Nevil Pierse

BSc (Maths and Stats), MSc (Statistics), PhD
Deputy Director HHRP, Professor, University of Otago, Wellington
Nevil Pierse

Professor Nevil Pierse is co-leader of He Kāinga Oranga - Housing and Health Research Programme. Originally a statistician by training, his current work is done in partnership with a wide range of stakeholders including government and community organisations and is focused on the design and implementation of natural experiments to improve the home and community environments. Nevil and the research team was awarded a Prime Minister's Science Prize in 2014 for this work.

He is currently working on the Healthy Housing Initiative, which looks at home interventions to prevent rehospitalisation of children with housing-related disease. This programme has accessed and remediated over 30,000 homes in New Zealand and resulted in a decrease of nearly 10,000 hospital admissions. The Healthy Housing Initiative was awarded the Prime Minister's Spirit of Service Award in 2019.

Nevil also leads a programme looking at optimising the housing system, especially for those without housing. He works closely with a leading exemplar of this approach, The People's Project in Hamilton. Nevil has a keen interest in big data and leads five housing and health projects on the integrated data infrastructure. In 2021 this research group was awarded the Rutherford Medal for the quality and impact of their work.

Key publications

  1. Ombler J Jiang T Fraser B Nelson J McMinn C Hawkes K Atatoa-Carr P Pehi T Aspinall C Bierre S Schick K Howden-Chapman P Pierse N
    2024
    Five-Year Post-Housing Outcomes for a Housing First Cohort in Aotearoa, New Zealand
    International Journal on Homelessness 2024; 4(1).

    Abstract

  2. Fraser B Pierse N Chisholm E
    2023
    “There’s No Room for Falling Apart:” Takatāpui/LGBTIQ+ People’s Experiences of Homelessness in Aotearoa New Zealand
    Gay and Lesbian Social Services. 2023.
    2023.2253431
  3. Howden-Chapman P Crane J Keall M Pierse N Baker MG Cunningham C Amore K Aspinall C Bennett J Bierre S Boulic M Chapman R Chisholm E Davies C Fougere G Fraser B
    2023
    He Kāinga Oranga: reflections on 25 years of measuring the improved health, wellbeing and sustainability of healthier housing
    Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand
    Volume 54, 2024
  4. Fraser B Chisholm E Pierse N
    2023
    Takatāpui/LGBTIQ+ People’s Experiences of Homelessness and Sex Work in Aotearoa New Zealand
    Anti-Trafficking Review.
    (20) 2023
  5. Fraser B Jiang T Cordue H Pierse N
    2022
    Housing, Instability, and Discrimination amongst Takatāpui/LGBTIQ+ Youth in Aotearoa New Zealand
    Youth
    2(3), 339-351
  6. Fraser B Chun S Pehi T Jiang T Johnson E Ombler J Pierse N
    2022
    Post-housing first outcomes amongst a cohort of formerly homeless youth in Aotearoa New Zealand
    Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand
    53(5), 656-672
  7. Pierse N Ombler J Chun S Fraser B White M Aspinall C McMinn C Howden-Chapman P Nelson J Hawkes K Jiang T Atatoa-Carr P
    2022
    Two-Year Post-Housing Outcomes for a Housing First Cohort in Aotearoa New Zealand.
    European Journal of Homelessness
  8. Fraser B Chisholm E Pierse N
    2021
    “You’re so powerless”: Takatāpui/LGBTIQ+ people’s experiences before becoming homeless in Aotearoa New Zealand.
    PLOS ONE
    16(12) doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0259799
  9. Keall, M.
    Tupara, H.
    Pierse, N.
    Wilkie, M.
    Baker, M.
    Howden-Chapman, P.
    Cunningham, C.
    (2021).
    Home modifications to prevent home fall injuries in houses with Māori occupants (MHIPI): a randomised controlled trial.
    Lancet Public Health,
    6(9), e631-e640.
  10. Howden-Chapman, P.
    Fyfe, C.
    Keall, M.
    Riggs, L.
    Pierse, N.
    (2021).
    The effects of housing on health and well-being in Aotearoa New Zealand [ Ngā pānga o ngā whare noho ki te hauora me te toiora i Aotearoa].
    New Zealand Population Review,
    47, 16-32.
    Download document
    HowdenChapman_etal_Housing_Health_Wellbeing.pdf
  11. Fraser, B.
    White, M. Cook, H.
    Chisholm, E.
    Ombler, J.
    Chun, S. Tareha, H.
    Pierse, N.
    (2021).
    Service usage of a cohort of formerly homeless women in Aotearoa New Zealand.
    SSM Population Health,
    15, 100842.
  12. Robertson, O.
    Howden-Chapman, P.
    Baker, M.
    Atatoa Carr, P.
    Pierse, N.
    (2021).
    Residential mobility and changes in deprivation levels for 0-4 year olds in New Zealand.
    International Journal of Population Data Science,
    5(5).
  13. Robertson, O.
    Howden-Chapman, P.
    Baker, M.
    Atatoa Carr, P.
    Pierse, N.
    (2021).
    Residential mobility for a national cohort of New Zealand-born children by area socioeconomic deprivation level and ethnic group.
    BMJ Open,
    11, e039706.
  14. Chisholm, E.
    Pierse, N.
    Howden-Chapman, P.
    (2021).
    What is a mixed-tenure community? Views from New Zealand practitioners and implications for researchers.
    Urban Policy & Research,
    39(1)
  15. Rangiwhetu, l.
    Pierse, N.
    Chisholm, E.
    Howden-Chapman, P.
    (2020).
    Public housing and well-being: Evaluation frameworks to influence policy.
    Health Education and Behavior,
    47(6), 825-835.
  16. Telfar-Barnard, L.
    Howden-Chapman, P.
    Pierse, N.
    (2020).
    Renting poorer housing: Ecological relationships between tenure, dwelling condition, and income, and housing-sensitive hospitalisations in a developed country.
    Health Education and Behavior,
    47(6), 816-824
  17. Howden-Chapman, P.
    Pierse, N.
    (2020).
    Commentary on Housing, health and wellbeing in Aotearoa/New Zealand.
    Health Education and Behavior,
    47(6), 802-804.
  18. Pierse, N.
    White, M.
    Ombler, J.
    Davis, C.
    Chisholm, E.
    Baker, M.
    Howden-Chapman, P.
    (2020).
    Well Homes Initiative: A home-based initiative to address housing-related ill health.
    Health Education and Behavior,
    47(6), 836-844.
  19. Keall, M.
    Tupara, H.
    Pierse, N.
    Wilkie, M.
    Baker, M.
    Howden-Chapman, P.
    Cunningham, C.
    (2020).
    Study protocol of a randomized controlled trial of home modification to prevent home fall injuries in houses with Māori occupants.
    MDPI Methods and Protocols,
    3(4), 71.
  20. Chisholm, E.
    Pierse, N.
    Howden-Chapman, P.
    (2020).
    Perceived benefits and risks of developing mixed communities in New Zealand: Implementer perspectives.
    Urban Research & Practice,
    Online.
  21. Shaw, C.
    Boulic, M. Longley, I. Mitchell, T.
    Pierse, N.
    Howden-Chapman, P.
    (2020).
    The association between indoor and outdoor NO2 levels: A case study in 50 residences in an urban neighbourhood in New Zealand.
    Sustainable Cities & Society,
    56, 102093. doi: 10.1016/j.scs.2020.102093.
  22. Robertson, O.
    Howden-Chapman, P.
    Baker, M.
    Atatoa-Carr, P.
    Pierse, N.
    (2020).
    Changes in area deprivation by moves for New Zealand children.
    Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health,
  23. Chisholm, E.
    Pierse, N.
    Howden-Chapman, P.
    (2020).
    Well Homes Initiative: A home-based intervention to address housing-related ill health.
    Health Education and Behavior,
    47(6), 836-844.
  24. Chisholm, E.
    Pierse, N.
    Davies, C.
    Howden-Chapman, P.
    (2020).
    Promoting health through housing improvements, education and advocacy: lessons from staff involved in Wellington’s Healthy Housing Initiative.
    Health Promotion Journal of Australia,
    31(1), 7-15.
  25. Pierse, N.
    Ombler, J.
    White, M.
    Aspinall, C.
    McMinn, C. Atatoa-Carr, P. Nelson, J. Hawkes, K.
    Fraser, B.
    Cook, H.
    Howden-Chapman, P.
    (2019).
    Service usage by a New Zealand Housing First cohort prior to being housed.
    SSM - Population Health,
    8, 100432.
  26. Ombler, J.
    Fariu-Ariki, P.
    Howden-Chapman, P.
    Pierse, N.
    Lawson Te-Aho, K.
    Aspinall, C.
    (2019).
    A principles framework for taking action on Māori/Indigenous Homelessness in Aotearoa/New Zealand.
    SSM Population Health,
    8, 100450.
  27. Fraser B Pierse N Chisholm E Cook H
    2019
    LGBTIQ+ Homelessness: A Review of the Literature
    International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
    16(15). doi: 10.3390/ijerph16152677
  28. Walker, G.J. Stelzer‐Braid, S.
    Shorter, C.
    Honeywill, C. Wynn, M. Willenborg, C. Barnes, P. Kang, J.
    Pierse, N.
    Crane, J.
    Howden-Chapman, P.
    Rawlinson, W.D.
    (2019).
    Viruses associated with acute respiratory infection in a community‐based cohort of healthy New Zealand children.
    Journal of Medical Virology,
    Open access.
  29. Bennett, J.
    Davy, P. Trompetter, B. Yang, Yu.
    Pierse, N.
    Boulic, M. Phipps, R.
    Howden-Chapman, P.
    (2019).
    Sources of indoor air pollution at a New Zealand urban primary school.
    Atmospheric Pollution Research,
    2020, 10, 2, 435-444.
  30. Robertson, O. Carr, P.A.
    Howden-Chapman, P.
    Pierse, N.
    (2019).
    Residential mobility and socioemotional and behavioural difficulties in a preschool population cohort of New Zealand children.
    J Epidemiol Community Health,
    73:947-953. doi:10.1136/jech-2019-212436.
    Download document
    Moving-house-related-to-behavioural-difficulties-in-four-year-olds.pdf
  31. Oliver, J. Foster, T. Williamson, D.A.
    Pierse, N.
    Baker, M.
    (2018).
    Using preceding hospital admissions to identify children at risk of developing acute rheumatic fever.
    Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health,
    54(5), 499-505.
  32. Shorter, C.
    Crane, J.
    Pierse, N.
    Barnes, P. Kang, J. Wickens, K. Douwes, J. Stanley, T. Täubel, M. Hyvärinen, A.
    Howden-Chapman, P.
    (2018).
    Indoor visible mold and mold odor are associated with new‐onset childhood wheeze in a dose‐dependent manner.
    Indoor Air,
    28(1), 6-15.
  33. Keall, M.
    Howden-Chapman, P.
    Pierse, N.
    Cunningham, C.
    Baker, M.
    (2018).
    Lessons Learned from Implementing a Programme of Home Modifications to Prevent Falls amongst the General Population.
    Safety,
    4(2), 26;
  34. Pierse, N.
    Ombler, J.
    Aspinall, C.
    Howden-Chapman, P.
    (2017).
    Homelessness in New Zealand.
    The 12th European Research Conference on Homelessness,

    Proceedings of the 12th European Research Conference on Homelessness can be retrieved from http://www.feantsa.org.

  35. Aspinall, C.
    Pierse, N.
    Howden-Chapman, P.
    Ombler, J.
    Fraser, B.
    White, M.
    (2017).
    Housing First in New Zealand.
    3rd International Housing First Conference, Padova, Italy,
  36. Aspinall, C.
    Ombler, J.
    Pierse, N.
    Howden-Chapman, P.
    (2017).
    One Housing First to Rule Them All? : Responding to Housing First in Aotearoa.
    Parity,
    Vol 30: Issue 8 p 30-31.
  37. Ombler, J.
    Atatoa-Carr, P. Nelson, J.
    Howden-Chapman, P.
    Lawson Te-Aho, K. Fariu-Ariki, P. Cook, H.
    Aspinall, C.
    Pierse, N.
    (2017).
    Ending homelessness in New Zealand: Housing first research programme.
    Parity,
    Vol 30: Issue 10, p 5-7.
  38. Howden-Chapman, P.
    Chisholm, E.
    Telfar-Barnard, L.
    Viggers, H.
    O'Sullivan, K.
    Bennett, J.
    Bierre, S.
    Preval, N.
    Tiatia, R.
    Ombler, J.
    Amore, K.
    Rivera-Muñoz, G. Davies, C.
    Aspinall, C.
    Oliver, J.
    Baker, M.
    Keall, M.
    Crane, J.
    Pierse, N.
    (2017).
    Housing, energy and health in resilient cities.
    Cities in New Zealand: Preferences, patterns and possibilities,
    Howden-Chapman, L. Early & J. Ombler (Eds.), (pp. 95-106). Wellington, New Zealand: Steele Roberts Aotearoa.
  39. Oliver, J. Foster, T. Kvalsvig, A. Williamson, D.A.
    Baker, M.
    Pierse, N.
    (2017).
    Risk of rehospitalisation and death for vulnerable New Zealand children.
    BMJ, Archives of Disease in Childhood,
    103(4).
  40. Rangiwhetu, L.
    Pierse, N.
    Howden-Chapman, P.
    (2017).
    Effects of minor household interventions to block draughts on social housing temperatures: a before and after study.
    Kōtuitui: New Zealand Journal of Social Sciences Online,
    12(2), 235-245
  41. Keall, M.
    Pierse, N.
    Howden-Chapman, P.
    Guria, J.
    Cunningham, C.
    Baker, M.
    (2016).
    Cost—benefit analysis of fall injuries prevented by a programme of home modifications: A cluster randomised controlled trial.
    Injury Prevention,
    23(1). doi: 10.1136/injuryprev-2015-041947
  42. Oliver, J.
    Pierse, N.
    Baker, M.
    (2015).
    Estimating rheumatic fever incidence in New Zealand using multiple data sources.
    Epidemiology & Infection,
    143(1), 167-177. doi: 10.1017/s0950268814000296
  43. Keall, M.
    Pierse, N.
    Howden-Chapman, P.
    Cunningham, C.
    Cunningham, M. Guria, J.
    Baker, M.
    (2015).
    Home modifications to reduce injuries from falls in the Home Injury Prevention Intervention (HIPI) study: a cluster-randomised controlled trial.
    The Lancet,
    385 (9964), 231-238.
    Download document
    Home-modifications-to-reduce-injuries-from-falls-in-the-Home-Injury-Prevention-Intervention-Lancet-published.pdf
  44. Preval, N. Chapman, R.
    Pierse, N.
    Howden-Chapman, P.
    The Housing, Heating and Health Team.
    (2010).
    Evaluating Energy, Health and Carbon Co-benefits from Improved Domestic Space Heating: A Randomised Community Trial.
    Energy Policy,
    38(8), 3965-3972.
  45. Howden-Chapman, P.
    Pierse, N.
    Nicholls, S.
    Bennett, J.
    Viggers, H.
    Cunningham, M. Phipps, R. Boulic, M. Fjallstrom, P. Free, S. Chapman, R. ...
    Baker, M.
    Cunningham, C.
    ...
    Crane, J.
    (2008).
    Effects of improved home heating on asthma in community dwelling children: randomised community study.
    BMJ,
    337(a1411), 852-5. doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.a1411
  46. Free, S.
    Howden-Chapman, P.
    Pierse, N.
    et al.
    (2008).
    Does more effective home heating reduce school absences for children with asthma?
    Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health,
    doi:10.1136/jech.2008.086520.
  47. Fraser B Chisholm E Pierse N
    “There’s no room for falling apart:” Takatāpui/LGBTIQ + people’s experiences of homelessness in Aotearoa New Zealand
    Journal of Gay and Lesbian Social Services. 2023
    Abstract Takatāpui/LGBTIQ + people’s experiences of homelessness remain poorly understood in Aotearoa New Zealand. Using data from semi-structured interviews with eight people who identified as Takatāpui/LGBTIQ + and had experienced homelessness, this paper explores their experiences while homeless. The analysis showed the necessity of strength of character, how Takatāpui/LGBTIQ + people presented a different self in order to be accepted, the different strategies used to survive, the importance of implementing boundaries for self-protection, and missed points of intervention and support. Our findings show how participants were failed by the housing support system, and had to rely on themselves and their communities during periods of homelessness.

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