Emergency communication centre employees are indirectly exposed to potentially psychologically traumatic events (PPTEs), yet research on their mental health is limited. This national census survey (73.4% response rate, n=58) examines symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder (PHQ-9), Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7), and PTSD (SPRINT) among Fire and Emergency New Zealand personnel. It also explores PPTE exposure, organisational stressors, employee experiences, and coping mechanisms (AUDIT-C, emotional numbing scale) using mixed methods. Results show 64% screened positive for at least one mental disorder, with high rates of emotional numbing (31%) and hazardous alcohol use (51%). Qualitative analysis, including interviews and open-text survey responses, highlights stressors such as inadequate staffing, excessive workload, and lack of support. As the first dedicated study on this group in New Zealand, findings highlight the urgent need for targeted interventions.

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a significant concern affecting approximately 20% of children worldwide. Since most recorded CSA is committed by those without sexual convictions (84%), prevention efforts must be broad. Secondary prevention focuses on preventing escalation to harmful behaviour from at-risk individuals; approaches involving therapy can be termed ‘prehabilitation.’ Whilst there are limited examples internationally, prehabilitation viability in broader settings is unclear. One challenge could be public support. The aim of this study was to explore public opinion towards CSA prehabilitation amongst a sample from the general population in New Zealand (N = 721). Results showed that the majority were supportive: 82.6% following sample weighting procedures. Therefore, such services may be viable in New Zealand and potentially in other similar settings, and at minimum should not be challenged by a lack of public support.

Research indicates that lower-income families encounter barriers to early support services for their autistic children. However, limited research has explored parent suggestions to reduce such barriers. Through a research-community partnership, this study used semi-structured interviews to explore parent’s experiences of an early support service their child had participated in. Interviews were analysed using template analysis with themes indicating a journey as parents sought support for their children, participated in, and then transitioned out of, the support service. An overarching theme, differing needs and priorities, highlighted a necessity for greater flexibility within early support services. Collectively, suggestions from parents and research-community partners informed the development of potential adaptations aimed at enhancing support service accessibility. Implications and future research directions are discussed.

This nationwide study uses Engel’s biopsychosocial model to explore the biological, psychological, and social aspects of older informal caregivers’ experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic in Aotearoa New Zealand. Through purposive sampling, we conducted in-depth interviews with 81 participants from the New Zealand Health, Work and Retirement (HWR) longitudinal study. This paper employs the biopsychosocial model to holistically analyse these experiences, identifying support needs for older informal caregivers. Using grounded theory, our analysis reveals a mix of positive and negative experiences among informal caregivers. Findings suggest that support systems and COVID-19 guidelines for older informal caregivers in Aotearoa New Zealand were poorly understood, with varying levels of positive and negative impacts reported by participants. This paper highlights the resilience and unmet needs of older informal caregivers during the pandemic, demonstrating the value of biopsychosocial model in understanding their experiences and needs for culturally responsive, accessible and better-communicated support systems.

The New Zealand Psychological Society’s Code of Ethics guides the ethical practice of all registered psychologists working in New Zealand. Yet, emerging research suggests that the availability of a general code of ethics may fail to adequately support psychologists practicing in non-clinical domains, including Industrial/Organisational (IO) psychologists. Our study relied on 12 structured interviews with registered IO-trained psychologists in New Zealand to explore the main ethical issues and dilemmas encountered in the profession, and their views about the Code’s ability to guide their practice. Findings from our thematic analysis show that IO-trained psychologists believe the Code offers limited and at times ambiguous direction for ethical decision-making and may contribute to sustaining blurred boundaries across scopes of practice. We discuss the contribution of our findings to a wider debate about the unification of the psychology profession and differentiation across domains of practice.

People Who Stutter (PWS) can experience considerable social stigma. Stuttering has generally been understood as a disorder that is best addressed through helping PWS to alter stuttered speech. Recently, new lines of inquiry inspired by disability theory are turning attention towards the systems of privilege that uphold fluency and marginalise dysfluency. Taking up these commitments, this paper presents findings from an exploratory online survey that aimed to understand the nature and frequency of ableist microaggressions perceived by PWS. Overall, participants reported encountering microaggressions frequently. Our thematic analysis of participants’ descriptions of stuttering microaggression experiences highlights the mundane and diminishing nature of these interactions, and the power differential that exists between PWS and non-stutterers. We identify an urgent need to challenge ableist constructions of dysfluent speech as deficit.

The New Zealand Attitudes and Values Study (NZAVS) is a national longitudinal study tracking social values and attitudes over time. Previously, NZAVS undersampled Muslims at ten times lower rates than other religious groups. The Muslim Diversity Study recruits a representative cohort of Muslims for longitudinal research within NZAVS. This ensures Muslim adversity and resilience are accurately recorded. Such inclusion enriches the scientific study of human flourishing, addresses Muslim curiosity about their diversity, and contributes practical insights for their betterment. We describe our study’s motivations, development, and methodology and offer practical guidelines for culturally diverse data collection. This article records our research with Muslims in New Zealand, aiding those studying flourishing and resilience in marginalised religious communities.