Who is fuel poor and why?

A scholarship to study fuel poverty in New Zealand has been awarded to an Otago University student.

Fatima McKague has been awarded the Todd Foundation Postgraduate Scholarship in Energy Research, worth $25,000 per annum for up to three years, to develop a new measure of fuel poverty specific to New Zealand.

“Fuel poverty is a reality for nearly 30% of low income households in New Zealand.  Developing a measure will help focus government policies and programmes to alleviate fuel poverty, and ensure that those who are most vulnerable get the help they need,” says Ms McKague.

The study will look at who is fuel poor and why in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.  Currently New Zealand relies on the UK definition, which does not consider the high percentage of old housing, over-representation of Māori and Pacific Islanders in socio-economic issues and the higher proportion of people in rental properties.

Ms McKague is currently studying towards her PhD in Marketing at the University of Otago.  A Maldivian citizen, she also has a Master’s in Organisational Psychology from the University of Waterloo in Canada, and a Bachelor’s in Psychology and Human Resource Management from the University of Waikato.

Fatima’s work experience includes working on the Dunedin-based “Cosy Home” and “Warm Dunedin” projects and as a researcher for Otago Presbyterian Support.  She also coordinates the Otago Climate Change Network.

The Todd Foundation Postgraduate Scholarship in Energy Research is awarded annually to support doctoral research, which may have wide relevance and value to New Zealand.  This scholarship recognises the work of Sir Bryan Todd who played a major role in the creation of the Todd Foundation and was instrumental in the development of the New Zealand oil and gas industry.

It is one of nearly 40 scholarships collectively worth nearly $2 million a year, administered by Universities New Zealand (formerly the New Zealand Vice-Chancellor’s Committee).

For further information contact: Hazel Dobbie, Communications Manager, hazel.dobbie@universitiesnz.ac.nz or 027 838 2313