Christina Mckerchar
Biographic Data
| ID | 162699 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Christina Mckerchar |
| GIVEN NAMES | Christina |
| FAMILY NAME | Mckerchar |
| SIGNATURE | MCKERCHAR C |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Otago |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-4443-4241 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 18 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 9 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 18 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2009 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 2 |
“It’s such a luxury, we may as well get something we really want”
On-demand delivery of commodities like food and alcohol for immediate consumption has rapidly increased. This shift has significant public health implications, yet consumers understanding of these implications and how they influence consumer decision-making remain underexplored. This study used a qualitative methodology informed by a critical theoretical framework. This lens is aligned with a public health analysis of technologies that shape envi…
Modelled health impacts of three stakeholder-selected policies to support healthy and environmentally sustainable population diets in New Zealand
Uses rich qualitative data on stakeholder perspectives to inform policy design. • Presents three food policies of varying designs to inform real world policy. • Identifies cost saving policies which could potentially reduce health inequities. • Policies require large up-front costs or loss of governmental income. • Health system cost savings are expected in the medium to long term. Food production and consumption impacts both planetary and popula…
Māori Navigating Gut Symptoms
Gut diseases are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Aotearoa New Zealand, with higher rates of these conditions in Te Waipounamu. Māori experience both worse outcomes and different patterns of incidence in gut diseases than non-Māori. Overall, Māori have lower life expectancies than non-Māori and experience barriers to accessing determinants of health. We aim to illuminate how Māori understand the gut and navigate the health system when …
Kotahitanga—connection, unity, and belonging
In Aotearoa New Zealand, perinatal mental health outcomes and maternal suicide rates demonstrate that Māori (the Indigenous peoples of New Zealand) mothers and birthing parents have the worst outcomes relative to other ethnic groups. Little research exists exploring Indigenous approaches to perinatal mental health or the perspectives of Indigenous peoples on perinatal mental health interventions. This article explores a kaupapa Māori (Māori appro…
They were my anchors” Māori with perinatal mental illness identify culturally safe and clinically excellent health care
Quality clinical care occurs within a system, and structural components of the health system can influence practice and impact provision of care. It is systemic changes that will facilitate clinicians' contribution to equitable outcomes for Māori, through the creation of services that support clinicians to prioritise working with whānau, engage in culturally safe practice, and address the barriers that prevent Māori from accessing evidence-based …
Applying a relational lens to the work travel experiences of diverse women
Transport systems have often been designed with the focus of moving commuters in cars as efficiently as possible between home and work during peak travel times associated with standard working hours. For many women, such as those who do not drive, who are disabled, who have children, or who work non-standard hours, these transport systems do not support their commuting needs. Despite a growing body of research over the last 40 years into how wome…
Public health and harmful advertising
The consumption of unhealthy commodities (UHCs) - including unhealthy food, alcohol, tobacco and gambling products - contributes to substantial public health harm and significant social and economic costs. Consumption of UHCs is driven, in part, by increasingly sophisticated, persuasive and extensive product marketing. In Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ), UHC marketing is largely self-regulated by industry but varies by individual commodity. This paper …
Quantifying access to on‐demand alcohol in New Zealand
Generating political priority for alcohol policy reform
Enablers and barriers to dietary change for Māori with nutrition-related conditions in Aotearoa New Zealand
Objective: Māori, the Indigenous population of Aotearoa New Zealand, face a substantial burden of nutrition-related diseases, especially obesity and type 2 diabetes. Weight loss, through dietary change, is a central component of obesity and diabetes prevention and management; however, most approaches have not been designed with or evaluated specifically for Māori. The aim of this study was to review literature on the enablers and barriers to diet…
Thank you for Listening' Kaupapa Māori Methodology as a Facilitator of Culturally Safe Research With Māori Mothers Experiencing Perinatal Mental Illness
Māori are the Indigenous peoples of Aotearoa, New Zealand, and, similar to other Indigenous populations, face significant health inequities. Of concern, Māori mothers and birthing parents experience persistent and grave mental health inequities within the perinatal period relative to other ethnic groups. Indigenous research participants who have mental illness and who are also pregnant or in the early stages of parenting present intersecting ethi…
Promoting health in the digital environment
Services offering on-demand delivery of unhealthy commodities, such as fast food, alcohol and smoking/vaping products have proliferated in recent years. It is well known that the built environment can be health promoting or harmful to health, but there has been less consideration of the digital environment. Increased availability and accessibility of these commodities may be associated with increased consumption, with harmful public health implic…
Māori experiences of social housing in Ōtautahi Christchurch
This article presents selected findings of a twelve‐month‐long research project exploring the lived experiences of Māori social housing tenants residing in Ōtautahi Christchurch. Over the last five years, Aotearoa New Zealand has seen unprecedented social housing demand. There is currently an overrepresentation of Māori experiencing housing need and awaiting placement into social housing, yet studies on this topic are limited. This research narra…
Ensuring the right to food for indigenous children
The right to food for indigenous children, is linked to political and economic systems that are an outcome of colonisation. A decolonising approach where Māori voices and values are central within NZ policies and policy-making processes is needed. Given the importance of food to health, a broad policy approach from the NZ government to ensure the right to adequate food is urgent. This includes economic policies to end child poverty and specific s…
Rights-Based Approaches to Improving Food Availability for Tamariki Māori
Food availability refers to the adequacy of the supply of healthy food. It is a key concern for the wellbeing of tamariki Māori today. A narrative literature review methodology was applied to examine the literature and identify influences that enable the availability of healthy food for tamariki. Findings were synthesised and analysed using the Oranga Mokopuna framework—a rights-based approach grounded in tikanga Māori. Factors enabling healthy f…
Me’akai in Tonga
Unhealthy food consumption is a key driver of the global pandemic in non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The Government of Tonga has prioritised NCD prevention due to the very high rates of NCDs in the Kingdom. This research examines the nature and context of the me'akai (food) consumed by Tongan children in Ha'apai using wearable cameras. Thirty-six randomly selected 11-year-old children used wearable cameras to record their lives for three days, …
Tackling 'wicked' health promotion problems
This paper reports on a complex environmental approach to addressing 'wicked' health promotion problems devised to inform policy for enhancing food security and physical activity among Māori, Pacific and low-income people in New Zealand. This multi-phase research utilized literature reviews, focus groups, stakeholder workshops and key informant interviews. Participants included members of affected communities, policy-makers and academics. Results…
Inclusion of indigenous and ethnic minority populations in intervention trials
BACKGROUND: The Supermarket Healthy Options Project (SHOP) is a large, randomised, controlled trial designed to evaluate the effect of tailored nutrition education and price discounts on supermarket food purchases. A key objective was to recruit approximately equal numbers of Māori, Pacific and non-Māori, non-Pacific shoppers. This paper describes the recruitment strategies used and evaluates their impact on recruitment of Māori, Pacific and non-…
Inclusion of indigenous and ethnic minority populations in intervention trials
BACKGROUND: The Supermarket Healthy Options Project (SHOP) is a large, randomised, controlled trial designed to evaluate the effect of tailored nutrition education and price discounts on supermarket food purchases. A key objective was to recruit approximately equal numbers of Māori, Pacific and non-Māori, non-Pacific shoppers. This paper describes the recruitment strategies used and evaluates their impact on recruitment of Māori, Pacific and non-…
Māori experiences of social housing in Ōtautahi Christchurch
This article presents selected findings of a twelve‐month‐long research project exploring the lived experiences of Māori social housing tenants residing in Ōtautahi Christchurch. Over the last five years, Aotearoa New Zealand has seen unprecedented social housing demand. There is currently an overrepresentation of Māori experiencing housing need and awaiting placement into social housing, yet studies on this topic are limited. This research narra…
Inclusion of indigenous and ethnic minority populations in intervention trials
BACKGROUND: The Supermarket Healthy Options Project (SHOP) is a large, randomised, controlled trial designed to evaluate the effect of tailored nutrition education and price discounts on supermarket food purchases. A key objective was to recruit approximately equal numbers of Māori, Pacific and non-Māori, non-Pacific shoppers. This paper describes the recruitment strategies used and evaluates their impact on recruitment of Māori, Pacific and non-…
Tackling 'wicked' health promotion problems
This paper reports on a complex environmental approach to addressing 'wicked' health promotion problems devised to inform policy for enhancing food security and physical activity among Māori, Pacific and low-income people in New Zealand. This multi-phase research utilized literature reviews, focus groups, stakeholder workshops and key informant interviews. Participants included members of affected communities, policy-makers and academics. Results…
Me’akai in Tonga
Unhealthy food consumption is a key driver of the global pandemic in non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The Government of Tonga has prioritised NCD prevention due to the very high rates of NCDs in the Kingdom. This research examines the nature and context of the me'akai (food) consumed by Tongan children in Ha'apai using wearable cameras. Thirty-six randomly selected 11-year-old children used wearable cameras to record their lives for three days, …
Rights-Based Approaches to Improving Food Availability for Tamariki Māori
Food availability refers to the adequacy of the supply of healthy food. It is a key concern for the wellbeing of tamariki Māori today. A narrative literature review methodology was applied to examine the literature and identify influences that enable the availability of healthy food for tamariki. Findings were synthesised and analysed using the Oranga Mokopuna framework—a rights-based approach grounded in tikanga Māori. Factors enabling healthy f…
Ensuring the right to food for indigenous children
The right to food for indigenous children, is linked to political and economic systems that are an outcome of colonisation. A decolonising approach where Māori voices and values are central within NZ policies and policy-making processes is needed. Given the importance of food to health, a broad policy approach from the NZ government to ensure the right to adequate food is urgent. This includes economic policies to end child poverty and specific s…
Promoting health in the digital environment
Services offering on-demand delivery of unhealthy commodities, such as fast food, alcohol and smoking/vaping products have proliferated in recent years. It is well known that the built environment can be health promoting or harmful to health, but there has been less consideration of the digital environment. Increased availability and accessibility of these commodities may be associated with increased consumption, with harmful public health implic…
Māori experiences of social housing in Ōtautahi Christchurch
This article presents selected findings of a twelve‐month‐long research project exploring the lived experiences of Māori social housing tenants residing in Ōtautahi Christchurch. Over the last five years, Aotearoa New Zealand has seen unprecedented social housing demand. There is currently an overrepresentation of Māori experiencing housing need and awaiting placement into social housing, yet studies on this topic are limited. This research narra…
Quantifying access to on‐demand alcohol in New Zealand
Generating political priority for alcohol policy reform
Enablers and barriers to dietary change for Māori with nutrition-related conditions in Aotearoa New Zealand
Objective: Māori, the Indigenous population of Aotearoa New Zealand, face a substantial burden of nutrition-related diseases, especially obesity and type 2 diabetes. Weight loss, through dietary change, is a central component of obesity and diabetes prevention and management; however, most approaches have not been designed with or evaluated specifically for Māori. The aim of this study was to review literature on the enablers and barriers to diet…
Thank you for Listening' Kaupapa Māori Methodology as a Facilitator of Culturally Safe Research With Māori Mothers Experiencing Perinatal Mental Illness
Māori are the Indigenous peoples of Aotearoa, New Zealand, and, similar to other Indigenous populations, face significant health inequities. Of concern, Māori mothers and birthing parents experience persistent and grave mental health inequities within the perinatal period relative to other ethnic groups. Indigenous research participants who have mental illness and who are also pregnant or in the early stages of parenting present intersecting ethi…
Māori Navigating Gut Symptoms
Gut diseases are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Aotearoa New Zealand, with higher rates of these conditions in Te Waipounamu. Māori experience both worse outcomes and different patterns of incidence in gut diseases than non-Māori. Overall, Māori have lower life expectancies than non-Māori and experience barriers to accessing determinants of health. We aim to illuminate how Māori understand the gut and navigate the health system when …
Kotahitanga—connection, unity, and belonging
In Aotearoa New Zealand, perinatal mental health outcomes and maternal suicide rates demonstrate that Māori (the Indigenous peoples of New Zealand) mothers and birthing parents have the worst outcomes relative to other ethnic groups. Little research exists exploring Indigenous approaches to perinatal mental health or the perspectives of Indigenous peoples on perinatal mental health interventions. This article explores a kaupapa Māori (Māori appro…
They were my anchors” Māori with perinatal mental illness identify culturally safe and clinically excellent health care
Quality clinical care occurs within a system, and structural components of the health system can influence practice and impact provision of care. It is systemic changes that will facilitate clinicians' contribution to equitable outcomes for Māori, through the creation of services that support clinicians to prioritise working with whānau, engage in culturally safe practice, and address the barriers that prevent Māori from accessing evidence-based …
Applying a relational lens to the work travel experiences of diverse women
Transport systems have often been designed with the focus of moving commuters in cars as efficiently as possible between home and work during peak travel times associated with standard working hours. For many women, such as those who do not drive, who are disabled, who have children, or who work non-standard hours, these transport systems do not support their commuting needs. Despite a growing body of research over the last 40 years into how wome…
Public health and harmful advertising
The consumption of unhealthy commodities (UHCs) - including unhealthy food, alcohol, tobacco and gambling products - contributes to substantial public health harm and significant social and economic costs. Consumption of UHCs is driven, in part, by increasingly sophisticated, persuasive and extensive product marketing. In Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ), UHC marketing is largely self-regulated by industry but varies by individual commodity. This paper …
“It’s such a luxury, we may as well get something we really want”
On-demand delivery of commodities like food and alcohol for immediate consumption has rapidly increased. This shift has significant public health implications, yet consumers understanding of these implications and how they influence consumer decision-making remain underexplored. This study used a qualitative methodology informed by a critical theoretical framework. This lens is aligned with a public health analysis of technologies that shape envi…
Modelled health impacts of three stakeholder-selected policies to support healthy and environmentally sustainable population diets in New Zealand
Uses rich qualitative data on stakeholder perspectives to inform policy design. • Presents three food policies of varying designs to inform real world policy. • Identifies cost saving policies which could potentially reduce health inequities. • Policies require large up-front costs or loss of governmental income. • Health system cost savings are expected in the medium to long term. Food production and consumption impacts both planetary and popula…
Medicine (10 works) · Political science (7 works) · Psychology (7 works) · Sociology (7 works) · Environmental health (6 works) · Indigenous Health, Education, and Rights (6 works) · Nursing (6 works) · Public health (6 works) · Business (5 works) · Economics (5 works)