Professor Rachel Simon-Kumar appointed as Editor-in-Chief of Kōtuitui

Royal Society Te Apārangi is pleased to announce the appointment of Prof. Rachel Simon-Kumar (University of Auckland) as the new Editor-in-Chief of Kōtuitui: New Zealand Journal of Social Sciences Online. Rachel will take up the role in July 2026, succeeding Honorary Professor Bruce Curtis, who has led the journal since 2020.

Prof. Simon-Kumar is based in the School of Population Health at the University of Auckland and served as Co-Director of the Centre for Asian and Ethnic Minority Health Research and Evaluation (CAHRE). Her research spans ethnicity and diversity, gender, health, and politics, with a strong focus on promoting equity for ethnic and migrant communities in Aotearoa New Zealand and the Global South. She brings extensive interdisciplinary and international research experience and has led or contributed to major research programmes funded by the Health Research Council, the MBIE Endeavour Fund, and the Royal Society Te Apārangi’s Marsden Fund. She also has a strong record of publications in leading international journals.

She is the current Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of Shama Ethnic Women’s Trust. In 2022, she was awarded the New Zealand Fulbright Scholar Award, and in 2024 she was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for her contributions to women’s studies, health research, and ethnic communities.

Rachel has been closely involved with Kōtuitui since April 2022 as an Associate Editor. During this time, she has handled a large number of manuscripts and served as Lead Guest Editor for the 2025 special issue Beyond the Healthy Migrant Effect: New Thinking in Ethnic Minority Health Research in Aotearoa New Zealand. Her appointment reflects both her scholarly standing and her deep familiarity with the journal’s mission and community.

Rachel steps into this leadership role at a pivotal time for Kōtuitui. Following a significant editorial team expansion in late 2025, the journal now has 34 editors from six countries, with substantially increased overseas participation alongside strengthened Māori and Pacific representation. From 2026, Royal Society Te Apārangi journals, including Kōtuitui, have entered a new partnership with Wiley, supporting the journal’s strategic direction to grow its international reach, deepen interdisciplinary engagement across the social sciences, and enhance its global visibility and impact.

Looking ahead to her new role, Professor Simon-Kumar said, “I am honoured and excited to be Editor-in-Chief of Kōtuitui, New Zealand’s leading social science journal. It is both an opportunity and a responsibility to take the lead at a time when society and the social sciences as a discipline are confronting generational challenges and change. More than ever, this moment demands the pursuit of knowledge with integrity, evidence, and intellectual courage – and it is these commitments that I hope to bring to the vision of Kōtuitui.”

Head of Publishing at Royal Society Te Apārangi, Fei He, said: “Rachel’s appointment marks an exciting new chapter for Kōtuitui. She brings intellectual leadership, strong editorial experience, and a deep commitment to equity and interdisciplinary scholarship, as well as an extensive network across both New Zealand and international contexts that aligns closely with the journal’s future direction. As Kōtuitui enters its Wiley partnership and continues to expand its international presence, Rachel is exceptionally well placed to lead the journal forward.”

The Society also extends its sincere thanks to Prof. Bruce Curtis for his outstanding service as Senior Editor during the past six years. Under his leadership, Kōtuitui achieved substantial growth in submissions and readership, earned its first Impact Factor in 2024, strengthened its CiteScore, and deepened its commitment to Māori and Pacific scholarship. His mentorship, inclusive vision, and steady leadership, particularly during the pandemic, have left a lasting legacy for the journal and the wider social science community.

Royal Society Te Apārangi looks forward to working with Prof. Simon-Kumar as Kōtuitui grows as an international social science journal, strengthening connections with the global research community while continuing to support and showcase social science research in Aotearoa New Zealand.