Kai Tiaki Nursing Research is interested in publishing research on New Zealand studies that have relevance for nursing practice, education and management. While it is important to share the findings of research, articles that show how researchers have managed the ‘how’, or the process of conducting research, may usefully inform other researchers, particularly nurses who are beginning the research journey. Gifford and Cvitanovic (2018) published an article in last month’s Kai Tiaki Nursing Zealand journal exploring their experience of conducting research on a smokefree model for Māori nurses. These authors noted some of the challenges they experienced in launching a pilot study to test their model, including gaining multi-site institutional ethics approval, recruiting researchers to manage the multi-site ‘roll out’ of the study within the complex institutional structures, and organisational accountabilities of differing nursing schools. Recruiting sufficient participants to make the study viable was another issue, given the focus that nursing students have on meeting the formal study requirements of the programme they are enrolled in. Gifford and Cvitanovic conclude their article with a summary of recommendations to overcome the barriers they experienced in attempting to launch the pilot study.