policy
02 Jun, 2020
Initial findings into how New Zealanders did under lockdown can now help inform policy makers around the globe fighting COVID-19.
NZ’s COVID-19 budget and climate change
Social sciences and public policy
18 May, 2020
New Zealand's COVID-19 budget delivers on one crisis, but largely leaves climate change for another day, writes Dr David Hall.
Social sciences and public policy
29 Apr, 2020
We can’t always conflate the occupants of a single residence into one neat group.
Call for better oversight of aged care
Social sciences and public policy
28 Apr, 2020
Covid-19 has critically exposed the frailties of our current regulatory and oversight systems surrounding aged care, Professor Judy McGregor writes.
Screening tool in Netflix documentary
Social sciences and public policy
28 Feb, 2020
A new Netflix documentary series features a predictive risk modelling tool that was built and implemented by a team led by Professor Rhema Vaithianathan.
Undergraduate wins best political essay
Social sciences and public policy
09 Jan, 2020
An AUT student has been awarded the Best Undergraduate Essay in New Zealand Politics by the New Zealand Political Studies Association.
New Year Honours for AUT academic
Social sciences and public policy
08 Jan, 2020
Professor Marilyn Waring is appointed a Dames Companion of The New Zealand Order of Merit.
Call for a diverse national forest
Social sciences and public policy
06 Dec, 2019
Perhaps, when it comes to forests and climate change, we've got the wrong end of the stick, writes Dr David Hall.
MPs failing to lead on human rights
Social sciences and public policy
05 Dec, 2019
Democracy in New Zealand is suffering from a Parliament which under-performs in its scrutiny of human rights, a new report has found.
Social sciences and public policy
15 Nov, 2019
Progress towards gender and ethnic diversity amongst the leadership of the country’s top companies has stalled, research has found.
Social sciences and public policy
13 Nov, 2019
A Helen Clark Foundation project to reduce online harm will be presented today in competition at the Paris Peace Forum. 
AUT a 5-star university across all categories
13 Nov, 2019
AUT has received the maximum five stars for the first time in every category according to the global education analysts QS in their recent results.
Māori women who commit crime demonised
Social sciences and public policy
23 Oct, 2019
Newspapers often depict Māori women as intrinsically bad and unworthy of readers’ sympathy while being empathic with Pākehā women, Dr Antje Deckert says.An inspiring and influential woman
Social sciences and public policy
21 Oct, 2019
The BBC has revealed its list of the top 100 inspiring and influential women of 2019 - and Professor Marilyn Waring is among them.
Online voting won’t engage more youth
Social sciences and public policy
09 Oct, 2019
While the convenience would no doubt be popular with many, online voting would not solve the historical low turnout rates, says Dr Julienne Molineaux.
Universities shouldn't host untruths
Social sciences and public policy
08 Oct, 2019
Free speech absolutism is threatening to storm our universities. But like other bad ideas, this is where it should be snuffed out, writes Dr David Hall.
Social sciences and public policy
01 Oct, 2019
AUT's Centre for Social Data Analytics has presented at an event that aims to solve some of the world’s biggest problems.
My generation has failed young Kiwis
Social sciences and public policy
27 Sep, 2019
Some things though give me hope. The schools climate strike is one of them, writes Professor Marilyn Waring.
How to limit climate change push back
Social sciences and public policy
26 Sep, 2019
As a new sense of urgency to act on climate change rises, it is vital that we limit pushback while encouraging action, writes Dr David Hall.Most Kiwis know climate change is here
Social sciences and public policy
17 Sep, 2019
Most New Zealanders say climate change is affecting their day-to-day lives. It's now up to decision makers to turn this into action writes Dr David Hall.
Politicians must do more to earn trust
Social sciences and public policy
13 Sep, 2019
Surveys like Stuff's Your Place 2019 always find the public have low trust in politicians. Dr Julienne Molineaux looks at why.
AUT moves up 50 places in world rankings
12 Sep, 2019
AUT is now in the top 1% of world universities and in the top 50 for research citations.Social sciences and public policy
10 Sep, 2019
The unpaid work often done by women is the single largest sector of New Zealand's economy, writes Professor Marilyn Waring.
19 first in family scholarships awarded
05 Sep, 2019
19 AUT students were awarded Woolf Fisher First-in-Family AUT Scholarships at a celebration event at the AUT South Campus on Thursday 29 August.
Party politics in local elections
Social sciences and public policy
16 Aug, 2019
AUT research shows that candidates affiliated to a central political party are more likely to win seats in Auckland local government.
Ethnic disparities in child protection
19 Jul, 2019
AUT research shows that Māori children are almost four times more likely to be placed out of home by child protection services.
Climate emergency? Try revolution
Social sciences and public policy
18 Jul, 2019
New Zealand's climate emergencies don't look, sound or quack much like an emergency, writes Dr David Hall of The Policy Observatory at AUT.
AUT awards five Professors Emeriti
26 Jun, 2019
Vice-Chancellor Derek McCormack has awarded the honorary title of Professor Emeritus to five senior professors.
NZ has dethroned GDP as a measure of success, but will Ardern's government be transformational?
Social sciences and public policy
11 Jun, 2019
Is the Government's well-being budget transformational? Dr David Hall from The Policy Observatory weighs in.
Reflecting two months after the shooting
Social sciences and public policy
24 May, 2019
Muslim and AUT PhD student Najmah Usman writes how she is heartened and has learnt a lot in wake of the tragedy.
Unequal access to fertility treatment
Social sciences and public policy
23 May, 2019
The disadvantaged are being forced to the DIY fertility scene because of the high-cost of New Zealand's regulated industry, writes Sharyn Graham Davies.
Economics Professor to lead the social sciences
Social sciences and public policy
17 May, 2019
The new Head of School for AUT's School of Social Sciences and Public Policy is to be Professor Tim Maloney.
Social sciences and public policy
16 May, 2019
Professor Marilyn Waring’s autobiographical account of her extraordinary years in parliament, will be explored at the Auckland Writers Festival.
Full scholarship to study fertility
Social sciences and public policy
15 May, 2019
A $81,000 scholarship up for grabs will help ensure the disadvantaged can access fertility treatment.
62% increase in AUT researchers
30 Apr, 2019
Growing expertise to help New Zealand and the world
Social sciences and public policy
12 Apr, 2019
Associate Professor Sharyn Graham Davies has been defending women's right to choose what they wear.
15 Mar, 2019
The tragic event in Christchurch today devastates us. Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their friends and families.
Farewell to Professor Ian Shirley
23 Jan, 2019
Emeritus Professor Ian Shirley was a friend and colleague to many as a researcher, leader, mentor, supervisor and notable person about the University.
Celebrating AUT through the years
21 Jan, 2019
Over 50 of our oldest alumni came together for the 2018 Seddon Memorial Technical College reunion hosted by the alumni office.
Gaining skills for the workplace
14 Dec, 2018
Auckland Council are proud to sponsor the overall achievement prize for the AUT Edge Award, an extra-curricular employability award at AUT.
08 Nov, 2018
Five projects led by AUT researchers have been granted funding totalling $3.58 million in new research for the university, in this Marsden Fund round.
New Professors and Associate Professors announced
01 Nov, 2018
AUT has announced the promotion to Professor of seven senior academics. A further 16 academics have been appointed as Associate Professors.
Social sciences and public policy
26 Oct, 2018
AUT has awarded Tagaloatele Professor Peggy Fairbairn-Dunlop the title of Emeritus Professor in recognition of her contributions to Pacific development iss
Minister launches sustainable blueprint
24 Oct, 2018
The Minister for Climate Change, the Hon James Shaw officially launched AUT’s Sustainability Roadmap on Friday 19 October.
THE rankings place AUT in NZ top three
27 Sep, 2018
AUT has significantly improved in global university rankings published today by the Times Higher Education.
AUT 2019 domestic and international fees
13 Sep, 2018
Tuition fees for new domestic students, and for domestic and international students currently enrolled in a programme will increase in 2019.
Academia enhances social change tools
19 Apr, 2018
Social change campaigner Richie Hardcore kicked off the AUT Culture and Society Career Fair by stressing the importance of resilience and learning.
First national inquiry breaks the silence around family violence in the Pacific
Social sciences and public policy
14 Nov, 2017
Tagaloatele Professor Peggy Fairbairn-Dunlop at AUT is one of four commissioners appointed to oversee Samoa’s national inquiry into family violence..
Auckland: Unsafe, polluted, discriminatory
Social sciences and public policy
25 Sep, 2017
Aucklanders are significantly more likely than other New Zealanders to be the victims of burglary and vehicle offences and although Auckland’s overall crime rate is decreasing, too many Aucklanders continue to feel unsafe.
Musician Tommy Nee releases single to raise awareness of youth homelessness
Social sciences and public policy
29 Jun, 2017
Vodafone Pacific Music Award’s most promising artist of 2017 Tommy Nee has written a song for the Lifewise Big Sleepout campaign with all the funds raised from downloads going towards ending youth homelessness.
Preventing Tongan youth suicide
Social sciences and public policy
23 May, 2017
AUT research students launch New Zealand’s first evidence-based resource for Pacific suicide prevention.
Professor Judy McGregor: More progress on women's rights needed
Social sciences and public policy
08 Mar, 2017
Women’s discontent with gender inequality is on the rise. Today (March 8th) thousands of women will celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD). It will be a bitter sweet celebration. We will welcome women’s increasing advancement in education, health, and the workplace. But we will also lament stalled progress on gender equality in New Zealand at a time when women globally are knitting pink “pussy hats” and have taken protest back to the streets.
Book highlights growing gaps in New Zealand’s human rights record
Social sciences and public policy
22 Jul, 2016
A new book from Professor Judy McGregor describes New Zealand as “worryingly self-satisfied about its human rights record” despite some major shortcomings.
AUT Professor Judy McGregor named supreme winner at 2016 Women in Governance Awards
Social sciences and public policy
01 Jul, 2016
AUT Professor Judy McGregor is the winner of this year’s ‘Supreme Award in Governance’ at the Women in Governance Awards, announced at an awards dinner last night [Thursday, 30 June].
World Refugee Day: Time to debunk myths and welcome refugees to NZ
Social sciences and public policy
20 Jun, 2016
Debunking myths about refugees is AUT senior lecturer Maria Hayward’s goal for World Refugee Day [June 20] this year.
Hayward, who is director of the Centre for Refugee Education [Mangere, Auckland], says there is a huge amount of misinformation about refugees and their lives here in New Zealand.
Symposium on transforming south Auckland
Social sciences and public policy
04 Apr, 2016
Transforming south Auckland’s social and economic future is the focus of a symposium hosted by the Auckland University of Technology’s South Campus and Auckland Council’s Southern Initiative this month.
Opinion: Devastating refugee photos not telling the full story
Social sciences and public policy
24 Sep, 2015
Maria Hayward is a senior lecturer at AUT’s Centre for Refugee Education – part of the Mangere Refugee Resettlement Centre that helps prepare refugees for life in New Zealand.
International book prize a “career highlight” for AUT Associate Professor
Social sciences and public policy
24 Sep, 2015
A prestigious international literary prize has been awarded to AUT Associate Professor Sharyn Graham Davies for her work editing a book which explores sex and sexuality in Indonesia.
Professor of Pacific Studies receives national honour
Social sciences and public policy
14 Sep, 2015
Tagaloatele Professor Peggy Fairbairn-Dunlop was appointed a companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit at an investiture ceremony at Government House last week.
04 Sep, 2015
Congratulations to the winners of the 2015 Doctoral and Masters Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competitions: PhD candidate Kudakwashe Tuwe and Master of Sport and Exercise student Samuel Paterson.
Social sciences and public policy
28 Aug, 2015
Professor Judy McGregor, Head of School of Social Sciences and Public Policy at AUT University and former Equal Opportunities Commissioner at the Human Rights Commission, says New Zealand is a country in denial. We have a self-image of ourselves as inherently good and a political narrative that positions New Zealand as a global human rights leader – but it’s a narrative that suffers under scrutiny.
NZ welfare model not recommended
Social sciences and public policy
05 Jun, 2015
The Australian government is considering social welfare reform but in this opinion piece written for the Australian website The Conversation, AUT social science lecturer Michael Fletcher warns against the adoption of New Zealand’s reform model.
Opinion: Rethink needed for Samoan language survival
Social sciences and public policy
22 May, 2015
While New Zealand celebrates Samoan Language Week from 24-30 May, we also need to think about how we can best ensure the survival of the language, says Salainaoloa Wilson, a PhD student in the School Social Sciences and Public Policy at Auckland University of Technology.
Opinion: Hidden dangers of the generic ‘he’
Social sciences and public policy
11 May, 2015
The use of the generic ‘he’ can be seen across many levels of New Zealand society, and this impacts on what we expect of our young girls and boys, writes Sharyn Davies, Associate Professor in the School of Social Sciences and Public Policy at AUT University.
The humble cuppa - a symbol of diminishing rights?
Social sciences and public policy
13 Apr, 2015
By Professor Judy McGregor, head of the School of Social Sciences and Public Policy at Auckland University of Technology
New Zealand’s human rights reputation at risk
Social sciences and public policy
02 Apr, 2015
A report on the status of human rights in New Zealand says serious fault lines are developing and that the country’s reputation as a global leader is at risk.
Women’s rights then and now – are we falling behind?
Social sciences and public policy
09 Mar, 2015
New Zealand was the first country to give women the vote and we have always regarded ourselves as a leader in giving equal rights to women. To mark International Women’s Day, AUT’s Professor Marilyn Waring recently spoke at Parliament, comparing women rights in the 1970s to now and asking whether we are falling behind.
New book integral to promoting Pacific research
Social sciences and public policy
16 Sep, 2014
A new book edited by Auckland University of Technology (AUT) Professor of Pacific Studies Tagaloatele Peggy Fairbairn-Dunlop, and University of Auckland Associate Professor Eve Coxon brings together the work of Pacific researchers across New Zealand universities
AUT academic first Kiwi for Cambridge position
Social sciences and public policy
08 Jul, 2014
AUT University anthropology lecturer Sharyn Graham Davies is off to Cambridge University as New Zealand’s first recipient of a Leverhulme visiting professorship.
Putting human rights into social protection
Social sciences and public policy
06 Jan, 2014
Policy-makers and development practitioners have a new tool to help them devise dynamic social protection programmes - a book co-authored by AUT’s Professor Marilyn Waring.
Inspirational scholar recognised with Prime Minister’s Award
Social sciences and public policy
20 Dec, 2013
Edmond Fehoko believes in the transformative power of education – he has seen it in his own life and now helps other students to experience it too.
AUT awarded by exercise professionals
Social sciences and public policy
04 Dec, 2013
AUT has been awarded for its significant contribution to the exercise profession and for being the largest provider of graduates to the fitness industry at the 2013 New Zealand Fitness Awards.
Social sciences and public policy
02 Oct, 2013
AUT University’s Professor Marilyn Waring from the School of Social Sciences and Public Policy, and Director of Business Relations – International and Engagement, Sarah Trotman have been named as finalists in the inaugural New Zealand Women of Influence Awards. Winners are due to be announced on 23 October.
Fulbright Award a lifetime honour for AUT anthropologist
Social sciences and public policy
01 Oct, 2013
AUT anthropologist Associate Professor Sharyn Graham Davies says the Fulbright New Zealand Travel Award she received this month, will be an honour for life.
Davies combines lecturing in the School of Social Sciences and Public Policy with an active programme of research currently focusing on procedural justice in Indonesia.
Pacific focus for new gambling research
Social sciences and public policy
02 Sep, 2013
The most detailed study to date of Pacific people’s gambling and the impacts of problem gambling in New Zealand has been carried out by AUT University researchers.
The study was commissioned by the Ministry of Health to improve understanding of the impact of gambling on Pacific people, inform risk factors and better understand causes of problem gambling.
New book gives an insider's view of Asian and Pacific cities
Social sciences and public policy
27 Jun, 2013
A deeper understanding of Asian and Pacific cities and the economic development of countries in the region will only come from understanding the social foundations of development, says AUT’s Professor Ian Shirley.
Facial recognition technology: evaluation will be crucial
Social sciences and public policy
26 Jun, 2013
Professor Max Abbott, director of AUT University’s Gambling and Addictions Research Centre, has commended Mayor Len Brown and SkyCity on the decision to trial facial recognition technology to identify banned problem gamblers.
“No other casino in the world has introduced facial recognition technology, electronic monitoring and ‘pre-commitment’ to time and/or expenditure limits together. It is ground-breaking and could raise the bar across all gambling settings and forms,” Professor Abbott said.
Social sciences and public policy
11 Jun, 2013
AUT researchers are looking for women to participate in the isafe study, a new online research study to assist women living with partner violence to make good safety planning decisions for themselves and their children.
New Pacific Journalism Review challenges Pacific censorship, political 'shackles'
Social sciences and public policy
28 May, 2013
Fiji’s brand of post-coup media censorship and other Pacific political curbs have been challenged in the latest Pacific Journalism Review.
“Even if the Fiji media are shackled, conferences in 2010 and 2012 provided opportunity and space to engage in some open dialogue, including criticism of the regime authorities,” the AUT-published international journal says.
Students get first experience of NZ camp
Social sciences and public policy
22 Dec, 2012
When an experience is described as “the best weekend of my life” you know it was success.
36,000 new brain injuries in NZ each year, incidence at “epidemic proportions”
22 Nov, 2012
The number of people with traumatic brain injuries in New Zealand is at “epidemic proportions” according to the lead investigator of a study published today in the international medical journal The Lancet.
Sistema Aotearoa making a difference in the lives of children- AUT report
Social sciences and public policy
21 Nov, 2012
An AUT University report evaluating the Sistema Aotearoa programme has discovered that the programme has not only enjoyed a successful initial year, it is also having a marked effect on the participating children, their families and the Otara community.
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