Study History

2004

Request for proposals issued by Government Agencies for contemporary study of New Zealand children and families.

2005

Multiple reports detailing study design submitted to Health Research Council, Policy Advisory Group and international scientific review panel.

2007

University of Auckland research team, led by Dr Susan Morton, awarded 18-month development contract.

2008

Contract for Growing Up in New Zealand awarded to University of Auckland.

Growing Up in New Zealand is officially launched.

2009

More than 6,000 pregnant women and their partners are recruited to take part in the study.

Face-to-face interviews take place with these mothers and their partners. This is known as the Antenatal Data Collection.

2010

Report released: Before We are Born.

Data collection begins for nine-month stage.

2011

Ongoing data collection for the first two years of life, including interviews with the caregivers when the cohort children turned 16, 23 and 24 months of age.

• The interviews explored pregnancy, birth, the first weeks of development, and the child's eating habits. In addition, information on household characteristics and family transportation was collected
• When children turned 24 months, weight and height were measured and their interactions through play and parent-child interaction were observed

2012

Report released: Now We are Born.

2013

• 31-month data collection on household internet access, household composition, use of early child education, breastfeeding, child health and language development
• Data collection begins for 45 and 54-month stages. Face-to-face interviews with mother and children are implemented
• MBIE awarded to Growing Up in New Zealand to study the diversity of individuals who are father figures to children in New Zealand. Findings are reported in the Who are today’s Dad’s? report.

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2014

Report released: Now We are Two: Describing our First 1000 Days.

Report released: Vulnerability Report 1: Exploring the Definition of Vulnerability for Children in their First 1000 Days.

Policy Brief released: Nutrition and physical activity during pregnancy: evidence from Growing Up in New Zealand.

Report released: Residential Mobility Report: Moving House in the First 1000 Days.

2015

Policy Brief released: Keeping Our Children Injury-free – household safety evidence from Growing Up in New Zealand.

Policy Brief released: Measuring the Economic Environment – What Resources are Available to Children in their first 1000 Days? ‍

Policy Brief released: Employment and parental leave around the time of birth: evidence from Growing Up in New Zealand.

Report released: Vulnerability Report: Transitions in Exposure to Vulnerability in the First 1000 Days of Life.

Policy Brief released: The intergenerational use of te reo Māori: evidence from Growing Up in New Zealand.

Policy Brief released: Who is saying what about immunisation – evidence from Growing Up in New Zealand.

2016

The 54-month data collection is finalised, which gathered mother and child information that is significant for the pre-school period of life.

More than 4,000 biological fathers, adoptive fathers, stepfathers, foster parents, co-mums, grandparents and other family members who are “dads” to Growing Up in New Zealand children took part in the Who are Today’s Dads?‍

2017

Report released: Now We are Four: Describing the Pre-School Years. ‍

2018

Minister of Social Development, the Hon Carmel Sepuloni, restored $1.9 million of funding to Growing Up in New Zealand.

Report released: Transition to School.

Research in collaboration with the Ministry of Health using Growing Up in New Zealand data looked at whether kiwi families were meeting national food and nutrition guidelines.

2019

Research in collaboration with the Ministry of Education study looked at Intentions and decisions about early childhood education.

Growing Up in New Zealand receives $17.1 million from the Government’s Budget 19 to fund the next data collection wave.

2021

11-year stage data collection finished.

Start of the 12-year data collection, one of the largest data collections of the study, looking at different aspects of health and wellbeing at the start of adolescence. This included including  data from the children, mother, mother’s partner and the child’s teacher.

Two reports were released looking at children’s experiences of Covid-19 restrictions, including lockdown in 2020: Life in Lockdown - Part 1: Health and Wellbeing and Life in Lockdown - Part 2: Education.

Findings from these reports may help policymakers to identify additional resources and support that families may need during an emergency lockdown and ensure the emergency does not increase inequities.

2022

A new Research Director, Dr Sarah-Jane Paine is appointed to Growing Up in New Zealand.‍

Completed the data collection for the 12-year stage. Key

2023

Published the Now We are 12 report.

Launched the Extreme Weather survey in August 2023, which gathered insights from rangatahi and caregivers in severely affected regions to assess the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle and Auckland Anniversary Day floods on wellbeing, housing, education, and access to services, informing future government planning.

Released the Uncivil Defence Guide in September 2023, which provided young people with practical advice on managing emotions during emergencies and preparing for future extreme weather events to support mental wellbeing and family readiness.

Launched the "6000’s Project" in September 2023, which creatively engaged study participants by collaborating with Vans to design custom sneakers that reflected young people's lifestyles, preferences, and hobbies based on collected data.

2024

On 19 September, The Government committed NZ$16.8 million over four years to extend the Growing Up in New Zealand study until February 2028. The funding will enable two new waves of data collection during participants' adolescence at ages 15 and 17.

2025

15-Year Check Point Data collection, analysis, policy forums, and report drafting for the Now We Are 15 reports. This wave looked at experiences of education, different aspects of mental health and wellbeing, and thoughts and experiences of self-harm and suicide during middle adolescence. Findings highlight factors that shape learning, resilience, and connection during this key developmental stage.

2026

Three Now We Are 15 snapshot reports launched in February.  The reports focused on Education, Mental Health and Wellbeing and Experiences of Self-Harm and thoughts of Suicide in young people.

The Our Meeting Point event was held at Eden Park. The event bought together Growing Up in New Zealand families, dignitaries and other key stakeholders to celebrate the study and its' impacts.