Commissioned research

Much of NZCER’s research and evaluation is produced through commissioned research and evaluation services.  

Since its inception, NZCER has held a wealth of expertise in qualitative and quantitative research, building a reputation as a robust and reliable research organisation. We respond to a range of direct requests for research and evaluation work. We also bid for contract work that aligns with our strategic priorities and areas of expertise. In considering which work to take on, we focus on mahi that aligns with our strategic priorities, and will have a positive impact in education. You can see some of the organisations we work with here. 

Services we offer include:  

• General research  
• Kaupapa Māori research  
• Statistical analysis  
• Programme evaluation  
• Curriculum and assessment design  
• Literature reviews  
• Psychometrics    
• Sample and survey design   

To enquire about NZCER's services, please contact info@nzcer.org.nz 

Te Wāhanga

NZCER's kaupapa Māori research unit

Te Wāhanga views Māori education and development as the intergenerational transfer of knowledge, which includes knowledge content, the method of knowledge transfer, and the ability of Māori to be in a position to determine what is transferred and how.  

Māori education and development is about Māori having the authority (rangatiratanga) to determine what is valued as knowledge, what is worthy of transfer, and what will best contribute to whānau health and wellbeing. It is also about recognising and affirming Māori cultural institutions, including whānau and marae, and the role they play in Māori education.

Te Pae Tawhiti

Te Pae Tawhiti supports NZCER to conduct research that meets its strategic priorities. This work is funded through an annual government grant.  

A public good organisation, NZCER’s Board sets our strategy. Through Te Pae Tawhiti, we produce research that focuses on one or more of our current strategic priorities:  

• Improving equity in education
• Māori educational aspirations anchor our work
• Strengthening aromatawai and assessment for learning
• Centring indigenous knowledge in education
• Transforming education in a changing world 

Te Pae Tawhiti enables us to build a research programme that complements and enhances our contract work.  

In addition to producing new research, Te Pae Tawhiti enables members of our team to respond to requests for expert research-based advice.  

Rangahau | Research

NZCER conducts a comprehensive programme of high-quality research and evaluation work. Our diverse team has extensive expertise in areas such as Māori education, educational leadership, teaching and learning, curriculum and assessment, teacher and student wellbeing. Our team includes kairangahau | researchers, psychometricians, and statisticians. Find out more about our people here.  

There are three key streams to our work.  

• Te Pae Tawhiti:  Research designed by NZCER to advance our strategic priorities for education.  
• Te Wāhanga: Our kaupapa Māori research unit that leads research for Māori in education.  
• Commissioned research: We conduct research and evaluation for a range of organisations and public sector departments.  

NZCER regularly conducts research in partnership with the National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa (National Library), primarily focused on reading for pleasure but also encompassing broader work on literacy, libraries and their intersections with schools and kura. 

Articles: 

• Teachers' love of reading inspires ākonga | Ed Gazette, 2023
• Teachers as readers: Listening to, reading, and talking about stories – for pleasure | Set: Research Information for Teachers, 2022