The Dunedin Study - DMHDRU

Tēnā koutou/Hello to you all,

We write with very sad news. Richie Poulton, our much loved, recently retired Director, passed away on Friday 29th of September.

Everyone had hoped for a longer retirement for Richie, but that was not to be. He started this year with a bucket list journey to Antarctica, which he described as magnificent. He just recently returned from Africa to be part of the nature there that he so loved. This trip included a hot air balloon ride, which is incredible considering that he was ill at the time. But that was Richie’s character - to seek out experiences and connections with the world until the last.

We know that he will be missed by, the Study members, and the team here that has worked with him – in some cases for decades. And missed as well as by those he has worked with in government, charity organisations, and in the community.

But most of all, of course, he will be missed by wife Sandhya, who is also our Research Manager, his daughter Priyanka, and his wider family. Together they have been working so hard to ensure that Richie was able to live his very best life as he endured this disease.

Richie was dedicated to the Dunedin Study and to using the gift that the Study members gave for the betterment of all New Zealanders.

Kua hinga te tōtara i Te Waonui-a-Tāne - A mighty totara has fallen in the great forest of Tāne.

The Dunedin Study Team

Happy 50th birthday from Richie and the Dunedin Study team

It’s been 50 incredible years and we wanted to thank all our Study Members and their whanau for your support over these many years and wish you a very happy birthday.

Message from the Directorcredit Sharron Bennett NZ Listener

It is my pleasure to welcome you to the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Research Unit website. Here you will find information about the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health & Development Study (the Dunedin Study for short) which has now been ongoing for half a century. At our last phase (age) 45 data collection, 94% of living Study members participated - an unmitigated success.

We tell you how the Study began, details of the assessments we have conducted and the publications that have been generated. We describe the sub-studies of the Dunedin Study: the Parenting Study, the Next Generation Study and the Family Health History Study. Whether you are a Study member, researcher, or a member of the public, I hope you will find this information interesting and useful.

The wider Dunedin community has been critical in helping build the Dunedin study. We thank all those who have contributed, in many different ways, over the past 50 years.

Finally, we extend a special thanks to the 1037 Study members, their families and friends who have willingly given so much, for so long, in the hope of helping others. On behalf of all the researchers involved, we salute you.

Professor Richie Poulton, CNZM FRSNZ
Director

**Photo credit: Sharron Bennett NZ Listener