Philippa Howden-Chapman

MA (Hons 1), PhD, Dip Teaching, Dip Clin Psych, QSO CNZM
Sesquicentennial Distinguished Professor, University of Otago, Wellington
Philippa Howden-Chapman
  • Co-director of He Kāinga Oranga/Housing and Health Research Programme
  • Director of New Zealand Centre for Sustainable Cities
  • Professor of Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington
  • Director of Board of Kāinga Ora - homes and communities
  • Chair of the ISC Scientific Committee for Health & Wellbeing in the Changing Urban Environment: a systems approach

    Philippa Howden-Chapman is a professor of public health at the University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand, where she teaches public policy. She is the director of He Kāinga Oranga/ Housing and Health Research Programme and the New Zealand Centre for Sustainable Cities. She has conducted a number of randomised community housing trials in partnership with local communities, which have had a major influence on housing, health and energy policy. She has a strong interest in reducing inequalities in the determinants of health and has published widely in this area, receiving a number of awards for her work. In 2014, Philippa and her research team were awarded the Prime Minister’s Science Prize. She was the first woman and the first social scientist to win the prize. She is currently the chair of the WHO Housing and Health Guideline Development Group and was a member of the Children’s Commissioner’s Expert Advisory Group on Solutions to Child Poverty. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand. 

    Key publications

    1. Ombler J Jiang T Fraser B Nelson J McMinn C Hawkes K Atatoa-Carr P Pehi T Aspinall C Bierre S Schick K Howden-Chapman P Pierse N
      2024
      Five-Year Post-Housing Outcomes for a Housing First Cohort in Aotearoa, New Zealand
      International Journal on Homelessness 2024; 4(1).

      Abstract

    3. Howden-Chapman P Crane J Keall M Pierse N Baker MG Cunningham C Amore K Aspinall C Bennett J Bierre S Boulic M Chapman R Chisholm E Davies C Fougere G Fraser B
      2023
      He Kāinga Oranga: reflections on 25 years of measuring the improved health, wellbeing and sustainability of healthier housing
      Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand
      Volume 54, 2024
    4. Pierse N Ombler J Chun S Fraser B White M Aspinall C McMinn C Howden-Chapman P Nelson J Hawkes K Jiang T Atatoa-Carr P
      2022
      Two-Year Post-Housing Outcomes for a Housing First Cohort in Aotearoa New Zealand.
      European Journal of Homelessness
    11. Baum, F. Freeman, T. Musolino, C. Abramovitz, M. De Ceukelaire, W. Flavel, J.
      Howden-Chapman, P.
      Villar, E.
      (2021).
      Explaining covid-19 performance: What factors might predict national responses?
      BMJ,
      372(n91).
    22. Rivera-Muñoz, G.
      Howden-Chapman, P.
      (2020).
      Structural Adjustment & Post-Disaster Housing Recovery: A Critical Analysis of the Case of the Canterbury Earthquakes of 2010 & 2011.
      Health Education and Behavior,
      47(6), 805-815.
    25. Gatzweiler, F. Fu, B. Rozenblat, C. Jenny Su, H-Jen. Luginaah, I. Corburn, J. Boufford, J.I. Valdes, J.V. Nguendo-Yongsi, B.
      Howden-Chapman, P.
      Singh, R. Cooper, R. Oni, T. Zhu, Y-G.
      (2020).
      COVID-19 reveals the systematic nature of urban health globally: Commentary and Debate.
      Cities and Health,
      Online.
    26. Werna, E. Siri, J. Tan, D. T.
      Howden-Chapman, P.
      (2020).
      As safe as houses? Why standards for urban development matter.
      Cities & Health,
      Online.
    27. Coulson, G Moore, J. Waa, A. Kearns, R. Witten, K. Batstone, C. Somervell, E. Olivares, G.
      Howden-Chapman, P.
      (2020).
      Toward a framework for resilience assessments: Working across cultures, disciplines, and scales in Aotearoa/New Zealand.
      Frontiers in Sustainable Cities,
      2. doi: 10.3389/frsc.2020.00011.
    29. Robertson, O.
      Howden-Chapman, P.
      Baker, M.
      Atatoa-Carr, P.
      Pierse, N.
      (2020).
      Changes in area deprivation by moves for New Zealand children.
      Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health,
    33. Howden-Chapman, P.
      Keall, M.
      Whitwell, K. Chapman, R.
      (2019).
      Evaluating natural experiments to measure the co-benefits of urban policy interventions to reduce carbon emissions in New Zealand.
      Science of the Total Environment,
      700, 134408
    34. Ingham, T.R.
      Keall, M.
      Jones, B. Aldridge, D. Latimer, M. Dowell, A. Davies, C.
      Crane, J.
      Draper, J.B. Bailey, L.O.
      Viggers, H.
      Stanley, T.V. Leadbitter, P.
      Howden-Chapman, P.
      (2019).
      Damp mouldy housing and early childhood hospital admissions for acute respiratory infection: a case control study.
      Thorax,
      74: 849–857.
    39. Walker, G.J. Stelzer‐Braid, S.
      Shorter, C.
      Honeywill, C. Wynn, M. Willenborg, C. Barnes, P. Kang, J.
      Pierse, N.
      Crane, J.
      Howden-Chapman, P.
      Rawlinson, W.D.
      (2019).
      Viruses associated with acute respiratory infection in a community‐based cohort of healthy New Zealand children.
      Journal of Medical Virology,
      Open access.
    46. Nilsson, M. Griggs, D. McCollum, D.
      Chisholm, E.
      Howden-Chapman, P.
      Messerli, P. Neumann, B. Visbeck, M. Stafford-Smith, M.
      (2018).
      Mapping interactions between the Sustainable Development Goals : lessons learned and ways forward.
      Sustainability Science,
      6, 1499-1503.
    47. Keall, M.
      Shaw, C.
      Chapman, R.
      Howden-Chapman, P.
      (2018).
      Reductions in carbon dioxide emissions from an intervention to promote cycling and walking: A case study from New Zealand.
      Transportation Research Part D,
      2018, 65, 687-696,
    49. Chapman, R.
      Keall, M.
      Howden-Chapman, P.
      Grams, M. Witten, K. Woodward, A.
      (2018).
      A Cost Benefit Analysis of an Active Travel Intervention with Health and Carbon Emission Reduction Benefits.
      International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health,
      15, 962.
    54. Pierse, N.
      Ombler, J.
      Aspinall, C.
      Howden-Chapman, P.
      (2017).
      Homelessness in New Zealand.
      The 12th European Research Conference on Homelessness,

      Proceedings of the 12th European Research Conference on Homelessness can be retrieved from http://www.feantsa.org.

    60. Chapman, R. Preval, N.
      Howden-Chapman, P.
      (2017).
      How Economic Analysis Can Contribute to Understanding the Links between Housing and Health.
      International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health,
      14 (9), 996.
    62. Shorter, C.
      Hales, S. Edwards, R.
      Howden-Chapman, P.
      Stanley, J.
      (2017).
      What can fuel price increases tell us about the air pollution health co-benefits of a carbon price?
      Journal of Transport & Health,
      8, 81-90.
    64. Howden-Chapman, P.
      Siri, J.
      Chisholm, E.
      Chapman, R. Doll, C.N.H. Capon, A.
      (2017).
      SDG3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.
      In D. J. Griggs, M. Nilsson, A. Stevance & D. McCollum (Eds.), A Guide to SDG Interactions: From Science to Implementation.
      (pp. 84-126). Paris, France: International Council for Science. doi: 10.24948/2017.01
    65. Chisholm, E.
      Howden-Chapman, P.
      Fougere, G.
      (2017).
      Renting in New Zealand: Perspectives from tenant advocates.
      Kōtuitui,
      12(1), 95-110. doi: 10.1080/1177083X.2016.1272471.
    66. Howden-Chapman, P.
      Roebbel, N.
      Chisholm, E.
      (2017).
      Setting housing standards to improve global health.
      International Journal of Environmental Research & Public Health,
      14(12), 1542. doi: 10.3390/ijerph14121542
    67. O'Sullivan, K.
      Howden-Chapman, P.
      Sim, D. Stanley, J. Rowan, R. Harris Clark, I. Morris, L. The Waiopehu College 2015 Research Team
      (2017).
      Cool? Young people investigate living in cold housing and fuel poverty. A mixed methods action research study.
      Social Science and Medicine – Population Health,
      3, 66-74.
    68. Rangiwhetu, L.
      Pierse, N.
      Howden-Chapman, P.
      (2017).
      Effects of minor household interventions to block draughts on social housing temperatures: a before and after study.
      Kōtuitui: New Zealand Journal of Social Sciences Online,
      12(2), 235-245
    76. Chisholm, E.
      Howden-Chapman, P.
      Fougere, G.
      (2016).
      The Application of Hirschman’s Exit-Voice Framework to Housing Studies: A Review and Some Ways Forward.
      Housing, Theory and Society,
      33 (4), 381–402. doi:10.1080/14036096.2016.1188849.
    81. Howden-Chapman, P.
      Goodyear, R. Pearson, A.L.
      Chisholm, E.
      Amore, K.
      Rivera-Muñoz, G. Woodbury, E.
      (2014).
      Rebuilding Christchurch: A Case of the Inverse Care Law.
      In B. Bennett, J. Dann, E. Johnson & R. Reynolds (Eds.), Once in a Lifetime: City-Building After Disaster in Christchurch.
      (pp.190-198). Christchurch: Freerange Press.
    84. (2013).
      Unaffordable and unhealthy
      In S. Bierre, P. Howden-Chapman & L. Early (Eds.), Homes people can afford: how to improve housing in New Zealand.
      Wellington, New Zealand: Steele Roberts Aotearoa
    85. Howden-Chapman, P.
      Bierre, S.
      Cunningham, Chris
      (2013).
      Building Inequality
      In M. Rashbrook (Ed.), Inequality: A New Zealand Crisis.
      Wellington, New Zealand: Bridget Williams Books.
    90. Telfar-Barnard, L.
      Preval, N.
      Howden-Chapman, P.
      Arnold, R. Young, C. Grimes, A. Denne, T.
      (2011).
      The impact of retrofitted insulation and new heaters on health services utilisation and costs, pharmaceutical costs and mortality; Evaluation of Warm Up New Zealand: Heat Smart.
      A report prepared for the Ministry of Economic Development.
      Download document
      NZIF_Health_report-Final.pdf
    92. Howden-Chapman, P.
      Ruthe, C. Crichton, S.
      (2011).
      Habitable houses: lessons learned?
      In The Leaky Building Crisis: Understanding the issues.
      (pp 303-15). Wellington: Thomson Reuters.
    93. O'Sullivan, K.
      Howden-Chapman, P.
      Fougere, G.
      (2011).
      Making the connection: the relationship between fuel poverty, electricity disconnection and prepayment metering.
      Energy Policy,
      39, 733-741.
    97. Howden-Chapman, P.
      Chapman, R. Capon, A. Wilson, N.
      (2011).
      Carbon pricing is a health protection policy.
      Medical Journal of Australia,
      195(6), 311-312. doi: 10.5694/mja11.10871.
    98. Howden-Chapman, P.
      Chandola, T. Stafford, M. Marmot, M.
      (2011).
      Does housing predict mental health status in older people in Whitehall II?
      BMC Public Health,
      11:682 doi:10.1186/1471-2458-11-682.
    99. Carroll, P. Casswell, S. Huakau, J.
      Howden-Chapman, P.
      Perry, P.
      (2011).
      The Widening Gap: perceptions of poverty and income inequalities and implications of population health.
      Social Policy Journal of New Zealand,
      2011, 37,1-12.
    105. Preval, N. Chapman, R.
      Pierse, N.
      Howden-Chapman, P.
      The Housing, Heating and Health Team.
      (2010).
      Evaluating Energy, Health and Carbon Co-benefits from Improved Domestic Space Heating: A Randomised Community Trial.
      Energy Policy,
      38(8), 3965-3972.
    107. Howden-Chapman, P.
      (2010).
      Evidence-based politics: How successful are government reviews as policy instruments to reduce health inequalities?
      Social Science and Medicine,
      71(7):1240-1243. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2010.07.012
    110. Howden-Chapman, P.
      Stuart, K. Chapman, R.
      (Eds.), (2010).
      Sizing up the City: Urban form and transport in New Zealand.
      Wellington: Steele Roberts Aotearoa.
    111. Chapman, R.
      Howden-Chapman, P.
      (2010).
      Urban form and transport; the transition to resilient cities.
      In Howden-Chapman, P., Stuart, K. & Chapman, R. (Eds.),
      Sizing up the City: Urban form and transport in New Zealand. (pp 7-17).Wellington: Steele Roberts Aotearoa.
    114. Howden-Chapman, P.
      Bennett, J.
      Siebers, R.
      (Eds.), (2009).
      Do damp and mould matter? Health impact of leaky homes.
      Wellington: Steele Roberts Aotearoa, 172p.
    115. Pene, G. Peita, M.
      Howden-Chapman, P.
      (2009).
      Living the Tokelauan way in New Zealand.
      Social Policy Journal,
      35, 79-92.
    117. Chapman, R.
      Howden-Chapman, P.
      Viggers, H.
      O'Day, D. Kennedy, M.
      (2009).
      Retrofitting housing with insulation: a cost-benefit analysis of a randomised community trial.
      Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health,
      63(4),
    118. Telfar-Barnard, L.
      Baker, M.
      Hales, S.
      Howden-Chapman, P.
      (2008).
      Excess winter morbidity and mortality: still a lack of evidence that housing or socio-economic status makes much difference.
      Reviews on Environmental Health,
      23(3), 203-221.
    120. Free, S.
      Howden-Chapman, P.
      Pierse, N.
      et al.
      (2008).
      Does more effective home heating reduce school absences for children with asthma?
      Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health,
      doi:10.1136/jech.2008.086520.
    121. Baker, M.
      Das, D. Venugopal, K.
      Howden-Chapman, P.
      (2008).
      Tuberculosis associated with household crowding in developed country.
      Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health,
      62(8),1-8.
    127. Bierre, S.
      Howden-Chapman, P.
      Signal, L.
      Cunningham, C.
      (2007).
      Institutional challenges in addressing healthy low-cost housing for all: learning from past policy.
      Social Policy Journal of New Zealand,
      30, 42-64.
    130. Howden-Chapman, P.
      (2006)
      Book Review of “Housing, Fuel Poverty and Health: a Pan-European Analysis” By Jonathan D. Healy.
      ANZJPH
      2006-2 – 28

       Book Review of “Housing, Fuel Poverty and Health: a Pan-European Analysis” By Jonathan D. Healy (PDF). Published by Ashgate, UK, 2004. ANZJPH 2006-2 – 28. Hardback, 250 pages with index.

      Download document
      ANZJPH 2005-4 August.pdf
    131. Thomson, G. Wilson, N.
      Howden-Chapman, P.
      (2006).
      Population level policy options for increasing the prevalence of smokefree homes.
      Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health,
      60, 298-304, doi:10.1136/jech.2005.038091
      Download document
      Smokefree-homes-JECH-4-06.pdf
    133. Thomson, G. Wilson, N.
      Howden-Chapman, P.
      (2005).
      Attitudes to, and knowledge of, secondhand smoke in New Zealand homes and cars
      New Zealand Medical Journal,
      118(1213).
      Download document
      10.1.1.579.3648.pdf
    137. Crampton, P. Blakely, T.
      Howden-Chapman, P.
      (2004)
      Health system funding is already ‘needs-based’.
      The Dominion Post

      Health system funding is already ‘needs-based’ (PDF). Dominion Post Newspaper, Tuesday March 9th 2004 . Crampton P, Blakely T, Howden-Chapman P

      Download document
      DomPost9Mar2004.pdf
    138. Howden-Chapman, P.
      Crampton, P. Rochford, T. Matheson, A. Signal, L. Blakely, T. Thompson, G. Martin, J. Robinson, J.
      (2004)
      A need for Māori and Pacific doctors.
      The Dominion Post

      A need for more Maori and Pacific doctors (PDF). Dominion Post Newspaper, Thursday March 4th 2004.

      Download document
      DomPost4Mar2004.pdf
    139. Howden-Chapman, P.
      Viggers, H.
      Matheson, A.
      Crane, J.
      Waipara, N. Blakely, T. Cunningham, M.
      Cunningham, C.
      Woodward, A. O’Dea, D.
      Saville-Smith, K.
      Douwes, J. Marshall, C. Skelton, P.
      (2002)
      A national study of the health effects of insulating homes: the baseline data (Report 2).
      University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

      A national study of the health effects of insulating homes: the baseline data (Report 2), August 2002. He Kainga Oranga Housing and Health Research Programme Department of Public Health Wellington

      Download document
      A national study of the health effects of insulating homes_ the baseline data Report 2.pdf
    140. Howden-Chapman, P.
      Crane, J.
      Blakely, T. Cunningham, M. O’Dea, D. Woodward, A.
      Saville-Smith, K.
      Waipara, N. Douwes, J. Matheson, A.
      Viggers, H.
      Marshall, C. Skelton, P.
      (2002)
      A national study of the health effects of insulating homes: the baseline data (Report 1).
      University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

      A national study of the health effects of insulating homes: the baseline data (Report 1), March 2002. He Kāinga Oranga Housing and Health Research Programme Department of Public Health Wellington S

      Download document
      A national study of the health effects of insulating homes_ the baseline data 2002.pdf
    142. Preval, N. Chapman, R.
      Howden-Chapman, P.
      (2010).
      For whom the city? Housing and locational preferences in New Zealand.
      In Howden-Chapman, P., Stuart, K. & Chapman, R. (Eds.),
      Sizing up the City: Urban form and transport in New Zealand. (pp 34-51). Wellington: Steele Roberts.

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