About

Intergenerational poverty, economic inequality, wealth gaps, wage stagnation, child poverty, predatory lenders, financial illiteracy...

These are all thorny economic justice issues that will necessitate collaborative, participatory, and deliberative action to address. However, too often in academic settings important research does not reach across disciplinary silos, and we lose the opportunity to gain a more holistic, multifaceted understanding of these social issues that affect us all.

The EJRN is an interdisciplinary research (and action!) network for anyone interested in sharing research and discussing economic justice issues in a collaborative, strengths based environment. We are a group of researchers, practitioners, policy makers, students, and citizens that share a vision of a more economically just Aotearoa New Zealand and a belief that bringing together diverse perspectives can foster deeper conversation and more pragmatic solutions. 

​

The EJRN's founders, Dr. Eketone & Dr. Kaloga, are social work academics from an interdisciplinary and pragmatic tradition of applied research. Their vision of economic justice is situated in the ethical framework of Social & Community Work, which holds the following values, as outlined by the Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers (see below). 

Dr. Marissa Kaloga

Co-Director

Dr. Kaloga is a lecturer at University of Otago’s Social and Community Work Programme. Her research focuses on women’s financial inclusion and economic justice, examining innovative grassroots strategies to support family and strengthen community. Through her mixed-methods research in Africa, Asia, and the U.S. she has worked with vulnerable and marginalized populations such as sex workers, refugees, and women in extreme poverty. She is currently focused on research on sustainable community economic development, specifically the role of building formal and informal entrepreneurial ecosystems to promote inclusive entrepreneurship.

Dr. Anaru Eketone

Co-Director

Dr. Eketone is from the Ngāti Maniapoto and Waikato Iwi and is a Senior Lecturer in Social Work at the University of Otago. Anaru has a background in youth work, community development, social work and health promotion. While his primary research interests are in contemporary Māori economic and social development, he also has an interest on the impact of religious movements in his tribal area and their impact on Māori economic and social development.