Health and Ageing Research Team – HART

The Health and Ageing Research Team (HART) is an interdisciplinary group of researchers doing research projects related to health and ageing in Aotearoa New Zealand.

What we do

We have been carrying out research to understand the status and determinants of health and wellbeing for older Aotearoa New Zealand adults since 2006.

Our research projects relate to health and ageing in Aotearoa and use quantitative and qualitative methodologies.

New Zealand Health, Work and Retirement Study

The New Zealand Health, Work and Retirement Study (HWR) is our flagship project. This longitudinal study includes:

  • a quantitative survey of older Aotearoa residents every two years
  • qualitative interviews
  • face-to-face cognitive interviews.

It has also been known in previous phases as the:

  • New Zealand Longitudinal Study of Ageing (NZSLA)
  • Independence Contribution Connection (ICC) study.

We use data from this study and others to explore a wide range of issues and research questions around the health and wellbeing of older people in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Learn more about the New Zealand Health, Work and Retirement Study

Current research interests

Explore a selection of the Health and Ageing Research Team's current research interests.

Work and care

Looking at experiences of older people juggling work and care responsibilities to understand influences at the:

  • individual
  • organisational
  • policy levels.

Older workers research programme

Entrepreneurship

What are the experiences and barriers to entrepreneurship among older people and kaumātua?

Older workers research programme

Older worker experiences

Understanding factors impacting workforce participation over time by studying health, social, demographic and work-related experiences and beliefs.

Older workers research programme

Business and employers

What are the barriers to employment for older workers? And what is best practice for maintaining and enhancing their reputation?

Older workers research programme

Pandemic response and recovery

Designing a framework for key organisations to develop pandemic responses that are sensitive to the strengths and needs of older adults.

Projects and grants

Explore recent funded projects by the Health and Ageing Research Team.

Pandemic response and recovery framework

A pandemic response and recovery framework supporting equity for older people
  • Years: 2021-2022 (24 months)
  • Funder: Health Research Council of New Zealand
  • Funds: $996,615
  • The Team: Professor Christine Stephens, Professor Fiona Alpass, Mr Brendan Stevenson, Dr Joanne Allen, Dr Polly Yeung, Associate Professor Siautu Alefiao-Tuiga, Associate Professor Mary Breheny, Professor David Johnston, Dr Maureen Mooney, Associate Professor Natasha Tassell-Matamua

Older workers

Maximising workforce participation for older New Zealanders: Opportunities, Challenges and Prospects
  • Years: 2017-2022
  • Funder: Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
  • Funds: $3,996,875
  • The Team: Professor Christine Stephens, Professor Fiona Alpass, Dr Mary Breheny, Dr Andy Towers, Dr Mika Jason, Mr Brendan Stevenson, Dr Joanne Allen

Learn more about this project

Ageing, housing and health

Ageing, housing and health: A collaborative study
  • Years: 2016-2017
  • Funder: Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
  • Funds: $141,727
  • The Team: Professor Christine Stephens, Professor Vanessa Burholt (Swansea University), Professor Judith Phillips (Swansea University), Professor Norah Keating (University of Alberta), Associate Professor Sarah Hillcoat Nalletamby (Swansea University)

Enabling participation by all older people

Enabling participation by all older people: Targeting past and future predictors of ageing well
  • Years: 2014-2018
  • Funder: Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
  • Funds: $1,800,000
  • The Team: Professor Christine Stephens, Professor Fiona Alpass, Dr Sally Keeling (Otago University), Dr Mary Breheny and Mr Brendan Stevenson

Impact of Christchurch earthquakes

Tracking the health and wellbeing over time of older New Zealanders affected by the Christchurch earthquakes
  • Years: 2014
  • Funder: EQC Biennial Grants Programme
  • Funds: $27,000
  • The Team: Brendan Stevenson, Fiona Alpass, Christine Stephens (Massey University) and Sally Keeling (Otago University)

Participation of older adults

Independence Contribution Connection – Participation of Older Adults: Independence, Contribution and Connections
  • Years: 2012-2013
  • Funder: Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
  • Funds: $688,423
  • The Team: Professor Christine Stephens, Professor Fiona Alpass, Mr Brendan Stevenson, Ms Vicki Beagley, and Dr Sally Keeling (University of Otago)

The New Zealand longitudinal study of ageing (NZLSA)

  • Years: 2007-2013
  • Funder: The New Zealand Foundation for Research, Science, & Technology
  • Funds: $3,750,000
  • The Team: Professor Fiona Alpass, Professor Christine Stephens, Mr Charles Waldegrave and Dr Peter King (Social Policy Research Centre, Family Centre), Dr Sally Keeling (University of Otago)

Living standards index for elders

  • Years: 2009-2012
  • Funder: The New Zealand Foundation for Research, Science, & Technology
  • Funds: $1,050,500
  • The Team: Dr Mary Breheny, Professor Christine Stephens, Professor Fiona Alpass, Mr Brendan Stevenson, Ms Vicki Beagley and Dr Kristie Carter (University of Otago)

Health, work and retirement (HWR)

New Zealand Health, Work and Retirement Longitudinal Study (HWR)
  • Years: 2005-2008
  • Funder: The Health Research Council of New Zealand
  • Funds: $922,375
  • The Team: Professor Fiona Alpass, Professor Christine Stephens, Ms Helen Pennington, Mr Eljon Fitzgerald, Mr Brendan Stevenson, Dr Judith Davey

Learn more about this project

Outputs and publications

We regularly publish findings from our studies in international scientific journals.

Explore our research outputs and publications

Our people

The HART team

The Hart team

From left to right: Associate Professor Andy Towers, Professor Fiona Alpass, Ms Hannah Phillips, Professor Christine Stephens, Ms Vicki Beagley, Dr Rosie Gibson, Associate Professor Susanne Rohr, Associate Professor Polly Yeung, Dr Brendan Stevenson.

Our award-winning Health and Ageing Research Team includes researchers from Massey's:

The team includes:

  • senior researchers
  • emerging researchers
  • postgraduate doctoral, master's and honours students working on projects in ageing research supervised by HART staff.
Dr Joanne Allen

Dr Joanne Allen

PhD, BPsych
Senior Research Officer
Phone
Department
School of Psychology
Professor Fiona Alpass

Professor Fiona Alpass

Professor of Psychology
Phone
Department
School of Psychology
Dr Gillian Craven

Dr Gillian Craven

PhD
Lecturer
Phone
Department
School of Psychology
Dr Rosie Gibson

Dr Rosie Gibson

PhD, MSc, BSc
Senior Lecturer
Phone
Professor Juliana Mansvelt

Professor Juliana Mansvelt

PhD, BA(Hons), BA
Professor of Geography
Phone
Department
School of People, Environment and Planning

Hannah Phillips-Wood

Junior Research Officer
Phone
Department
School of Psychology
Dr Rachael Pond

Dr Rachael Pond

Senior Lecturer
Phone
Department
Institute of Education
Associate Professor Susanne Roehr

Associate Professor Susanne Roehr

PhD
Associate Professor in Psychology
Phone
Department
School of Psychology
Professor Christine Stephens

Professor Christine Stephens

DipSocSc, BA, PhD, MA
Professor
Phone
Department
School of Psychology
Associate Professor Joanne Taylor

Associate Professor Joanne Taylor

PhD, DipClinPsych, MA, BA
Associate Professor
Phone
Department
School of Psychology
Associate Professor Andy Towers

Associate Professor Andy Towers

PhD, MA, BA(Hons)
Associate Professor
Phone
Department
School of Health Sciences
Associate Professor Polly Yeung

Associate Professor Polly Yeung

MSW(Appl), BA, PhD
Associate Professor
Phone
Department
School of Social Work

Collaborations

The Health and Ageing Research Team collaborates with academics and institutions all over the world.

Find out more about our collaborations