Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE) research to support New Zealand policy and practice.
The call for research proposals has now closed.
In March 2025, the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) partnered with Victoria University’s Policy Hub to commission high quality, evidence-based research to inform understanding of violent extremism, evolve prevention approaches, and strengthen system capabilities.
Below are the projects that were funded by the Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE) Research Fund.
Any questions regarding the call for proposals should be directed to the Victoria University of Wellington Policy Hub.
Projects funded 2024/25
| Project title | Entity | Timeframe for deliverable |
|---|---|---|
| Right -Wing Extremism: Exploring the lived experience of people currently or formerly holding extreme right- wing beliefs and/or belonging to extreme right-wing groups and the individuals who love and support them | Massey University | Online Hate Prevention Institute, OHPI, Australia | End of 2026 |
| Leveraging Gender-Based Violence and Online Harm Prevention Strategies to Counter Violent Extremism: An International Review and Learning for Practice | Public Policy Institute, University of Auckland | July 2026 |
| Fostering Social Belonging in Minecraft-based Interventions | University of Canterbury | July 2026 |
| Understanding the online Eco-Systems of Islamic State, its online interaction patterns and radicalization pathways in the West – A New Zealand Perspective | Victoria University of Wellington | July 2026 |
A Complex Systems Approach to Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism Stage 1: Systems Mapping through Participatory Causal Loop Diagramming Stage 2: Computational Simulation and Intervention Testing | Victoria University of Wellington | July 2027 Stage 1: July 2026 Stage 2: July 2027 |
| Diversions Project: A pilot study and evaluation of an online-offline referral pathway, enabling at-risk individuals to receive support from specialised practitioners. | Violence Prevention Network | July 2026 |
Projects funded 2023/24
| Project title | Entity | Timeframe for deliverable |
|---|---|---|
| Understand the Relationship between Overseas Extremist Narratives and Domestic Extremist Narratives in New Zealand: A Study of Two Popular Online Platforms | Victoria University of Wellington | University of Otago | End of 2025 |
| Investigating Personality, Experiential, and Ideological Contributors to Violent Extremist Action in Aotearoa New Zealand | University of Canterbury | End of 2025 |
| Understanding the Pathways from Grievance to Violent Extremism | University of Canterbury | End of 2025 |
| Understanding the Dynamics of Attitude Contagion in Multiplayer Minecraft | University of Canterbury | End of 2025 |
| Mapping the implications of societal resilience on the economy (and security) in the short and long term in New Zealand | Koi-Tu Trust | July 2025 |
| Deepen Understanding of the Relationship Between Game Design and Recruitment | Victoria University of Wellington | University of Otago | End of 2025 |