Te Puna Haumaru Centre for Security and Crime Science

25/09/2026

This week a team of our staff and students attended and presented at the Ara Poutama Aotearoa Department of Corrections NZ Psychological Services National Training Event. The programme contained interesting and practical workshops presenting ideas for improved psychological practice, particularly in the area of family and intimate partner violence. Some of our highlights included:

🚨 An inspiring keynote presentation by Pou Whakarae Poata Watene from Tuu Oho Mai Services about their new tactical response to high-risk situations

💭 A workshop by Professor Troy McEwan from Swinburne University of Technology about understanding the complex theories and dynamics of family and intimate partner violence

🔎 A workshop presented by Dr Apriel Jolliffe Simpson and Professor Devon Polaschek on risk assessment for family and intimate partner violence

🔥 A panel discussion led by Professor Devon Polaschek, Dr Apriel Jolliffe Simpson, Erika Te Hiwi and Honorary Research Associate Dr Meg Stairmand from Corrections NZ traversing complex and controversial issues in the treatment and formulation of intimate partner violence

🛡️ A workshop by Professor Troy McEwan from Swinburne University of Technology about using threat assessment to identify, communicate, and mitigate concern for family and intimate partner homicide

📢 A research forum led by Honorary Research Associate Lucy Moore from Corrections NZ featuring several talks on new research projects

🧠 A workshop exploring functional strains of neurodiversity and practical adaptions to improve responsivity by Honorary Research Associate Jonathan Derbyshire

The research forum speakers included practitioners, academics, and students from Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington and The University of Waikato. PhD Candidate Zahra Rennie presented her findings about patterns of risk, protective and responsivity factors among people in prison, and Honours student Hayley Gibbons presented results describing differences in victim perceptions of the severity of family versus non-family violence.

We already can't wait for next year's event!

18/09/2026

💡 Limited staffing, tech, or tools? You can still deliver evidence-informed correctional interventions.

Join us on next week for Session 2 of our "Making Correctional Research Make Sense" webinar series!

Explore practical, evidence-informed Risk-Need-Responsivity (RNR) principles tailored for resource-constrained correctional environments.

⭐️ Co-facilitated by: Prof. Mark Olver & Prof. Shelley Brown

📅 Date & Time: September 23, 2026 | 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM EDT

🔗 Register Today: www.myiacfp.org/events

10/09/2026

Dr Luke Oldfield, of Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, presented insights from his PhD research on the relationship between public opinion, politics, and prison sentencing in Aotearoa New Zealand.

With the election of a conservative government in 2023, performance measures have returned under the banner of Better Public Services. While these targets are often promoted as a way to improve public sector performance, their previous implementation under the Key Government delivered mixed results.

Drawing on his research, Dr Oldfield explored the political and public opinion context surrounding prison sentences in Aotearoa New Zealand, questioning the extent to which "tough on crime" policies reflect genuine public attitudes and what mandate governments can reasonably claim when pursuing these approaches.

The seminar highlighted the importance of critically examining assumptions about public support for criminal justice policies and considering how evidence can inform more nuanced discussions about crime, punishment, and public expectations.

🎥 The seminar recording is now available to watch on our YouTube channel:

Dr Luke Oldfield from Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellin...

27/08/2026

We're so proud of our postgraduate students who presented their research at the New Zealand Psychological Society annual conference this week!

As part of the Institute of Criminal Justice and Forensic Psychology symposium, Georgia Po***ck presented her honours research on police identification of controlling behaviours in reports for intimate partner violence 👮 and Zahra Rennie presented a study from her PhD research that identified patterns in protective, need, and responsivity factors among people in New Zealand prisons 🔎

In addition, Hayley Gibbons presented a poster about her honours research examining relationship-related differences in victims' perceptions of the severity of violent offences 💭

Thanks to the Institute of Criminal Justice and Forensic Psychology and the New Zealand Psychological Society for providing this opportunity to share, connect, and learn from others in the field!

27/08/2026

11/08/2026

When natural disasters strike, how do we reduce the risk of family violence? A project by Dr Lisa Tompson from Te Puna Haumaru Centre for Security and Crime Science has recently been awarded funding for a project looking at that.

"Disasters can exacerbate pre-existing vulnerabilities linked to family violence. Increased stress, overcrowding, income disruption and breakdown of informal support networks create predictable risk conditions in the weeks and months following an event... This presents an opportunity for CDEM Waikato to lead nationally in embedding safety and wellbeing considerations within preparedness planning."

The funding of $27,500 comes through the CDEM Resilience Fund.

Read more here:https://www.civildefence.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/documents/resilience-fund/2026-27/2026-24-Application-signed.pdf
Photo: ccipeggy/Pixabay

Civil Defence Waikato

05/08/2026

Dr Linda Fatialofa from Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington presented findings from her research exploring the circumstances that shape pathways into offending for young men in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Using Grounded Theory, the research examined the factors influencing offending behaviour, how participants understood their actions, and the complex interactions between individual experiences, relationships, and broader social contexts.

The findings informed the development of three descriptive models that were integrated into an overarching model of youth offending, highlighting the importance of centring young people's voices in theory development.

🎥 The seminar recording is now available to watch on our YouTube channel:

Dr Linda Fatialofa from Victoria University of Wellington presented...