We are running our 19th annual COMPASS Colloquium on Friday 26 September 2025, hosted by StatsNZ at 8 Willis Street, Wellington. We start the day with morning tea at 9:45AM, then have presentations running through to 2:30PM, with a catered lunch 12:15‑1:00PM. We will have recordings from the day available here after the fact.
Presentations
10:00‑10:15AM Introduction to COMPASS
Dr Stephanie D’Souza, Acting Director, COMPASS Research Centre
10:15‑10:45AM The Effects of the Families Package on Child Health and Development
Dr Sophie Moullin, Postdoctoral Fellow, COMPASS Research Centre
This work evaluates the effects of Aotearoa New Zealand’s 2018 Families Package on early health and development outcomes. The Families Package increased maternal income by 5% on average (6,800 NZD) during children’s first three years. Drawing on population-wide administrative data and measures from the universal Before School Check, this analysis provides evidence on whether modest, unconditional cash transfers to families with young children improve early health and development.
10:45‑11:15AM Long-Term Impacts of Perinatal Depression: A Population-Level Study
Dr Stephanie D’Souza, Acting Director, COMPASS Research Centre
Perinatal depression affects at least 1 in 10 New Zealand mothers, yet its long-term impacts remain poorly understood. Using linked administrative data from the IDI, our in-progress study follows over 600,000 women over 15 years to examine how perinatal depression may influence later health, fertility, income, and relationships. We will compare outcomes for mothers with and without depression, and for women who did not give birth but experienced depression. We aim to inform long-term investment in maternal mental health and wellbeing.
11:15‑11:45AM Mental Health and Education Outcomes in Migrant and Refugee Children
Dr Arezoo Malihi, School of Counselling and Human Resources, University of Auckland
This study builds on previous examinations of refugee adults’ mental health service utilisation and their long-term income trajectories. Here, we establish cohorts of children from migrant and refugee backgrounds using the IDI. We examine generational impact on school attendance and other educational outcomes, and explore associations between these and mental health as measured by recorded service utilisation in IDI datasets.
11:45AM‑12:15PM The New Zealand Election Study (NZES)
Professor Jack Vowles, School of History, Philosophy, Political Science, and International Relations, Victoria University of Wellington
In the field since 1990, the NZES provides a continuous longitudinal analysis of political behaviour and attitudes immediately after each general election. After discussion of methodology and sampling, including recent challenges, I will examine longer-term changes in various estimates of ‘political support’ over the period, making the case for stronger and more consistent support for longitudinal and comparative survey research in Aotearoa New Zealand –not just for the NZES, but also for the World Values Survey and the International Social Survey Programme.
12:15‑1:00PM Lunch (catered)
1:00‑1:30PM What Do We Know (and What Don’t We Know) About Young Carers in New Zealand?
Dr Lisa Underwood, Senior Research Fellow, COMPASS Research Centre
Young carers are defined as people under 25 years of age who provide informal or unpaid care activities for others close to them who need additional assistance with their everyday living because of disability, health, illness, injury, or age-related needs. I will discuss New Zealand data sources that include information related to caring activities among young people, the representativeness of samples within these sources, and whether the data allow for longitudinal analysis that can provide evidence on long-terms impacts and outcomes.
1:30‑2:00PM Patterns of Service Use for People Living with Multiple Sclerosis
Dr Natalia Boven, Postdoctoral Fellow, COMPASS Research Centre
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system with onset commonly occurring during young adulthood. This study used linked administrative and census data to identify people likely to be living with MS and to examine levels of health, disability, and income support service use. I will describe regional and socioeconomic differences in service use.
2:00‑2:30PM Partnering with Pacific Communities and Health & Social Services
Dr Ofa Dewes MNZM, Senior Research Fellow, COMPASS Research Centre
Prevalence and costs of lifelong conditions are high, and higher for Māori and Pacific Peoples, older people, and those living in persistent disadvantage. Crucial to managing this crisis is “support” for people to manage their own health & wellbeing. We challenge traditional conventions of self-management and adopt holistic, culturally-appropriate, disability-centred approaches that build on people’s priorities and solutions. I will share results from our workshops with Pacific Health & Social Service providers and Pacific communities.