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Tēnā koe i tēnei ata,
Several Motu researchers were recently recognised by their peers. Their awards span different fields and different stages of a research career, but together they reflect what makes Motu Research distinctive.
Arthur Grimes received the Distinguished Fellow Award at this year's New Zealand Association of Economists conference, one of the highest honours in New Zealand economics. Livvy Mitchell received the Stats NZ Prize and the Stata Prize for Excellence in Graphics Communication for her research on how families cope after losing a child to suicide or a traffic accident.
Recognition also came from beyond economics. Stuart Donovan received the Transportation Group's award for Best Research Paper for Quantifying Uncertainty in Travel Demand Forecasts, another example of Motu Research being recognised by the communities it serves.
These awards are a reminder of what makes Motu Research so special. Motu Research produces world-class research that tackles important policy questions, while building a community where experienced researchers, early-career economists, international collaborators and students all contribute to that mission.
Our community continues to grow. This edition introduces several new members of the Motu whānau - Pike Stahlmann-Brown, Frances Krsinich, Alexander (Sasha) Kaurov, James Allan Jones, Kade Sorensen and Leon Stirk-Wang.
We are also pleased to host two student interns. James Callaghan, from the University of Michigan, is working on inter-firm alliance research, while Stanford University student Maxim Ericson joins Arthur Grimes for four weeks during his summer break.
Our community extends well beyond Aotearoa New Zealand. This edition also introduces four visiting researchers whose work enriches Motu's research programme. Antje Jantsch joins us from the Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies (IAMO) in Germany. Jennifer Augustine, Professor of Sociology at the University of South Carolina, is leading a project examining the impact of Best Start on children's developmental outcomes in Aotearoa New Zealand, supported by economist and data analyst Mui Nguyen. We also welcome Ikerne Aguirre-Bielschowsky, whose interdisciplinary research spans sustainability, conservation and human geography.
Whether they have been with Motu Research for decades or only a few weeks, each person brings different skills, perspectives and experiences. That diversity of people and ideas has always been one of Motu Research's greatest strengths, and what enables us to produce research that matters.
I hope you enjoy meeting them and reading about the research in this edition.
Ngā mihi nui / with gratitude,
Dr John McDermott CRSNZ
Executive Director
Motu Research
Arthur Grimes and Livvy Mitchell win NZAE prizes
The highlight of the economist's calendar in New Zealand is the NZ Association of Economists (NZAE) conference.
This year, Arthur Grimes received the Distinguished Fellow Award at this year's conference, one of the highest honours in New Zealand economics. Fifty years into his career, Arthur told us this recognition means more to him than any other. Coming from peers who understand the work, it should.
Livvy Mitchell received the Stats NZ Prize and the Stata Prize for Excellence in Graphics Communication for her research on how families cope after losing a child to suicide or a traffic accident. Research like this is not easy to do well. Livvy did it well, and the profession noticed.
Motu Research welcomes new staff
Pike Stahlmann-Brown joins us as a Research Affiliate, bringing decades of expertise in survey design and analysis, particularly in climate change and biodiversity.
We also welcome new Research Fellows Alexander (Sasha) Kaurov, whose research explores the history of science; James Allan Jones, whose work focuses on urban economics and public policy; and Kade Sorensen, who brings a passion for spatial data science and urban policy.
Leon Stirk-Wang joins us with expertise in causal inference, applied microeconometrics and spatial modelling, while Frances Krsinich brings deep experience in official statistics and price measurement from more than two decades at Stats NZ.
Do you have a data or modelling need to inform future policy? Email us at info@motu.org.nz.
Āheitanga Thesis scholarship applications are open
Every year, Motu Research offers a one-year $5,000 scholarship to up to two candidates to enhance research capacity in Aotearoa New Zealand’s Māori community. It is offered to university students of Māori descent who are working on (or are planning to work on) an Honours, Masters or PhD thesis. The scholarship is open to students with backgrounds in econometrics, applied economics, data analysis, statistics, finance, policy evaluation, or other quantitative social science areas. Our preference is the thesis topic uses a quantitative methodology.
Applications for the scholarship are currently OPEN.
Through our Āheitanga Thesis scholarship, we hope to help enhance research capacity in Aotearoa’s Māori community and help students of Māori descent research topics relevant to public policy development.
2026 update to our Guide to the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme
We have released our 2026 edition of A Guide to the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme, updating the 2022 version of this resource.
The New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (NZ ETS) sits at the centre of Aotearoa New Zealand's climate change mitigation strategy. The guide describes how the scheme works, outlines its core design features, and traces how and why those features have changed over time. It references government policy changes announced as of March 2026, and includes figures illustrating trends in key data. It does not offer independent analysis or recommendations about the scheme's future direction.
The guide is written to be practical and accessible. NZ ETS market participants, stakeholders, researchers, and policymakers working on emissions pricing will find it a useful reference.
The guide was written by Catherine Leining, Policy Fellow at Motu Research, and funded by the New Zealand Ministry for the Environment.
MOTU RESEARCH IN THE MEDIA
We’ve been active in the media recently. Here are a snapshot of stories featuring our researchers.
- Alexander Kaurov wrote in The Conversation about how he traced that three Monsanto-influenced reviews shaped the science behind glyphosate's safety, and behind New Zealand's regulatory decisions.
- Arthur Grimes spoke on RNZ's The Detail on a new international report about economic growth and said GDP is an old fashioned concept.
- Stuart Donovan was interviewed on the Ryan Bridge Today show about the NZ Herald / Motu Research poll-of-polls.
- Stuart Donovan joined RNZ Nights to explore what he's calling the "Trans-Tasman housing battle", and what it actually takes to tip the scales when people are weighing up where to live.
- RNZ asked researchers across the sector what they made of this year's Budget. Our Fellow Kyle Higham didn't mince words.
RECENT MOTU RESEARCH PAPERS
- Research review on the effectiveness of youth and rangatahi mental health early intervention and secondary prevention approaches.
- Shared care arrangements and parental wellbeing in Aotearoa New Zealand.
- 2026 update to our Guide to the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme
- Qantas Airways and American Airlines Joint Business Agreement: Independent Economic and Competition Analysis
- Air New Zealand and Air China Strategic Alliance: Independent Economic and Competition Analysis
