8 October 2019
This short research bulletin presents preliminary findings from the second online New Zealand Drug Trends Survey (NZDTS) conducted in 2018/19 by the SHORE & Wharki Research Centre, Massey University. Download the bulletin here.
4 Oct 2019
With the possibility a medicinal cannabis scheme could be up and running next year, researchers say there is still time to learn from similar schemes overseas.
In a report out on Friday morning, the experts warn legalising recreational cannabis at a similar time might undercut the market and lead to less access to safer medicinal products.
Massey University academic Marta Rychert joined The AM Show.
See more here.
20 Sep 2019
Massey University is hosting a series of public lectures on cannabis policy reform in the lead-up to the national referendum cannabis law planned for next year’s general election.
Associate Professor Chris Wilkins and Dr Marta Rychert from the SHORE & Whāriki Research Centre, in collaboration with colleagues from the College of Creative Arts’ Design & Democracy Project, are bringing speakers from Australia, Belgium, Canada, the United States and Uruguay to speak about the cannabis reforms enacted in their countries in a series of lectures open to the public in Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington next month.
In addition to a public seminar being held in Wellington on 15 October, Massey University has partnered with the University of Auckland Public Policy Institute and University of Otago to bring the speakers to Auckland (October 17) and Christchurch (October 18).
Who are the international experts?
Professor Beau Kilmer
RAND Corporation Drug Policy Research Center, United States
Associate Professor Rosario Queirolo
Catholic University of Uruguay, Latin American Marijuana Research Initiative
Professor Simon Lenton
National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University, Australia
Professor Tom Decorte
Ghent University, Belgium
Professor Benedikt Fischer
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Canada; now with Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland
Where and when?
Auckland:
17 October (Thursday) 6pm-8pm, University of Auckland
Science Centre (Building 301) Large Chemistry Lecture Theatre (Room G050), 23 Symonds St.
Register here:
https://cannabis-decision-2020-auckland.lilregie.com/
Wellington:
15 October (Tuesday) 6pm-8pm, Wharewaka Function Centre, 2 Taranaki St.
Register here:
https://cannabis-decision-2020-wellington.lilregie.com/
Christchurch:
18 October (Friday) 4:30pm–6:30, University of Otago Rolleston Lecture Theatre, 2 Riccarton Ave
Register here:
https://cannabis-decision-2020-christchurch.lilregie.com/
See flyer here and more information here.
1 Aug 2019
Associate Professor Chris Wilkins has been invited by the Prime Minister’s Scientific Advisor to join the panel of experts considering cannabis law reform. See the bios of the rest of the panel and the terms of reference at the link below:
https://www.pmcsa.ac.nz/our-projects/cannabis/
19 Jul 2019
This Health Research Council funded study, undertaken with 35 disabled children and young people and their whanau, has concluded that social attitudes can undermine inclusion and participation as much if not more than inaccessible built environments. To illustrate the effects of ableism of the wellbeing of disabled young people SHORE & Whariki researchers have collaborated with cartoonist Toby Morris. Link to Toby’s cartoon here.
25 June 2019
Professor Helen Moewaka Barnes, Te Kapotai, Ngapuhi-nui-tonu, from Massey University’s SHORE & Whāriki Research Centre, has been awarded nearly $5 million to investigate environmental and kaupapa Māori initiatives aimed at providing much needed gains in Māori health outcomes.
Read more here.
17 June 2019
Professor Sally Casswell was a speaker at the Global Health Forum of the Boao Forum in Qingdao, China, June 2019, in the session on risk factors for NCDs. Professor Casswell directs SHORE, which is a WHO Collaborating Centre in alcohol and drug research and is chair of the global NGO, the Global Alcohol Policy Alliance.
12 June 2019
New Zealand should look at Uruguay as a good example for how to handle cannabis legalisation, drug researcher Chris Wilkins says.
Dr Wilkins told The AM Show Uruguay has taken a not for profit approach to cannabis, which has allowed for a much lower impact introduction of the drug.
21 May 2019
Professor Jane Mills, the PVC for the College of Health, visited SHORE & Whariki for a lunch-time catch up on Friday. After lunch, Teah Carlson, Taisia Huckle, Octavia Calder-Dawe and Angela Moewaka Barnes (pictured) gave brief presentations about the studies they are currently working on.
16 May 2019
Dr Marta Rychert from Massey University’s SHORE & Whāriki Research Centre has been awarded almost $250,000 from the Health Research Council of New Zealand (HRC) to explore medicinal cannabis use in New Zealand.
HRC press release is here: http://www.hrc.govt.nz/news-and-publications/news-media#medicinal-cannabis-users-focus-of-new-research
Massey release is here: https://www.massey.ac.nz/massey/about-massey/news/article.cfm?mnarticle_uuid=9257061F-233C-4D98-B6BA-AEC044E5977C
13 May 2019
Belinda (Ngati Ranginui, Ngai Te Rangi, Whakatohea) recently graduated with her PhD and participated in the celebration to honour Maori graduates at the Victoria Convention Centre in Auckland. Her thesis explores how societal privilege contributes to health inequities and how kaupapa Maori methodologies can offer new and exciting insights into complex problems that affect the health and wellbeing of the nation. She greatly appreciates the support of her family as well as her supervisors, Professors Helen Moewaka Barnes and Tim McCreanor and all the team at Whariki and SHORE.
7 May 2019
Research shows continued use of cannabis can have a harmful mental and physical impact on people under 25. Yet, an apparently leaked Cabinet paper reveals the Government is considering setting the legal age at 20.
Is New Zealand ready for its cannabis referendum? See more interview details here.
2 May 2019
He uri mokopuna tēnei no Te Whānau a Apanui, Ngāti Porou me Waikato- Tainui hoki.
Teah completed her PhD in Public Health at Massey University, titled “Kaupapa Māori Evaluation: Transforming health literacy”. She evaluated the effectiveness of a heart disease medicines health literacy intervention for Māori who were involved in the programme, exploring the contribution kaupapa Māori theorising may offer to the evaluation of health literacy activities. Teah’s research promotes reclamation of health literacy as a space for Māori to be themselves; a space that is negotiated, adaptive, and shaped by people, whānau, and communities.
1 May 2019
Associate Professor Chris Wilkins joined Breakfast this morning to discuss wastewater drug testing and New Zealand’s meth problem. View the interview here.
17 April 2019
We have a PhD scholarship available for darknet research in New Zealand (attached). The recipient will be based at SHORE & Whariki (Massey University) in Auckland, New Zealand (with Associate Professor Chris Wilkins and Dr. Marta Rychert) and a wider team of well-known Australian drug researchers including Dr. Monica Barratt and Professor Jochen Mueller. Please feel free to circulate widely.
Doctoral Scholarship
Applications are invited to apply for a PhD scholarship with the drug research team at the SHORE & Whariki Research Centre, College of Health, Massey University, New Zealand in the field of online encrypted drug markets (known as “darknets”). The PhD is part of a wider study of the impact of darknets in New Zealand funded by the New Zealand Royal Society Marsden Fund. This three-year scholarship is valued at NZ $27,500 p.a. plus tuition fees. The candidate will be based at our offices in central Auckland, New Zealand. This scholarship could suit a candidate from a number of disciplines including computer science, criminology, health, law and economics.
Those who are interested in applying are invited to email Associate Professor Chris Wilkins with a brief outline of their relevant experience, curriculum vitae and one piece of academic writing by the 10th June 2019 c.wilkins@massey.ac.nz.
You can read about our recent research at
https://shoreandwhariki.ac.nz/chris-wilkins
https://shoreandwhariki.ac.nz/
Applying for the Scholarship
It is expected the candidate will hold a first class honour’s or master’s degree in an area relevant to the topic area. Applicants must meet the University’s criteria for entry into the PhD programme and have a grade average sufficient to be eligible for a doctoral scholarship (i.e. GPA 7.5+).
You can down load PDF here.
29 Mar 2019
SHORE & Whariki hosted Associate Professor Treena Delmorier, McGill University, who presented a seminar on ‘Food Sovereignty and Indigenous Health Promotion: Approaches for improving nutrition, food systems and well-being’.
