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The interface between ethical leadership and food safety culture in Aotearoa New Zealand food businesses : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, School of Management, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
No full textMeasuring, evaluating and improving food safety culture is a priority for Aotearoa New Zealand food businesses. This is driven by the desire to produce food of the highest quality that safeguards consumers, protects the reputation of New Zealand Inc., and meets the requirements of international standards and regulations. This is the first in-depth qualitative investigation into food safety culture and ethical leadership in Aotearoa New Zealand food businesses, including some of this country’s largest food exporters. Using a mixed methods approach this research has provided unique, contemporary understanding and insights, while simultaneously providing a novel contribution to the body of knowledge.
Two research workstreams were used; the first a quantitative workstream involving a voluntary survey of manufacturing and distribution employees in New Zealand’s largest food business; a dataset of responses to food safety and ethical leadership questions from 1181 individuals. Using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) applied to Lickert-scale variables, combined with multivariable modelling, this research found a positive relationship between food safety culture and ethical leadership and evidence for differences in responses according to several respondee characteristics. These included associations between PCA coordinates that captured variation in individual responses to food safety and ethical leadership questions, and the supplementary variables: role (e.g. staff or supervisor), site and gender. Ethical leadership has been shown to improve effectiveness, performance and safety at an organisational and individual level. Therefore strategies to improve ethicality across Aotearoa New Zealand food businesses in order to improve food safety culture and ensure safer food outcomes are suggested: consultatively developing organisational values which are well communicated and lived; ensuring ethical considerations when hiring staff; ethical considerations when setting expectations, and in training and mentoring staff and managing performance processes including the use of consequences; and modelling good behaviour, making fair decisions, ensuring open, clear communication and giving employees a voice.
While largely positive, the quantitative strand did reveal a level of dissatisfaction with both ethical leadership and food safety culture, suggesting room for improvement. Further research is needed to better understand management’s, supervisors’ and workers’ perspectives on both aspects.
The second workstream involved one-on-one semi-structured interviews with 32 founders, owners and senior food safety and quality personnel from 31 Aotearoa New Zealand food companies with thematic data analysis resulting in five key themes: Values; Responsible Stewardship of Natural Resources; Māori Worldview; Ecosystem Pressures and Leadership. The issues identified to be important to Aotearoa New Zealand food businesses include: individual, managerial and organisational values; leadership and management commitment in influencing organisational, food safety and ethical climate and culture; inter-generational value-creation, sustainable practice and acting as kaitiakitanga meaning guardianship or protection. This research has also provided insight into the drivers for and primary challenges related to food safety for Aotearoa New Zealand food businesses.
This research has contributed to an up-to-date understanding of the characteristics of ethical leaders in Aotearoa New Zealand, who, according to this study, are humble, honest, respect indigenous Māori values, and are not corrupt. They have a degree of relatedness, care about our natural environment, have a strong sense of identity or place, are collaborative, are fair, and are accountable. Our size, Indigenous Māori worldview, and our geographical isolation contribute to the unique interpretation and application of these leadership characteristics in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Several limitations are acknowledged, not the least of which was the context for this research which began at the outset of the global pandemic, with both positive and negative consequences. The use of one, albeit large food business in the quantitative workstream is noted, as is the focus of the participants in the qualitative workstream. Broadening this research to all hierarchical levels in several food businesses would be of benefit, and this is one of a number of research recommendations for the future.
The positive correlation between ethical leadership and food safety culture found in this research suggests that maintaining and improving the ethicality of leaders within Aotearoa New Zealand food businesses may positively influence food safety culture and therefore, the production of safer food
Communicating natural hazards science advice: Understanding scientists', decision-makers’, and the public's perceptions of the scientific process
No full textHow individuals perceive scientific processes impacts their interpretation of, trust in, and use of, science advice particularly when managing uncertain natural hazard risk. We explored a) how diverse stakeholders understand how science of natural hazards is produced, and b) how this relates to their ontological, epistemological, and philosophical views of science. Using inductive analysis of semi-structured interviews with 31 participants involved in the management of natural hazards in Aotearoa New Zealand (including non-scientists), we produced three leading themes describing their views: 1) ‘Science is a way of seeing the world’; 2) ‘Science has limitations’; and 3) ‘Knowledge evolves’.
Across Scientist, non-Scientist, and Lay public groups, there was broad agreement on the fundamental steps of the scientific process, aligning mostly with a hypothetico-deductive process. However, many discussed how others may have different perspectives of scientific approaches, truth, and reality. These are informed by training, disciplinary biases, cultural practices, and personal experience of hazards and associated science.
We propose that individuals who recognise different worldviews and philosophies of science will experience higher levels of communication and cognitive uncertainty, which encourages information seeking behaviour and can improve communication efficacy, particularly during high pressure events. We conclude with three communication lessons: 1) be transparent about the processes and causes of change in natural hazards science advice; 2) communicate as both trusted individuals as well as through collective Science Advisory Group (SAG) systems; and 3) provide accessible structures and language to help lay people articulate scientific processes they often intuitively understand, rather than just simplifying information.fals
He Waka Takere Nui : he ārohi i te whanonga whanotau-kore ā-ira i te ao Māori i nehe ā mohoa nei : he tuhingaroa hai whakatutuki i ngā tikanga o Te Tohu Kairangi i te reo Māori i Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa, Te Papaioea, Aotearoa
No full textKua okotahi nei ngā kōrero me ngā tuhinga i te ao pūmātauranga, i te ao Māori anō hoki mō ngā āhuatanga e kīia nei ko ngā whanonga whanotau-kore ā-ira, te irareretanga tae noa atu anō hoki ki te irawhititanga. Ka mutu, kua mokorea anō hoki ngā kōrero mō ngā āhuatanga rā kua tuhia ki te reo Māori. Nā reira, ko tā te hinonga rangahau nei he kapi i tēnei āputa i roto i ngā rangahau, i roto anō hoki i te mātātuhi. E toru ngā pātai rangahau matua i ārahi i te kaupapa nei:
1. He pēhea te pahekoheko o te tuakiri ā-ira me te tuakiri ahurea e ārahi ana i ngā whanonga me ngā māramatanga whaiaro o ngā tāngata whanotau-kore ā-ira i roto i te ao Māori o nāianei?
2. He pēhea tā ngā tāngata whanotau-kore ā-ira whakawhiti i ngā āhuatanga matatini o wō rātou tuakiri, inarā ko te ahurea, te pāpori, me te whaiaro, i roto i ngā horopaki o te ao Māori tuku iho me te ao Māori o nāianei?
3. He aha ngā wheako o ngā tāngata whanotau-kore ā-ira e whaiwāhi ana ki ngā tikanga Māori?
Ko ngā pou ariā i ū ai te rangahau, ko te Kaupapa Māori, ko te Mana Wahine, ko He Whāriki Takatāpui, ā, ka kawea katoa e te pou tarāwaho auaha He Waka Tangata. Mā te waka hourua nei e kitea ai te pāhekoheko o ngā takere e rua—arā, te tuakiri ā-ira me te tuakiri ahurea—me te hiranga o te oranga tinana, hinengaro, wairua, whatumanawa hoki. I kohia ngā raraunga mā te kapo kōrero—arā, he uiui i ngā manu kī tokoono i tautohu i a rātou anō he tangata irarau—ā, i tātarihia mā te tātari ā-ariā me ngā rautaki hai tohu kaupapa matua.
E toru ngā hua matua i whanake mai. Tuatahi, e kitea ana he whānui, he hihiri te kupu ira me wōna whakamahinga i roto i te ao Māori, ā, he whānui ake i te pūnaha tāhūrua ira a te ao Pākehā. Tuarua, kua waihangatia te kupu awarua hai kupu hou, hai ariā e hono ai te tuakiri ā-ira me te tuakiri ahurea i raro i ngā uara o te whakapapa, te whanaungatanga me te mana āhua ake. Tuatoru, kua whakapūmautia te kaha o te pūrākau hai tikanga rangahau hai tiaki i te tuakiri o ngā tāngata i whai wāhi mai ki te hinonga rangahau nei.
E tohu ana ngā kitenga kia waihangatia he wāhi haumaru ake mō te hunga irarau Māori, kia kaha ake ngā āwhina ā-whānau, ā-hapori, ā-kaupapa here hoki. Ka whakawhānui tēnei rangahau i te puna kupu Māori mō tēnei mea te ira, ā, ka tāpaetia hoki te ariā Awarua, me te poutarāwaho He Waka Tangata hai whāinga mā ngā kairangahau, mā ngā hapori Māori, mā ngā rōpū takatāpui taketake puta noa i te ao e kimi nei i ngā ara hai whakamana i te ira kanorau i raro i ngā tirohanga taketake.
Existing academic and Māori scholarship has addressed aspects of what are described as gender non-normative identities, sexual orientation, and gender transition; however, there remains a significant absence of such discourse articulated in te reo Māori. Consequently, there is a critical gap in both research literature and Māori-language scholarship. This research project seeks to address that gap within both academic research and Māori textual traditions.
The study is guided by three central research questions:
How do gender identity and cultural identity interact to shape the behaviours and self-understandings of gender-diverse individuals within contemporary Māori contexts?
How do gender-diverse Māori navigate the complex dimensions of their identities—cultural, social, and personal—across both traditional Māori contexts and contemporary Māori worlds?
What are the lived experiences of gender-diverse Māori who actively engage with tikanga Māori?
The theoretical foundations of this research are grounded in Kaupapa Māori theory, Mana Wahine theory, and He Whāriki Takatāpui, all held within the creative conceptual framework of He Waka Tangata. This waka hourua framework enables the exploration of the dynamic relationship between two interrelated hulls—gender identity and cultural identity—and highlights the interdependence of physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional wellbeing.
Data were gathered through kōrero-based interviewing (kapo kōrero), involving in-depth interviews with six participants who self-identified as gender-diverse Māori, and were analysed using thematic analysis and conceptual coding strategies.
Three core findings emerged from the study. First, the concept of ira (gender) within te ao Māori is shown to be expansive, dynamic, and relational, extending beyond the Western binary gender system. Second, the concept of awarua is introduced as a newly developed term and theoretical construct that articulates the interconnection between gender identity and cultural identity, grounded in the values of whakapapa, whanaungatanga, and mana āhua ake (inherent dignity and authority). Third, the research affirms the strength of pūrākau as a culturally grounded research methodology that protects participant identity and integrity while enabling deep, relational knowledge production.
The findings point to the necessity of creating safer cultural spaces for irarau Māori, strengthening whānau-based, community-based, and policy-level support systems. This research contributes to the expansion of Māori language terminology relating to gender, introduces the theoretical concept of Awarua, and presents He Waka Tangata as a transferable conceptual framework for researchers, Māori communities, and Indigenous takatāpui and gender-diverse collectives globally who are seeking culturally grounded pathways for affirming gender diversity through Indigenous worldviews
Fishery Resource Conservation Subsidies and Penalties in China: An Evolutionary Game Approach
No full textIn response to the ongoing depletion of fishery resources, many countries now prioritize sustainable fish stock use and ecosystem protection, balancing ecological, economic, and social goals. Fishery subsidies are key in this shift, with their impact depending on design and implementation. In 2020, China introduced marine fishery resource conservation subsidies and simultaneously phased out a 15-year policy of harmful fuel subsidies. This study uses evolutionary game theory to analyze the strategic interactions between government authorities and fishermen across four institutional scenarios, each combining different forms of subsidies and penalties. The findings suggest that a dynamic approach, incorporating both subsidies and penalties, is most effective in promoting legal fishing practices and protecting marine resources. Additionally, the study emphasizes that the effectiveness of subsidies and penalties does not necessarily increase with their scale; instead, both must be carefully calibrated to sustainable and reasonable limits.fals
Insights into wheat grain microstructure and composition for the development of novel flour with slow digestion properties and enhanced functional characteristics : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Food Technology at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
No full textWheat has been consumed as whole grains, broken grains, flattened format, and puffed format other than the flour format, which has a wide application in different types of food preparations. Wheat flour possesses a unique ability to form a cohesive dough that has viscoelastic properties. A range of products with wheat as their major ingredient are high glycaemic index (GI) foods as wheat flour contains highly digestible starch. However, the consumption of high GI foods is associated with chronic diseases such as diabetes, coronary heart disease, and obesity due to a rapid increase in blood glucose levels and secretion of insulin. The major objective of the research studies of this thesis included creating slowly digestible flour with improved functionality using slowly digested starch sources and non-starch components.
Modifying wheat grain through different processing techniques alters the microstructure, and therefore, starch digestibility is impacted. Microstructure modification through various processing techniques, which can control the access of digestive enzymes to starch, could help develop products with controlled starch digestibility. To advance the understanding of the impact of wheat grain microstructure on starch hydrolysis, Chapter 3 explored a study on whole wheat grain in different commercially available forms (kibbled, cut grains, and flour) to understand the influence of microstructural changes on in vitro starch digestibility. The process of size reduction from raw intact grains to kibbled grains and flour caused an increase in overall starch hydrolysis (%) during simulated digestion in the order of flour>kibbled>cut>intact whole wheat grains. Cooking of these formats further increased their starch hydrolysis. However, both cooked cut and intact grains were low glycaemic with the expected glycaemic indices (eGI) of values of 54.08±0.03 and 41.98±0.04, respectively, revealing the role of intact microstructure in starch hydrolysis of wheat grains.
Based on the role of intact microstructure, Chapter 4 investigated the possibility of reducing the starch hydrolysis in wheat grain formats (whole, flakes, and flour) by hydrothermal treatment and low-temperature storage of whole wheat grains. The extent of starch hydrolysis after oral-gastro-small intestinal digestion in vitro was significantly lower (p<0.05) in intact grains, flakes, and flours from the cold-stored grains than their non-cold-stored counterparts. In this study, scanning electron micrographs, pasting properties, water retention capacities, and relative crystallinity of the resulting flours revealed an enhanced degree of gelatinisation with the treatment temperature; however, cold-storage of treated grains resulted in a change in these properties due to the retrogradation of the starch. This study indicates that hydrothermal pre-treatment of grains followed by low-temperature storage for prolonged periods might help to reduce the starch digestibility of wheat grains and their resulting products and could be an effective strategy in developing reduced glycaemic impact grain products. However, in our preliminary trials, the flours from hydrothermally treated and low-temperature stored grains resulted in doughs of inferior viscoelastic properties.
Furthermore, intending to create slowly digestible flour, Chapter 5 employed two approaches to modify a resistant starch: one involving soluble extracts from wheat flour and vital gluten (water solubles, salt-assisted water-solubles, and acid-solubles) and the other utilising hydrocolloids (guar gum, xanthan gum, locust bean gum, and carboxymethyl cellulose). Modifications from both approaches resulted in modified starch morphology with the formation of starch clusters mimicking the wheat flour. Moreover, the modification with hydrocolloids resulted in an improved pasting profile. Furthermore, in vitro digestion studies revealed that the starch hydrolysis rate was decreased for most of the cooked modified starches with wheat solubles and a slower starch hydrolysis profile until 60 min of simulated small intestinal digestion for most of the hydrocolloids used, carboxymethyl cellulose being the least effective in slowing the starch hydrolysis rate.
Additionally, Chapter 6 evaluates the functionality and starch digestibility of a wheat flour system (dough and flatbread-chapatti) by utilising the modified starches created in Chapter 5 as low glycaemic ingredients. The interaction of the modified starches with vital gluten and wheat flour components resulted in improved viscosity of the functional flour. The microstructure of the functional flour dough indicated that the modified starches with wheat solubles (soluble extracts from wheat flour and vital gluten) and hydrocolloids improved the starch-protein matrix and gluten network. Furthermore, the in vitro digestion study revealed the overall starch hydrolysis of chapattis from all the functional flour formulations was significantly lower than the wheat flour chapatti.
In conclusion, structural modifications of wheat grain could help reduce the overall starch hydrolysis of wheat grain products. Moreover, the wheat grain components have the potential to modify resistant starch sources to improve their functionality while retaining their slow digestion property. Also, utilising hydrocolloids to modify resistant starch sources could be an effective strategy to enhance the functionality of resistant starches in wheat-based systems. Modified resistant starches created using wheat solubles (soluble extracts from wheat flour and vital gluten) and hydrocolloids have potential applications with slow digestibility and improved functionality in wheat-based products
Dietary Patterns and Diet Quality before and/or during Pregnancy and How These Affect Birth Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
No full textLimited consistent evidence exists on how diet quality before and during pregnancy influences preterm birth and low birthweight risk. This study aims to assess whether diet quality based on dietary patterns before and during pregnancy affects preterm birth and low birthweight risk. We systematically searched 3 electronic databases and 4 registries for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs without restrictions on publication date or language until 22 November, 2024. Included RCTs evaluated dietary patterns to enhance diet quality before/during pregnancy compared with a usual diet or placebo. Results were synthesized using random-effects meta-analyses with risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals. Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 1 tool, and certainty of evidence was evaluated with the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach. Twenty-nine RCTs (7367 participants) were included. Improved diet quality through dietary patterns providing the recommended macronutrient intake or high unsaturated fats before and during pregnancy reduced the incidence of low birthweight (<2500 g) (7 RCTs, 2178 participants, RR 0.53 [0.37, 0.77], low certainty of evidence) and have potential benefit for reducing preterm birth (15 RCTs, 4949 participants, RR 0.79 [0.62, 1.02], low certainty of evidence) compared with usual diet. The data available support interventions starting in the first trimester (RR 0.30 [0.11, 0.80]), lasting 4–7 mo (RR 0.52 [0.37, 0.73]), with similar effects in both high-/upper-middle-income [RR 0.44 (0.19, 10.04)] and lower-middle-income (RR 0.44 [0.31, 0.63]) populations, especially in low-risk women (RR 0.52 [0.37, 0.73]). Diets providing the recommended macronutrient intake or high in unsaturated fats significantly reduced risk of low birthweight when initiated in the first trimester and maintained for 4–7 mo, regardless of country-level socioeconomic context. Healthcare providers should consider recommending dietary patterns emphasizing whole foods and high-quality fats as part of early prenatal care.fals
Journey through psychosis : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for a Master in Design at Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand
No full textPsychosis can be a difficult journey, not only for the person experiencing it but also for their loved ones. A lack of accessible information, misconceptions, and limited resources often leave families and friends feeling confused, helpless, and overlooked. Yet, these individuals play a crucial role in recovery, as they often become informal caregivers and are the first to recognize behavioral changes that may signal worsening symptoms. This project aims to create an online resource that enhances loved ones’ understanding of psychosis. Using Orygen’s “A Shared Understanding – Psychoeducation in Early Psychosis” as a foundational guide, it provides evidence-based knowledge, practical insights, and strategies to support a loved one through their experience. The research explores how structuring the content around the Hero’s Journey can create a compelling narrative that parallels the transformative nature of psychosis. It integrates traditional relief print woodcut illustrations of a mythical world, which are adapted and animated for a digital space, creating an immersive and visually rich experience. By incorporating user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design methodologies, the project ensures that information is accessible and easy to digest. The final output takes the form of a Figma prototype and an accompanying video. This project is inspired by both my own lived experience and my role as a support person for a loved one navigating psychosis
A mixed-methods evaluation of an intervention for enhancing alcohol screening in adults aged 50+ attending primary health care
No full textIntroduction
Adults aged 50 years and over are drinking more than ever but primary health care (PHC) professionals find it challenging to screen them for alcohol-related harm, despite being at greater risk for harm than younger drinkers.
Aim
This intervention aimed to enhance alcohol screening for this cohort by (a) introducing an algorithm in the patient management system to automate detection of alcohol risk in patients and (b) providing training to support health professionals' practice of, knowledge about, and comfort with alcohol screening in this cohort.
Methods
Eleven PHC practices in Aotearoa New Zealand took part in this intervention, including 41 PHC health professionals. Development and integration of the automated alcohol screening process within PHC patient management systems was undertaken in parallel with health professional training approaches.
Results
Screening rates increased substantially at intervention initiation but fell immediately with the onset of the New Zealand COVID-19 national lockdown. Two-thirds of health professionals identified the system screening prompts, over 40% felt this changed their screening practice, and 33% increased their awareness of - and felt more comfortable screening for - alcohol-related risk in those aged 50+.
Discussion
We illustrated an initial increase in alcohol screening rates in those aged 50+ as a result of this intervention, but this increase could not be sustained in part due to COVID-19 disruption. However, health professionals indicated that this intervention helped many change their practice and enhanced their awareness of such risk and comfort in screening for alcohol-related risk in those aged 50+.fals
Enhancing analgesic techniques for the management of perioperative analgesia in dogs and cats : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Veterinary Science at Massey University, Manawatu, Palmerston North, New Zealand. EMBARGOED until August 2026
No full textEffective pain management is a cornerstone of veterinary care. However, challenges persist in optimising perioperative analgesia across diverse clinical situations and in different species.
In a series of studies that form the backbone of this thesis, the electroencephalogram (EEG) and postoperative pain scores were used to evaluate a variety of drugs administered in the perioperative period and their analgesic efficacy in both feline and canine patients undergoing a range of surgical procedures resulting in nociception and postoperative pain.
Premedication involves the administration of an appropriate analgesic or combination of drugs to blunt nociceptive inputs during the intraoperative period, ideally before nociception begins. One study used the EEG to assess the efficacy of three commonly used opioids—morphine, buprenorphine, and methadone–as premedication in healthy cats undergoing castration. The results demonstrated that while all three opioids were effective in mitigating nociceptive input, methadone was significantly more effective than either morphine or buprenorphine.
Beyond the efficacy of individual premedication agents, the interactions between multiple drugs administered in combination are also critical in shaping intraoperative and postoperative analgesia. One study investigated EEG indices of nociception in cats undergoing castration, examining how vatinoxan, an α₂-adrenoceptor antagonist, influenced the analgesic efficacy of dexmedetomidine, an α₂-adrenoceptor agonist, when given alone or in combination, with or without morphine. The findings indicated no significant attenuation of dexmedetomidine’s antinociceptive effects when vatinoxan or morphine were added. Interestingly, high-dose morphine alone provided superior antinociception compared to dexmedetomidine, either alone or in combination with morphine and/or vatinoxan.
In dogs, intraoperative nociception and postoperative pain are often managed using multimodal analgesia-combinations of drugs designed to enhance analgesic efficacy and reduce side effects. One study evaluated intraoperative nociceptive indices and postoperative pain scores in dogs undergoing castration, comparing the effects of systemically administered morphine, locally administered bupivacaine via incisional block, and their combination to effectively control nociception and postoperative pain. While both morphine and bupivacaine alone effectively reduced intraoperative nociception, bupivacaine was superior in managing postoperative pain. However, the combination of both systemically administered morphine and locally administered bupivacaine proved most effective, completely suppressing intraoperative nociception.
Postoperative analgesic efficacy is influenced not only by the choice and combination, of drugs but also by the route of administration. This is particularly relevant when methods are adopted from human applications. A study assessing transdermally administered buprenorphine in dogs undergoing tibial tuberosity advancement orthopaedic surgery for the correction of cranial cruciate ligament rupture showed that dogs receiving buprenorphine patches had significantly lower postoperative pain scores than those in the control group. These results support transdermal buprenorphine as a useful and effective alternative for postoperative pain management in dogs undergoing orthopaedic procedures.
These studies demonstrate that perioperative analgesic efficacy can be significantly enhanced by carefully considering key parameters, including drug selection, appropriate dosing, multimodal combinations, and the most suitable route of administration for the specific procedure
The causal impact of living arrangements on quality of life among older New Zealanders : the moderating effects of age and social connectedness : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology, Massey University, New Zealand
No full textThis study examines the causal relationships between living arrangements (LA) and the quality of life (QoL) of older adults in Aotearoa New Zealand, with a specific focus on the moderating roles of age, gender, and social connectedness. Drawing on longitudinal data from the New Zealand Health, Work and Retirement Study (NZHWRS), this research employs the CASP-12 model to examine the psychosocial dimensions of QoL. Specifically, it investigates how the sub-dimensions: autonomy, control, self-realisation, and enjoyment, contribute to overall QoL, particularly in relation to various LA. The findings reveal that living arrangements (outside of institutionalised settings) play a pivotal role in shaping the QoL of older adults. Independent living arrangements often promoted as supporting autonomy, self-esteem, and personal agency in older adults was in fact identified as being accompanied by elevated risks of loneliness and social isolation, particularly among individuals with limited social networks or familial support. In contrast, intergenerational living arrangements or being with a partner, provide opportunities for enhanced social connectedness and emotional support. Most notably older adults were found to derive greater overall QoL when living with their families. even when this came at the expense of reduced personal autonomy. Age and gender emerged as significant moderators in the relationship between LA and QoL. Older women and individuals in advanced age cohorts exhibited distinctive patterns of QoL outcomes, underscoring the importance of tailored interventions. Moreover, the buffering effects of social connectedness were prominent, with active participation in social activities and employment serving as critical protective factors against isolation and diminished well-being. These findings underscore the multifaceted nature of "ageing in place" strategies, which, while beneficial in promoting independence, must be complemented by robust community-based social support systems to mitigate unintended negative outcomes. This research addresses critical gaps in the existing literature by providing a nuanced understanding of the interplay between living arrangements, psychosocial factors, and demographic characteristics in influencing the QoL of older adults. The findings have substantial implications for both academic discourse, public policy and practice. Recommendations include fostering inclusive, age-friendly communities, enhancing social infrastructure, and developing policies that balance autonomy with collective support to ensure the dignity, health, and well-being of New Zealand's ageing population. By integrating theoretical insights with empirical evidence, this study contributes to the evolving discourse on healthy ageing and offers practical solutions for improving QoL outcomes in diverse living arrangements