DoctorNiamh Donnellan

My research interests focus on child health and wellbeing, play, active travel, physical activity, food and physical activity environments, neighbourhood environments, and child-friendly urban systems.

A central focus of my work is generating evidence that can be used by communities, local government, planners, policymakers, and practitioners to create healthier, more inclusive places for tamariki, caregivers, whānau, and communities.

I have led and contributed to externally funded research projects including the Health Research Council-funded Knowing Your Neighbourhood Study, the Waka Kotahi-funded evaluation of the Kamo shared path and children’s active transport to school study, active travel research in Auckland schools, and geospatial research within the HRC-funded BEATS Natural Experiment Study. I was also the geospatial analysis lead for the Neighbourhoods for Active Kids study, which examined how neighbourhood environments influence children’s active travel, physical activity, and independent mobility.