Rate My Professor Edmond Fehoko

Dr. Edmond Fehoko is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Human Nutrition at the University of Otago and serves as the Associate Dean Pacific (Sciences). His academic background encompasses criminology, sociology, cultural studies, mental health and addiction, reproductive health, and public health. He holds a BA in Criminology and Social Sciences, an MA (Hons), and a PhD from Auckland University of Technology. Prior to his current role, Dr. Fehoko was a Postdoctoral Fellow in the School of Māori Studies and Pacific Studies at the University of Auckland, a Pacific Academic Partner at the Pacific Development Office of Manukau Institute of Technology, and a Learning Advisor at Auckland University of Technology.

Dr. Fehoko's expertise lies in the development, design, and evaluation of Pacific and Indigenous interventions to promote health and positive wellbeing, employing qualitative and Pacific research methods and methodologies. Currently funded by the Health Research Council of New Zealand, he leads an exploratory study on Pacific males' perspectives on the strengths and harms of digital wellbeing, focusing on social media use and addiction, online gaming, and pornography, with planned research on food disorders and food advertisements from a Pacific perspective. He also serves as Pacific Research Lead on a Marsden study examining Pacific perspectives on infertility and assisted reproductive technologies. His achievements include the Prime Minister's Pacific Youth Awards, the Sunpix Pacific Peoples Education Award, and multiple Health Research Council of New Zealand awards. Key publications are 'Digital taboo: A qualitative study on Pacific male experiences of and attitudes to pornography in Aotearoa New Zealand' (Kito et al., 2026), 'Exploring the interface of religion, infertility and assisted reproduction: Experiences of Pacific Christian adults in Aotearoa New Zealand' (Young, Shaw, & Fehoko, 2025), 'Male body image in Aotearoa New Zealand: A qualitative interview study' (Mitlash et al., 2024), and 'Indigenous people display lower mental illness stigma in Aotearoa' (Jamieson et al., 2024). Dr. Fehoko sits on the editorial boards of Sites: A Journal of Social Anthropology and Cultural Studies and the Harm Reduction Journal, and is a member of the Advisory Committee for Assisted Reproductive Technologies and the Royal Society of New Zealand. He welcomes postgraduate students interested in mental health and addiction, qualitative research, and Indigenous and Pacific research methods.