Frequently Asked Questions

What is Growing Up in New Zealand?

Growing Up in New Zealand is an exciting and contemporary longitudinal study of New Zealand children designed to get quality information about children and their families so we can find ways to improve lives of all New Zealand's children and families. Forming the study are nearly 7000 children who were born between April 2009 and March 2010 and their families. This study will look at what it is like to be a child in New Zealand and how things that happen during childhood influence how we are as adults.

What is a longitudinal study?

A longitudinal study gathers information about the same group of people over a long period of time. For Growing Up in New Zealand, the research team interview the same group of children and their parents or caregivers every 12 - 18 months starting from when the mother was 28 weeks pregnant. The children will be interviewed until they become adults, and possibly the study will continue as they grow older.

How will the information from this study be used to improve the lives of children?

Growing Up in New Zealand is a population study, which means it does not look at just one area of a child's life. It involves questions about the child's family or whānau, neighbourhood, health and wellbeing, education, child's development and living in New Zealand. Growing Up in New Zealand's findings will assist policy makers provide evidence based policies to government. By providing facts for child and family policy, Growing Up in New Zealand will improve the lives of all New Zealand children and their families.

Why does New Zealand need a longitudinal study about its children?

The last longitudinal studies about children in New Zealand began in the 1970s. These are still going, and the children in the study are now in their 30's. A lot has changed in New Zealand since those studies began. To keep improving the lives of New Zealand children we need new information.

Why is this study important?

New Zealand has the highest rate of child deaths due to accidents and injuries compared to other developed countries. It also has the second to lowest immunisation rates and a greater proportion of our children growing up in relative poverty. Growing Up in New Zealand aims to refocus ineffective strategies into spending that reaps benefits for all our children. The aim is to not only identify problematic outcomes in our newest generation, but also to understand "what works" for our current population.

When did the study begin and who is involved?

The study officially began on 1 February 2009, although in mid 2008 we recruited 200 women to be part of a Leading Light group. From 1 February 2009, every woman who was due between 25 April 2009 and 25 March 2010 and lived in the Auckland, Counties Manukau or Waikato district health board areas could enrol in the study. We have enrolled a variety of women including first time and experienced mothers, young women and mature women, and women having one baby or a multiple birth. We have women who live in the country, small towns and cities. Also mums of different ethnicities like Māori, European, Asian and Pacific Island etc.

Why is it called Growing Up in New Zealand when the study has only enrolled women from the Upper North Island?

This region of New Zealand was chosen for the study because it has rural and urban districts. It covers the entire socio-economic range and has a broad ethnic diversity. These factors give our research team a sample of the population that can be reasonably generalised and provide information for all New Zealanders and their families.

What is involved in the study?

We visit our participants to ask them questions about themselves and their child. Our first interview was when our participants were between 28 and 35 weeks pregnant. As the child gets older, we arrange more interviews with our participants every one or two years to ask questions about their child and family. Families are also contacted in between interviewing years to complete short telephone interviews and to update their information if changed.

What happens to the information collected at the interviews?

Once the interview is complete all the personal information that could identify a child or their family is removed. Then when all 7200 interviews are complete, the researchers analyse the information. Once the researchers have their findings, the results are used to inform policies to improve the lives of New Zealand children.

How will participants and the general public benefit from Growing Up in New Zealand?

Many organisations (including government) in New Zealand develop policies and programmes and all kinds of strategies in order to try and help families reach their potential. Growing Up in New Zealand has strong links with these agencies, and will be able to provide good evidence about what is working for New Zealand families. We will be able to describe a huge number of areas that are influencing New Zealand children today, and we will be finding out what is enabling children to be happy, healthy and able to cope with difficulties and challenges. Agencies will be able to use this research to make sure that their policies and strategies can best work for future children. We expect that the general public also will be very interested to hear about what Growing Up in New Zealand has found, as one of the aims of this study is to provide evidence to help all of the families in New Zealand.

Why is it important to know about the development of children and families?

Child development is a very complex process, which is influenced by a wide range of factors. It is important to have a better understanding of these factors so that we can understand how early experiences and family circumstances influence a child's education, employment and social interactions.

Who is running the study?

Growing Up in New Zealand is sited at The University of Auckland, and led by Doctor Susan Morton. Several government agencies have provided funding to begin the Growing Up in New Zealand project like The Ministry of Social Development.

Ongoing funding is sought for the duration of the project. What are the areas of interest?

The study aims to examine the impact of New Zealand's unique social and cultural environment on the next generation and will further understanding of development in early childhood through to adolescence. Growing Up in New Zealand explores a range of research areas about children's development and wellbeing and their families including:

• Children's social and emotional development
• Family demographics
• Parenting
• Education and employment
• Learning environment
• Health, diet and exercise
• Housing
• Finances