Rate My Professor Nevil Pierse

Research Professor Nevil Pierse is based in the Department of Public Health at the University of Otago, Wellington, within the Division of Health Sciences. Originally from Ireland, he holds a BSc in Mathematics and Statistics, an MSc in Statistics, and a PhD from the University of Otago, where his doctoral research addressed the statistical challenges of the placebo effect in unblinded randomised trials. Prior to his current role, Pierse worked in research for four years in New Zealand and the UK. As a statistician by training, his career has focused on biostatistics in public health, particularly the design and implementation of natural experiments to improve home and community environments. He serves as co-leader of He Kāinga Oranga, the Housing and Health Research Programme, and leads the Housing First programme—a NZ$2.5 million partnership between the University of Otago, the University of Waikato, and The People's Project in Hamilton. This initiative examines the long-term effects of housing interventions for rough sleepers using Statistics New Zealand's Integrated Data Infrastructure to assess impacts on health, education, benefits, and employment. Pierse also leads five housing and health projects on the integrated data infrastructure and works on the Healthy Housing Initiative, providing home interventions to prevent re-hospitalisation of children with housing-related diseases.

Pierse's research has had substantial policy and practical impact in New Zealand. The Healthy Housing Initiative has remediated over 30,000 homes, resulting in nearly 10,000 fewer hospital admissions. He and his team received the Prime Minister's Science Prize in 2014 for their work on natural experiments; the Prime Minister's Spirit of Service Award in 2019 for the Healthy Housing Initiative; and the Rutherford Medal in 2021 for the quality and impact of their research. Key publications include "Evaluating fifth-year outcomes Housing First for women in Aotearoa New Zealand" (Discover Public Health, 2026); "Summer indoor overheating risks in temperate climates: A case study of vulnerable households in Aotearoa New Zealand" (Urban Transitions, 2026); "People with disabilities in emergency housing: An analysis of a national administrative database" (International Journal on Homelessness, 2026); "People receiving the Emergency Housing Special Needs Grant in Aotearoa New Zealand" (International Journal of Housing Policy, 2026); and "Outcomes for Māori participants in Housing First" (International Indigenous Policy Journal, 2025).