KEY POINTS:
A ground-breaking study of Pacific children will continue for five more years, thanks to a windfall of almost $4 million.
The Auckland University of Technology study of more than 1000 New Zealand children born in Middlemore Hospital with at least one Pacific parent began in 2000.
The long term study shed light on Pacific-focused issues, such as the impact of living in extended families and the tradition of gifting resources back to the islands, study head and AUT professor of developmental psychology Dr Janis Paterson told the Herald.
The $3.75 million grant to AUT was one of five from the Foundation for Research Science and Technology's $8.1 million third round of the "Building an Inclusive Society" portfolio.
Science Minister Pete Hodgson yesterday called the AUT study "ground-breaking", and said the new grant would allow New Zealand researchers to address important issues for children and young people.
"The focus of this round is helping children and young people to participate and succeed in society."
The AUT study focused on child development in the context of the children's families, parenting styles, economic situation and cultural traditions.
Professor Paterson said the new money would allow the study to interview the children and their families at ages 9 and 11.
To date only a few questions had been directed at the children themselves at their 6-year-old mark.
All other questions had been asked of the children's families.
The next five years' research would also allow a closer look at the precursors to delinquency in the Pacific community, and the patterns of behaviours leading to diabetes and obesity, she said.
The study's findings, the world's first of this kind on the health and upbringing of Pacific children, helped to establish policy and education models to fit New Zealand's growing Pacific Island population.
"When we started the study, it was because there was absolutely no data on Pacific people at all.
"People working with them had nothing to base policy planning on.
"They were working in the dark," Professor Paterson said.
"It's important that we know this information, so that we can accurately provide the support that Pacific people need.
"So we're not basing things on New Zealanders as a whole."
WHAT THE RESEARCH SHOWS
GAMBLING
Tongans are more likely to gamble than Samoans. Those involved in traditional gift-giving customs are likely to spend more money on gambling than others.
CULTURE
Pacific mothers with strong culture ties had far better maternal and infant outcomes. Supporting and retaining strong cultural links for Pacific peoples "is likely to have far-reaching benefits".
IMMUNISATION
Pacific children consistently have low rates for childhood vaccinations.
GLUE EAR
More than 25 per cent of Pacific 2-year-olds were affected by glue ear. National screening for glue ear at this earlier age recommended.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Reported domestic violence rates were substantial; 22.9 per cent of people reported to be victims of physical violence, 37.1 per cent reported being offenders, 11 per cent of mothers reported being victims of severe violence and 19.3 per cent reported committing violence against partners.
INFANT HEALTH
43 per cent of reported infant health problems related to breathing difficulties. Significant associated factors included maternal cigarette smoking during the last trimester, cold housing and residing in New Zealand for more than 10 years.
