Te Kukunetanga: Developing Cycle of Life Research Programme

Te Kukunetanga aims to improve the pregnancy journey and outcomes for wahine and their whanau.

A women’s body undergoes unique progressive changes in shape and size throughout pregnancy and in the six months after the birth. While it's generally accepted that the physical changes experienced throughout this time affect the way women walk, balance, exercise and carry out daily tasks, we currently have limited insight into how these changes evolve across time, and how they differ between women.

By monitoring physical and functional changes of women throughout pregnancy and post-natal, we can develop foundational knowledge of the pregnancy journey, which will provide an opportunity to inform health-related practices for pregnant women.

Te Kukunetanga launch panelists

In the news:

Participant recruitment

Download the participant information sheet for Maternal Wellbeing and Exercise through Pregnancy - Online Survey

Download the participant information sheet for Expression of Emotions in the Body study

Alternatively, you contact

Te Kukunetanga research projects in progress

Te Kukunetanga research programme has 10 projects in progress. For details please click on the project titles below.

The Physical Evolution Through Pregnancy Project aims to improve health outcomes for pregnant women and their babies by monitoring changes in body shape and size, walking gait and balance throughout pregnancy and in the six months after the birth.

AUTEC ethics # 21/49

Principal investigator: Patria Hume

Participant recruitment - Physical Evolution through Pregnancy (PEP)

We have now finished recruiting wahine who are pregnant, have recently given birth, or are hoping to soon be pregnant for the Physical Evolution Through Pregnancy Project at AUT Millennium (Antares Place, Albany, Auckland). We are working on developing research findings which will be uploaded here.

Download the participant information sheet

Alternatively, you contact Dr Hannah Wyatt, email PEP@aut.ac.nz or call 021 0511 579

Associate investigators:

Dr Hannah Wyatt, Dr Kelly Sheerin, Dr Heather Donald, Dr Nimisha Waller, Associate Professor Dean Mahuta, Dr Sally Britnell, Dr Alyssa-joy Spence, Professor Susan Crowther, Professor Judith McAra-Couper, Dr Stacy Gillard-Tito, Professor Sarat Singamneni, Dee Holdsworth-Perks, Ajinkya Nafde, Chris Tillack, Christine Delaney, Judith Pullen Burry, Sabina Just, Oli Youlton, Alyssa Spence, Teea Francis, William Huang, Isabel Neal, Anya Zoellner, Jordan Rear, Oliver Viant, Eva Filleur, Hannah Creamer, Teea Francis, Dr Sarah-Kate Millar, Bridget Munro, Jane Cappaert, Emily Lawrence, Cailee Caldwell.

Find out more

We aim to determine the relationship between health vitals (blood pressure, temperature and oxygen saturation) and physical activity during pregnancy.

  • Dr Shilin Deng, Dr Hannah Wyatt, Professor Patria Hume, Dr Sally Britnell

(AUTEC ethics # 21/49)

As a free and easily accessible form of exercise, running is popular among the general population. We aim to understand how changes during pregnancy influence running gait and the loading experienced, with the purpose of providing clear recommendations for engagement with running throughout and beyond pregnancy.

AUTEC ethics # 21/401

Principal investigator: Dr Hannah Wyatt

Associate investigators:

  • Dr Kelly Sheerin - AUT Millennium SPRINZ Clinics Manager and Senior Lecturer
  • Dr. Kim Hébert-Losier – University of Waikato Senior Lecturer and biomechanics lead
  • Professor Patria Hume – AUT SPRINZ Professor and PEP lead investigator
  • Isabel Neal – AUT SPRINZ placement student
  • William Huang – AUT SPRINZ placement student
  • Teea Francis – AUT SPRINZ placement student
  • Oliver Viant – AUT SPRINZ placement student

Find out more

The project will examine maternal psychological well-being throughout pregnancy and the post-natal period. We will look at the connections between mood, anxiety, social support, attitudes toward exercise, mother’s sleep, baby’s sleep and patterns of exercise and activity. We aim to be able to improve mothers’ engagement with exercise in the post-natal period, and to improve their wellbeing and mental health.

Recruiting now for this online survey - Click here for the survey

Download the participant information sheet for Maternal Wellbeing and Exercise through Pregnancy - Online Survey

AUTEC ethics #22/99

Principal investigator

  • Amy Kercher

Associate investigators:

  • Liesje Donkin
  • Hannah Wyatt
  • Patria Hume

The consumption of a rich-nutrient diet is especially important during pregnancy. Although a variety of whole foods are optimal, ensuring all nutritional needs are met during pregnancy can be challenging. We aim to increase our understanding of women's food consumption during pregnancy, with the purpose of enhancing education and strategies for optimising nutrition.

We are working on developing research findings which will be uploaded here.

AUTEC ethics # 21/144

Principle investigators:

  • Heather Donald
  • Hannah Wyatt

We aimed to gain insight into women’s experiences of running during pregnancy, including running habits, musculoskeletal discomfort and injuries, and the timing and reasons for modification or cessation of running. 3,102 women have completed the survey and data analysis is currently being conducted.

  • Dr Kelly Sheerin, Dr Hannah Wyatt, Professor Patria Hume, Dr Kim Herbet-Losier

(AUTEC ethics # 21/401)

We aim to understand how body morphology changes during pregnancy affect balance during pregnancy.

  • Dr Hannah Wyatt, Professor Patria Hume, Dr Kelly Sheerin

(AUTEC ethics # 21/49)

We aim to build Māori participation in research, engagement with Māori stakeholders, capacity and capability building, relationship development, networking, information events.

  • Associate Professor Dean Mahuta, Professor Patria Hume, Dr Hannah Wyatt, Dr Stacy Gillard-Tito

We aim to provide evidence-based best practice recommendations on physical activity/exercise during pregnancy for New Zealand women and those who provide healthcare during pregnancy.  The guidelines may be used to encourage women to achieve the levels of physical activity/exercise that are recommended for optimal health during pregnancy and in the postpartum period; and provide health professionals with evidence-based guidance on optimal physical activity behaviours during pregnancy and in the postpartum period.

  • Professor Wendy Brown, Professor Patria Hume, Dr Katie Palmer Du Preez, Dr Hannah Wyatt, Dr Olivia Wright.

We aim to improve our understanding of the physical challenges in relation to movement and exercise throughout the childbirth year and inform acceptable educational resources for childbirth care and practice.

We are working on developing research findings which will be uploaded here.

  • Dr Hannah Wyatt, Dr Nimisha Waller, Professor Patria Hume, Professor Susan Crowther, Associate Professor Dean Mahuta, Dr Kelly Sheerin and Teea Francis

(AUTEC ethics # 22/319)

Download the participant information sheet - Te Kukunetanga: An exploratory descriptive qualitative study of women's experiences of movement and exercise during the childbirth year

This project will investigate the intricate relationship between pregnancy emotions, and these physiological aspects, that will offer insight into a holistic experience of expectant women. It is our aim to empower women by developing emotional awareness and regulation tool that supports women’s independence and health during pregnancy and childbirth.

Recruiting now for this in-person study - click to register your interest

AUTEC ethics #23/129

Download the participant information sheet

Principle Investigator:

  • Sabina Just

Associate investigators:

  • Dr Hannah Wyatt
  • Dr Nimisha Waller
  • Dr Ed Maunder
  • Professor Peter McNair
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Contact us

Dr Hannah Wyatt
PEP Biomechanics Lead
pep@aut.ac.nz
021 0511 579

Our team

This research programme has been co-created with iwi, interdisciplinary researchers and people from various backgrounds and ethnicities.

Meet the team

Evidence based guidance for pregnant wāhine

We provide practical tips based on information from research studies.

Find out more

Virtual walk-through

View our 3D room walk-through and protocol video for participants for the Te Kukunetanga: Physical Evolution Through Pregnancy Project.

Tour the rooms

Study with us

We are keen to collaborate with postgrad students who want to study how to improve health outcomes for pregnant women at master’s or doctoral level. Our supervisors are experienced in a range of fields.

Find out more