Subject: Research NewZ

Welcome to Issue 2

Kia ora Friend

This issue is packed with poll results, from Daylight saving to Cultural diversity, and most recently, the new Trans-Tasman bubble. In breaking news we also celebrate winning the Insight Communication Award at the Research Association New Zealand 2021 RAEAWARDS which celebrate research effectiveness.

We also have a fun snapshot poll of our staff and a quick 12 Questions with Research NZ Partner and qualitative expert Corrine de Bonnaire.

Ngā mihi,

The Research New Zealand team

In the News

Research New Zealand and the NZ Mountain Safety Council were on the winners’ dais at the 2021 Research Association Awards, winning the INSIGHT COMMUNICATION AWARD.

The award recognises the successful video communication series made by the Mountain Safety Council and guided by Research New Zealand results.

“This project required a much higher degree of project coordination and management than normally and, therefore, the award is recognition of the hard work put in by a number of staff over the term of the project, including Katrina Magill, Hayley Stirling and Sophia Kalafatelis.” Emanuel Kalafetelis

Pictured at the ceremony are Emanuel Kalafatelis (Research New Zealand) at left, and Nathan Watson (New Zealand Mountain Safety Council).

As of Monday 19 April 2021, it is possible for New Zealanders and Australians to travel between our two countries without the need to go into quarantine. With this in mind, we asked New Zealanders if they are in favour (or not in favour) of this trans-Tasman bubble. With just half (49%) in favour of the trans-Tasman travel bubble, we look at the reasons for and against it.

Usually our call centre staff are busy on the telephone, but occasionally they get to do something a little different...

Some of our call-centre staff in action (cordon counting) at Wellington Station (clockwise from back left): Charlotte Wells, Hope Burmeister, Michelle Gray, Arieta Auelua, Alisi Aukafolau, Ruth Eric, Paula Tafilipepe, Cathy Fa’amau and Vaiolingi Aukafolau.

In 2008, 90% were in favour of daylight saving in New Zealand. With recent international discussion about extending it all year round, we polled public support for keeping the current daylight saving system (47%), ending daylight saving (19%), or for permanently moving the clocks forward (18%) – and the reasons why.

12 Questions: Corrine de Bonnaire, Partner

If you haven’t met Corrine yet... She is one of New Zealand’s most experienced qualitative researchers, with a background in community and clinical psychology and over 30 years of research experience.

What gets you out of bed in the morning?

Three very cute but demanding dogs – including Miley the Pug who wakes up ravenous.

What is your biggest personal achievement to date?

Being mother to my now 24-year-old son.

What are your biggest professional achievements to date?

Setting up and managing Telecom New Zealand’s market research capability and now owning and running (along with partner Emanuel Kalafatelis) Research New Zealand.

What is the most interesting project you have worked on?

Hard to beat a project I worked on in the early days of my research career, where I was seconded to assist the Belgian owner of the market research company I worked for at the time (Heylen Research Centre) with a qualitative research study on the meaning of tea in the US. I still remember being blown away by how people could have such different relationships with tea and how very different they were from my own. For example, learning about how sun tea is made and drunk in Alabama and how it was not uncommon (at the time) in upstate New York to make tea by putting water and a tea bag in a cup and heating it in the microwave. So much for the ceremony of making and drinking a pot of leaf tea!

What are your biggest professional challenges?

Working within the government procurement system in order to share the full benefits of our professional expertise and experience. For example, we rarely get to work with our clients to help them scope their research solutions, as the Request for Proposal (RFP) process predetermines a research solution.

What is on your wish list for the next five years at Research New Zealand?

That our clients continue to reap the benefits of the investments we have made in developing tools to help them get the most from their research, such as our e-reporting tool and infographic reporting style. That we continue to inspire action with research, working hard towards our tagline to Discover truth / Inspire action in the government, social and business arenas.

If you could choose anyone, who would you pick as your mentor?

Theresa Gattung.

Why?

Because she is exceptionally smart, entrepreneurial and community spirited!

Given a chance, who would you like to be for a day?

I’m happy in my own skin.

What do you like most about your job?

Helping our clients do what they do better, and during the process, having the great privilege and humbling experience of meeting and talking to people from all walks of life and different parts of our social strata.

What’s your favourite line from a film?

“Details of your incompetence do not interest me.” The Devil Wears Prada.

What is your guilty pleasure?

Chocolate.

After the Christchurch Terrorist attack in March 2019 we polled New Zealanders on whether they thought we are accepting of cultural and religious diversity, and if New Zealand would change as a result of the shootings. Two years on, we asked the same questions again to measure current public attitudes.