Disaster Risk Management and Development department

You can currently study a disaster risk management and development course as part of the Bachelor of Health Science:

EMGT601 Disaster Risk Management and Development

This is a core course in the Bachelor of Health Science in Health Management.

Delivered both on-campus and online, our postgraduate programmes cover a range of topics, including disaster risk reduction, environmental change, humanitarian action, emergency and disaster management, public health, resilience building and sustainable development.

AUT’s postgraduate programmes in disaster risk management and development include:

• Postgraduate Certificate in Disaster Risk Management and Development
• Postgraduate Diploma in Disaster Risk Management and Development
• Master of Disaster Risk Management and Development
• Master of Philosophy
• Doctor of Philosophy

Study Progression Pathway

Interested in public health and resilience?

We recommend that you take the following courses as part of your programme so you can graduate with a focus on public health and resilience.

• PUBH801 Principles of Public Health
• And 30 points from
  • EMPY801 Social Epidemiology
  • PUBH803 Global Health
  • PUBH804 Public Health Policy and Systems
  • PUBH810 Pacific Health Research and Design

Current research projects

Find recently completed projects here

• Ali
  Topic: Exploring the potential and opportunities of integrating disaster risk reduction measures into social protection programs for building long-term community-based resilience.
  Supervisor: Kat Hore
• Ithar
  Topic: Social capital and vulnerability: The role of remittances and transnational connection in strengthening social capital within Sudanese diaspora post-war.
  Supervisor: Loic Le De
• Maggie
  Topic: The role of biosecurity in disaster risk management (DRM).
  Supervisor: Kat Hore
• Eleanor Morley
  Topic: Climate emotions and pro-environmental behaviours: a youth perspective from Aotearoa New Zealand.
  Supervisors: Julie Trafford and Loic Le De
• Nimra Choudhary
  Topic: Disaster preparedness perceptions of healthcare workers in a hospital setting; a qualitative descriptive study in Balakot, Northern Pakistan.
  Supervisor: Ailsa Holloway
• Naing Lwin
  Topic: Chronic disease management during public health emergencies and disasters: A systematic review on telemedicine as an innovative tool.
  Supervisor: Ailsa Holloway
• Nilton Machado
  Topic: The profile of COVID-19 in the Brazilian policy environment: a critical analysis of the 2022 Presidential debates.
  Supervisor: Ailsa Holloway
• Laura Bourn
  Topic: Ethics in uncertainty: working with former refugees and asylum seekers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Aotearoa New Zealand.
  Supervisor: Ailsa Holloway
• Sophie Mackay
  Topic: Congruence and incongruence between disaster risk management and health emergency management concepts and terminology in application post-Sendai: A scoping review.
  Supervisor: Ailsa Holloway
• Renee Barrett
  Topic: First responders experience in 2022 Nelson floods: A qualitative descriptive.
  Supervisor: Ailsa Holloway
• Isaac Orchard
  Topic: Assessing the effectiveness of an earthquake simulation and tsunami virtual reality simulation model.
  Supervisors: Kat Hore and Loic Le De
• Priyanka Mistry
  Topic: An analysis of agencies’ response to humanitarian crisis in the aftermath of ex Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle in New Zealand.
  Supervisor: Loic Le De
• Mark Chivers
  Topic: A scoping review of Police engagement during a disaster or emergency.
  Supervisors: Kat Hore and Ailsa Holloway
• Swam Htet Ko
  Topic: Evaluating the community resilience of migrants (Asian/Myanmar) living in Auckland in the context of Cyclone Gabrielle, 2023.
  Supervisor: Kat Hore
• Hoa Dinh
  Topic: Heat health action plan for older adults during heatwave health emergencies: A scoping review.
  Supervisor: Ailsa Holloway
• Aung Lin
  Topic: How do local residents in Auckland perceive and engage with urban wetland restoration as a strategy for disaster risk reduction, particularly in the context of flooding?
  Supervisor: Kat Hore
• Ben Gordon
  Topic: Public trust and social cohesion during prolonged crisis.
  Supervisors: Ailsa Holloway and Julienne Mollineaux

Recently completed research projects

• Thura Aung
  Topic: A systematic literature review of how the build back better approach was implemented post 2008 cyclone Nargis in Myanmar.
  Supervisor: Loic Le De
• Su Htet
  Topic: Investigating the effectiveness of risk communication towards Asian migrant community living in Auckland: January 2023 flash flood case study.
  Supervisor: Loic Le De
• Nkessah Zisuk
  Topic: Lost in the refugee bubble: experiences and coping strategies among asylum seekers and refugees in Auckland, New Zealand during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  Supervisor: Nadia Charania
• Jamon Amiga
  Topic: Samoan youth’s experience and capacities in supporting family remittances: COVID-19 as a case study.
  Supervisor: Loic Le De
• Mathew St.Martin
  Topic: Homeless people in the face of hazards and disasters: Auckland as a case study.
  Supervisor: Loic Le De
• Anita Sundaraj
  Topic: Disaster risk reduction policies and homelessness in New Zealand: Key informant perceptions during COVID-19.
  Supervisor: Loic Le De
• Clement Meslet
  Topic: Investigating the COVID-19 risk communication experience of international tertiary education students: an exploratory study during alert levels 4 and 3 (17 August – 1 December 2021) in Auckland, New Zealand.
  Supervisor: Ailsa Holloway
• Jamie Mead
  Topic: The un-explored potential role of surfers in reducing drowning on New Zealand beaches.
  Supervisors: Loic Le De and Melany Moylan
• Savannah Dantin
  Topic: The impact of women-led business on wellbeing and community resilience in Fiji.
  Supervisor: Loic Le De