Prof Hayne this week launched the university's new Pacific research protocol, which will be made available to all Otago researchers and for other New Zealand universities to use if they wish.
The protocol, which university officials say marks a new era in Otago-Pacific relationships, is a document setting out a range of guidelines researchers should consider when they interact and collaborate with Pacific peoples as part of their projects.
The university has a thriving Pacific Research Cluster and Pacific health is taught in all Otago health professional courses.
Prof Hayne said developing the guidelines represented "a significant step forward" for the university, at a time when ties between Otago researchers and people in and from the Pacific were "very strong".
"The guidelines are designed to foster research with Pacific peoples and to maximise the outcomes for both researchers and participants.
"The main purpose is to ensure that all of our research is conducted in a manner which is sensitive to the cultural ways and protocols of individual Pacific communities," she said.
When a researcher was speaking to someone from another cultural group there was sometimes a tendency to believe that, because the same language was being used, the two people were essentially the same, she said.
The protocol reminded student and staff researchers of important differences in cultural outlook, and she noted that "cultural quicksand" could await the unwary.
She acknowledged an earlier concern from some Pacific community members about whether information from an adolescent health study could be accessed in order to help people facing health challenges.
The protocol notes the need for respect, cultural competency, and protection of values as well as cognisance of the Christian faith.
Otago health sciences division associate dean Pacific Dr Faafetai Sopoaga said the guidelines reflected a considerable amount of work after an approach to the university from Dunedin's Pacific community two years ago.
The guidelines would provide reassurance that the university was taking its relationship with Pacific communities seriously with respect to research, she said.
The protocol was the work of a university working group spearheaded by Prof Judy Bennett, officials said.