2026 HOPE Scholars

Posted by on 31 January 2026

Tags: co-design, healthy ageing, older migrants, smart cities, urban governance

Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors and the work of the Friends of HOPE, the HOPE Foundation for Research on Ageing has granted 13 scholarships for ageing related research in 2026. Of these 13, five are 2025 scholars continuing their work. These are all very worthy recipients, and their work will make a difference to the lives of New Zealanders in the future.

Enjoy reading about their interesting and inspiring projects.

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.Kushalata Baral

PhD candidate, University of Waikato

Health Science; Main supervisor, Professor Matthew Parsons

When to stop driving? An exploration into driving cessation decision-making among people with cognitive impairment.

Driving cessation is one of the pressing issues for older people with cognitive impairment, as it impacts their independence, social connections and overall quality of life. In a car-dependent society like New Zealand, the decision to stop driving is further complicated by limited public transport options, creating an emotional toll on families. The first phase of the study involved focus groups with families and health professionals to understand their experiences, while the second phase will expand insights through a national survey to explore how the families can be supported.

This study aims to uncover the determinants of balancing safety concerns with the emotional and practical impacts of taking away a loved one’s driving privileges. Combining qualitative discernment from families and health professionals with quantitative data from a national survey, this research aims to inform strategies that support older people and their families through this transition, fostering acceptance and reframing driving cessation as a natural part of ageing rather than failure.

The findings of the study will guide healthcare providers and community organisations in developing interventions that promote dignity, safety, and social inclusion for older people as they adapt to life beyond the driver’s seat. Health professionals are identified as advocates who can connect older people and families with resources such as transport alternatives, community support services, and driving retirement planning initiatives.

I am deeply grateful for this scholarship, which provides financial backing and confidence to undertake such a socially significant topic. It can potentially improve the lives of older New Zealanders and their families, making New Zealand a better place to live and drive.

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.Chunxu Chen

PhD candidate, Auckland University of Technology

Main supervisor, Dr Kay Shannon

Organisational support for older registered nurses’ continuation of practice in inpatient hospital settings.

The nursing workforce is ageing, and this demographic shift has significant implications for the healthcare system. Older nurses bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the workforce; however, research conducted internationally and locally suggests workplace ageism can be a significant barrier to the continuation of practice for older nurses. Workplace ageism refers to discriminatory behaviours or attitudes towards older workers, which can negatively affect their employment opportunities, job satisfaction, and well-being. It could also hinder older nurses’ access to organisational support, such as opportunities for professional development, flexible work arrangements, and supportive leadership.

The purpose of my research is to explore older registered nurses' and organisational representatives' perceptions of organisational support for older registered nurses' continuation of practice in inpatient hospital settings. In particular, this study aims to understand how older registered nurses and organisational representatives perceive the level of organisational support provided to older registered nurses and how this support influences older registered nurses’ continuation of practice. Purposive sampling has been used to recruit thirteen older registered nurses who are employed in direct patient care roles and four organisational representatives at Health New Zealand-Te Whatu Ora. I use the interpretive description methodology to develop a rich and contextualised understanding of the topic using two data sources.

This study will contribute to the understanding of organisational support for older registered nurses in their work environment and how it affects their decision to continue practicing in the New Zealand context. Recommendations will be made to Health New Zealand-Te Whatu Ora on strategies for supporting older registered nurses to remain in the workforce and ways to address workplace ageism in their practice settings.

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.Diwakar Khanal

PhD candidate, University of Canterbury

Main supervisor, Dr Tiina Vares

Perspectives and experiences of migrant care workers in aged residential care in New Zealand

Diwakar Khanal is researching the experiences of Asian migrant care workers in New Zealand’s aged residential care sector. As the demand for aged care workers grows globally, countries like New Zealand increasingly rely on migrant care workers, yet their voices often remain unheard. Asian migrant care workers, particularly women, face systemic challenges, including racism, gender oppression, exploitation, and social marginalization, compounded by cultural differences and language barriers. This study critically examines their perspectives through a migration lens, aiming to promote workforce sustainability, inclusivity, and equity in the aged care sector.

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.Jayanthi Nagalingam

PhD candidate, Auckland University of Technology

Main supervisor, Dr Kay Shannon

Healthy ageing and wellbeing: Exploring the perspectives of older Indian Migrants in Aotearoa New Zealand

This study explores how older Indian migrants in Aotearoa New Zealand perceive healthy ageing and wellbeing, considering their diverse social, cultural, linguistic, and religious backgrounds. Using a qualitative interpretive descriptive approach, the research examines individual, familial, community, and societal factors to identify the key barriers and enablers shaping their experiences of ageing and wellbeing.

Additionally, the study will investigate perspectives from representatives of government and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) involved in supporting older Indian migrants. It will evaluate existing policies and strategies aimed at promoting healthy ageing and wellbeing, while identifying gaps and opportunities for improvement. Older Indian migrants will be invited to participate in interviews to share their personal experiences and perceptions related to healthy ageing and wellbeing. They will discuss the barriers and facilitators they encounter and offer insights into how their social, cultural, linguistic, and religious backgrounds influence their health behaviours and decision-making as they age. Likewise, representatives from government organisations and NGOs will be interviewed to offer their perspectives on policies, strategies, and services that support this community.

Given the growing older Indian population in Aotearoa New Zealand, the insights gained from this study will inform the development of culturally appropriate healthcare and social services tailored to the specific needs of older Indian communities. Ultimately, the study will generate recommendations for developing a culturally responsive migrant-centred framework for healthy ageing and wellbeing within Auckland’s multicultural context.

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.Mathew Shuen

PhD candidate, University of Otago

Physiology; Main supervisor, Associate Professor Phil Sheard

Age-related changes to nuclear pore complex proteins in human myocardium

As age-related cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of death worldwide, so understanding how the heart ages is crucial. Our research aims to uncover how changes in nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) —large gateways between the nucleus and cytoplasm, contribute to cardiac ageing and disease. These gateways have been linked to age-related cell death in nerve cells, which like heart muscle cells, lack appreciable replacement throughout life. NPCs play a vital role in gene regulation and cellular health, yet they degrade over time, potentially driving heart dysfunction.

My project aims to analyse NPCs in ageing and dysfunctional heart muscle cells using human heart samples from the HeartOtago tissue bank. Initial findings suggest that while overall levels of NPC proteins do not significantly decline with age, their distribution and function may be altered possibly contributing to cell stress. Currently my project involves analysing how NPC proteins interact with markers of cellular ageing and DNA damage. Insights from this work will shed light on the role of NPCs and their component proteins in heart cell dysfunction during ageing, potentially informing future therapeutic strategies through modulation of NPCs.

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Xi (Cassie) Wang

PhD candidate, Auckland University of Technology

Public Health; Main supervisor, Dr Cath Conn

Healthy ageing in a smart urban future: Co-designing with Asian older adults in Auckland

I am a PhD researcher in Public Health at Auckland University of Technology, working at the intersection of healthy ageing, smart cities, and inclusive governance. My research explores how older adults, particularly Chinese migrants in Auckland, experience and navigate increasingly digital urban services and participation systems.

As cities move towards digital-first models of service delivery and civic engagement, older adults are often framed as “late adopters” who simply need more training or better tools. My research challenges this assumption by shifting the focus from individual capability to system design. Rather than asking whether older people can keep up with smart city systems, I examine how those systems are structured, whose forms of participation they recognise, and where everyday barriers quietly accumulate. Using a participatory co-design approach, I am developing and testing a method called World Teahouse, a culturally adapted version of the World Café model. Through small, facilitated sessions that combine storytelling, mapping, and collective reflection, older adults and local stakeholders work together to make visible how participation pathways function in practice and how they might be redesigned to better support autonomy, dignity, and social connection. The project treats older adults not as passive service users or consultees, but as legitimate contributors to future urban governance. Its aim is to translate lived experience into practical, governance-relevant insights that can inform more inclusive and future-ready approaches to healthy ageing in Auckland and beyond.

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