New Zealand Health, Work and Retirement Study – HWR

The New Zealand Health, Work and Retirement Study is a longitudinal study of people in New Zealand aged 55 years and over – looking at issues such as health, work, retirement and housing.

The New Zealand Health, Work and Retirement Study (HWR) is a study of people aged 55 years and over who live in New Zealand.

The study aims to provide information on issues relevant to people in this age group such as:

  • health
  • work
  • retirement
  • housing.

This research provides New Zealand residents with the opportunity to share their experiences to help inform national and international discussions on these important issues.

About the study

The New Zealand Health, Work and Retirement Study began in 2006. It is led by Professor Christine Stephens and Professor Fiona Alpass from Massey's School of Psychology.

Participant information

Get information for participants in the New Zealand Health, Work and Retirement study. Download an information sheet.

Surveys, technical reports & datasets

Download copies of survey questions from the Health Work and Retirement Study (HWS) and technical reports – or request data from core survey measures.

Publications & research outputs

Get references and links to research outputs for projects involving the Health and Ageing Research Team – from journal articles to book chapters and reports.

Data collection

The research has employed six modes of data collection to assess health and wellbeing among older adults in New Zealand:

  • a biennial health survey
  • anonymised linkage to national health records
  • anonymised linkage to ACC records
  • in-depth qualitative interviews on a range of topics
  • face to face and telephone interviews asking participants about events of the early, mid and later lives
  • face to face cognitive health screens.

Other names

The New Zealand Health, Work and Retirement Study has also been known as:

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

These projects have been led or co-led by the Health and Ageing Research Team (HART). They fall under the broader focus, resources and participant base of the New Zealand Health, Work and Retirement Study.

Read more about the Health and Ageing Research Team

Partners & advisers

Our Māori Advisory Group supports our inclusion and protection of data provided by Māori participants under te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Māori Advisory Group

Our Māori Advisory Group comes together during the planning phases of projects that have a focus on Māori populations in New Zealand.

The group provides the following:

  • a forum for the discussion of key issues pertaining to project materials, methods and outputs that are relevant to Māori participants and older people as a whole
  • advice on the cultural appropriateness of project outputs related to Maori peoples
  • advice on the planning and operational elements of the project
  • voluntary peer review of academic work explicitly analysing data from Māori participants.

Members are also kept informed about the dissemination of findings of HART projects.

Māori Advisory Group members

The Advisory Group is made up of the convener Mr Brendan Stevenson, Dr Natasha Tassell-Matamua and four community members, including representation by mana whenua.

  • Brendan Stevenson - convener (Ngā Puhi, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Pōrou) Senior Consultant, Allen + Clarke Consulting.
  • Natasha Tassell-Matamua (Te Atiawa, Ngāti Makea ki Rarotonga) Associate Professor, Massey University.
  • Roland Fitzgerald (Ngāti Pōrou, Rangitāne) Māori educator.
  • John Waldon (Tuhoe, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Pōrou) Māori Researcher.
  • Ruma Karaitiana (Rangitāne, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngai Tara, Kāi Tahu) Professional Director.
  • Penny Poutu (Ngāti Maniapoto) Māori educator.

Research team

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
Dr Rachael Pond

Dr Rachael Pond

Senior Lecturer
Phone
Department
Institute of Education
Associate Professor Susanne Röhr (Roehr)

Associate Professor Susanne Röhr (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

Contact details

Contact us with questions about this project or the Health and Ageing Research Team. Get more details about researchers on this project.

HART Research team

Free phone