Pacific and Pasifika Theses
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The theses listed in this collection were all completed at Massey University in a range of different departments and institutes. They have been included in this collection if the topic is strongly related to Pasifika/the Pacific.
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- ItemThe development of commercial agriculture on Mangaia: social and economic change in a Polynesian community: a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts at Massey University(Massey University, 1969) Allen, Bryant JamesThe problems confronting the so called 'underdeveloped nations' of the world are pressing more urgently upon mankind every year. In response there is a rapidly expanding body of knowledge associated with the technical, social and economic changes which must be brought about within such countries if progress is to be assured. Because so much of the change must occur at a village level, studies of small groups have become increasingly important. This thesis is the result of such a study based on the island of Mangaia, a small and isolated Polynesian community in the Cook Islands. The aim of the study was to trace the development of commercialisation of the agricultural system from European contact to the present day, to relate the major changes to their causative factors and to assess the present degree of commercialisation and the prospects for the future. The research thus fell into two parts, historical and contemporary. The historical data was derived from three main sources, missionary reports and letters, administration records and New Zealand Government records, with a valuable ethnological study by Hiroa providing the basis of the pre-historical material. Contemporary data was collected firstly by the administration of a questionnaire to a sample population. The instrument included a battery of schedules dealing with details of the household, the head of the household, and the agricultural plantations maintained by the household. Secondly, a land use survey was carried out which concentrated upon a classification of land into that used for food crops, commercial crops and fallow land. (see Appendix I).
- ItemThe 1960 Fiji sugar dispute : the cane growers versus the CSR Company : a thesis presented ... for the degree of Master of Arts in History(Massey University, 1970) Charan, Prem KSugar is Fiji's chief export and accounts for over eighty per cent of its total export earnings. The set up of the Fijian sugar industry is perhaps unique in the world. The buying and processing of cane as well as the distribution of sugar up until 1962 were entirely in the hands of the Colonial Sugar Refining Company (usually referred to as the CSR or the Company) of Australia. The Company was also the owner or lessee of nearly half of the colony's total cane lands which were leased or sub-leased to over 5,200 small Indian tenant farmers. In its milling operations and transport network the CSR employed over 2,500 workers. Thus the CSR enjoyed a monopoly in the manufacture and distribution of sugar as well as holding an oligopoly as far as control of cane lands was concerned. From this strong position it could deal with the cane farmers successfully over matters such as cane payments to the farmers or conditions regarding harvesting and transporting of cane to its mills. If the cane growers failed to reach a favourable agreement with the CSR over the sale and purchase of cane they were faced with the unenviable position of having in hand a commercial crop with no buyers. The growers' position was aggravated by the fact that the cane crop deteriorated if it was not harvested in season and further it remained at the mercy of floods, hurricanes, droughts or even fires which were not uncommon occurences in the sugar districts. The livelihood of over 80 percent of the Indian farmers depended solely upon the income derived from the sales of sugar cane which brought by far the biggest return of any other crop. Sugar cane growing thus dominated the farming activities of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu's western coastal plains, the only plains large enough for extensive agricultural use.
- ItemA study of a development scheme in a Polynesian community : the citrus replanting scheme on Atiu, Cook Islands : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Geography at Massey University(Massey University, 1970) Menzies, Brian JohnEconomic development is usually considered to be increasing levels of output per capita and in the past programmes aimed at improving economic conditions in undeveloped and underdeveloped nations have been formulated on this basic premise. However, recent experience has shown this to be a somewhat narrow definition, and economic development is increasingly being viewed as being but part of a broad process of social development involving basic changes in the underlying value systems of communities. Rising levels of output and income per capita show increases in productivity and wealth, but in many instances a prerequisite for attaining this or an outcome of it is change in social values. Therefore it is essential development be seen in its broadest context, as merely one element in the processes of social change and social evolution of man. Economic change cannot be divorced from other spheres of life as any alteration in this has ramifications elsewhere in the social system. Life in any culture is multidimensional in nature. The ability to perceive this is essential for development programmes in order that any social discordance and possible cultural lag associated with development be minimised. [From Preface]
- ItemThe functions of public examinations in a multi-cultural society : a theoretical exploration with special reference to Fiji : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Education at Massey University(Massey University, 1973) Singh, GurmitToo often public examinations are left entirely in the hands of test constructors and statisticians. The wide ranging considerations related to examinations call for a change in this trend. Perhaps, those responsible for examining ought to regard themselves less as statisticians and test constructors and more as educationists. There is all the more reason for this in Fiji in light of the fact that it is a multi-cultural society. The thesis is essentially a theoretical exploration into the major functions of public examinations in Fiji. The whole exercise is based on the maxim that examinations form an integral part of the educative process and on the contention that the behaviour elicited before, during and after an examination from candidates is heavily influenced by their past experiences, nourished within the restraints and limits of their cultural milieu. By way of introduction, general problems in education in multi-cultural societies are traced and the language-problem dealt with in depth to highlight the complexities of such problems. After a brief look at the composition of the Fiji Society and its education system, the major public examinations are described. Then, the stated functions, purposes and effects of examinations are reviewed and some implications drawn. From the literature reviewed it is clear that examinations need to be validated against the declared and agreed upon educational aims. In the Fiji context, a search for some validating criteria is also discussed. In order to explore the interaction between the public examinations and aims of education attention is focussed upon the specific cultural values and educational aspirations of the three dominant cultural groups in Fiji, viz., Fijians, Indians and Europeans. Examination problems in Fiji, arising from an importation of foreign examinations and the multi-cultural set-up, become the theme for discussion in the final sections of the thesis. The relationship between the long-term effects of both, examinations and a number of socio-political ideologies – integration, assimilation, pluralism – is then outlined. Pluralism proves attractive as a base for decision-making regarding examinations in Fiji. It is likely that in order to solve tomorrow's problems here, allowances for existing differences in expressions and life-styles will help. It is suggested that examinations in Fiji can be assigned a re-vitalizing role in the educational system if they are, inter alia, multi-modal and accommodate 'originality' and diversity of values, expressions and the like. With almost a complete dearth of research information on various aspects of education in Fiji, this exploration ends with a note on the necessity for research in the area of examinations.
- ItemTongans in Auckland : a preliminary investigation of the Tongan community in the Central Auckland urban area : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in geography at Massey University(Massey University, 1974) Whitehead, David WarwickThe minority Polynesian community examined in this thesis required more than those research techniques familiar to students of migrant groups. Specific interviewing difficulties and solutions to these are proposed for interviewing Tongans. Suggestions to overcome the suspicions of respondents and the dangers of ethnocentrisim on the part of the researcher are also suggested. A questionnaire is included and its design, to include internal checks and ease in tabulation are noted. Chapter Two deals with migration motives, both real and stated. These motives are confined in the main, to those acting at the source, Tonga, and include population pressures on land, housing, employment and capital. Data is provided from recent surveys in Tonga, together with the results of a survey of Tongans residing in the Central Auckland Urban Area, 1974. An examination of data provided by the Department of Statistics, concerning arrivals and departures, is included in Chapter Three. This is supplemented with data on airfares and the manner in which the migrant raised sufficient capital to purchase his passage, from the survey. Special attention is paid to permits and the reason why some Tongans have overstayed their legally permitted stay. Chapter Four compares the demographic and social characteristics of Tongans with other Polynesians in New Zealand. Age, marital status, dependents, sex, religion, birthplace and educational qualifications of migrants in the survey are recorded. The results of an investigation into the occupational and residential characteristics of Tongan migrants are recorded in Chapters Five and Six. Comparison is drawn between the unskilled occupations of Tongans and other Polynesians and the location of place of work and residence is noted. The method of securing initial employment revealed the social and psychological pressures impinging on the recent migrant and reasons and results suggested. Using data supplied by the Department of Statistics the spatial distribution of Tongans in New Zealand, and in particular each statistical subdivision of Auckland is recorded. Movement over time within the Central Auckland Urban Area is discussed using indices of segregation and a Lorenz Curve.
- ItemAspects of Maukean population migration : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Geography at Massey University(Massey University, 1974) Gordon, Graeme David JamesThe increasing dissatisfaction and rising aspirations of many Pacific peoples has prompted an increased amount of outmigration to larger metropolitan countries where it is perceived that these desires can be fulfilled. Migration of Cook Islanders to New Zealand is no new phenomenon. In recent years, however, for a great diversity of reasons, the flow has reached alarming proportions. The repercussions of such a displacement of population are significant both for donor and recipient areas. Although several studies have focused attention on migrant groups in New Zealand, literature linking the whole migratory process from the island of origin is not quite so readily available. It is becoming apparent that more attention must be directed at the causal factors which induce would-be migrants to forfeit a familiar way of life for one which can be initially bewildering.
- ItemBiogeochemical studies on some nickel accumulating plants from New Zealand and New Caledonian serpentine areas : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Chemistry at Massey University(Massey University, 1974) Lee, JulianSerpentine areas in New Zealand and New Caledonia are described. A study was made of soil factors controlling the distribution of five species from a serpentine flora in the Dun Mountain area, South Island, New Zealand. Samples of soil were taken from sites of each of the species, and each sample was analysed for calcium, chromium, cobalt, copper, magnesium, manganese, nickel, potassium and zinc. On the basis of the species growing on them, the soil samples were divided into five groups: group 1, Pimelea suteri; group 2, Myosotis monroi; group 3, Lebe odora; group 4, Cassinia vauvilliersii; group 5, Leptospermum scoparium. Discriminant analysis was used to characterise each group of soils on the basis of chemical composition. The results showed that the two endemic plants (P. suteri and M. monroi) were much more commonly found in localities of highest magnesium concentration. These two species were strongly differentiated by the potassium and copper levels in their soils. No strong elemental discrimination was found among the non-endemic species. Correlation coefficients were calculated for the relationships between pairs of elements and highly-significant correlations (P 0.001) are reported. A nickel accumulating species from New Caledonia, Homalium kanaliense is compared with the New Zealand nickel accumulator, Pimelea suteri. The very high accumulation of nickel in the New Caledonian species, presents interesting questions in plant physiology. Purification of nickel complexes from an aqueous extract of B. kanaliense leaves was achieved and preliminary identification methods employed. None of the nickel was associated with amino acids and the present evidence suggested possible complexing of the nickel to simple carboxyllic sugars.
- ItemImmigrants in Auckland : a contribution to human ecology : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Geography at Massey University(Massey University, 1974) Trlin, Andrew D.New Zealand's post-war pattern of immigration and immigrant settlement has been characterised by three features. First, although British immigrants still formed the dominant group of new arrivals, the migrant stream has included a broader spectrum of national, cultural, and racial groups. Second, the immigrants have settled mainly in the major urban areas, especially Auckland and Wellington-Hutt. Finally, within the urban areas the various immigrant ethnic and racial groups have become spatially differentiated in terms of their relative residential concentration or dispersal as compared with the host population. Together these features have confronted New Zealanders with a variety of broad social adjustment problems. This study of immigrants in Auckland examines the extent to which intra-urban immigrant residential patterns can be attributed to the operation of four basic factors identified in a review of the seminal literature. The four factors are: (a) the spatial organisation of urban land use; (b) the nature and relative importance of dimensions of (or factors underlying) urban residential differentiation; (c) the the social, cultural and demographic characteristics of the immigrants; and (d) the social and cultural characteristics, attitudes and values, of the host population. It is asserted that these four factors are inter-related and together form a socio-ecological system, wherein there is a close association and interaction between the two dimensions of social distance and physical distance. The operation and interaction of the four factors and the nature of the socio-ecological system as perceived by the writer, are examined via seventeen hypotheses. These hypotheses have been tested largely via (a) case studies of five selected immigrant groups resident within the Auckland Urban Area, and (b) a survey of the attitudes, beliefs and expectations of the host population. The five selected groups - the Dutch, Hungarians, Niueans, Samoans and Yugoslavs - are held to be representative of the broader post-war spectrum of immigrant arrivals. Apart from Chapter 1 which is concerned largely with methodological problems - especially data collection - the findings of this study are reported in six major chapters (Chapters 2 to 7 inclusive). The seventeen hypotheses were either wholly or partially substantiated - only Hypotheses 1, 4, 7 and 15 falling within the 'partially substantiated' category. Thus it is concluded that immigrant intra-urban residential patterns can be attributed to the operation and interaction of the four basic factors listed above. In particular the findings of this study support: (a) the close association of physical and social distance; (b) the role end function of ethnicity as a factor underlying social and physical distances between populations! and (c) the role and function of ethnicity within a cycle of causation that may contribute either positively or negatively to the integrative and/or segregative adjustments of the immigrant and host populations.
- ItemPhytochemical and biogechemical studies on nickel accumulation by some New Caledonian plants : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry at Massey University(Massey University, 1977) Lee, JulianA herbarium survey of Homalium and Hybanthus species was successful in the detection of a number or accumulators of nickel. The term 'hyperaccumulator' was defined as those plant species that contain more than 1000 µg/g of nickel in their leaves on a dry weight basis. Their ability to indicate areas of specific geology and their use as indicators in mineral exploration was evaluated. All new hyperaccumulators of nickel that were 'discovered' were confined to the ultramafic complex in New Caledonia. The possible evolutionary significance of nickel accumulation in the order Violales is noted. Plant-soil relationships for three New Caledonian hyperaccumulators of nickel; Hybanthus austrocaledonicus, Homalium kanaliese and Homalium guillainii were investigated, and the relationship between nickel uptake and the uptake of other elements examined statistically. The lack of interelement relationships, both stimulatory find antagonistic, of nickel with other minerals pointed to a mechanism of accumulation dependent on organic constituents, with the absence of competition from other ions indicating the specific nature of the absorption at the root. The highly unusual accumulation of nickel in the 'latex' type exudate from the trunk of Sebertia acuminata is reported. A nickel citrato complex was isolated from the exudate and leaves of this species and identified by the use of spectrophotometry, high-voltage paper electrophoresis and gas-liquid chromatography - mass spectrometry. The complexed nickel comprises approximately 40% of the total weight of the crude latex. Citric acid was also implicated in the chelation of nickel in several other New Caledonian accumulators. extraction procedures indicated that the nickel citrate was located primarily in the vacuoles. Nickel citrate extracts from the plant material were compared with various synthetic nickel citrate solutians by electrophoresis and spectrophotometry. Evidence for a 2 : 1 anionic citrate - nickel complex was obtained for solutions in which the mole ratio of citrate to nickel approached and exceeded 2 : 1. Gas liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry was used in the identification of organic acids occurring in the investigated plants. High malic and citric acid concentrations were found in the hyperaccumulator species. A good correlation between citric acid and nickel content in the leaves of a number of New Caledonian plants growing over ultrabasic substrates was found. Although nickel is translocated, and exists in the plant cell as a citrate complex, it appears unlikely that it is absorbed at the roots as such. A more specific mechanism based on the carrier concept is postulated to account for the specificity of the absorption. Nickel accumulation in the Rhodesian hyperaccumulator Pearsonia metallifera is also described. Another organic acid rather than citric acid is involved with nickel chelation. Mass spectral evidence indicated an uncommon structure. A positive identification could not be made.
- ItemA general survey of education on Niue : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Education at Massey University(Massey University, 1977) Tauevihi, NiuaviuThe primary purpose of the thesis is to survey the provisions for education which began with the London Missionary Society Schools and eventually in 1952 the Government Administration assumed responsibilities towards developing a full quota of primary education. Secondary education at Niue High School followed in 1956, with a Teachers Training Centre in 1958, both of which constituted provisions for post-primary education, supplemented by higher education made available in New Zealand and other overseas institutions. Niue's educational provisions will continue to become dependent on New Zealand in opportunities for higher education, in educational policies, for financial aid and to a less extent for the vocational courses designed to furnish Niue's manpower requirements. Part II deals with the relationships between education, manpower needs and economic development in which ideas are explored within the Niuean context. This scrutiny indicates that the education provisions are not well related to the manpower needs of Niue as a politically self-governed state. The Government Administration and in general the Niue Public Service are adequately catered for, but not so in economic development and manpower needs. Irrelevancy in education provisions resulted in social disorganisation which is a direct effect of Nuieans emigrating to New Zealand to seek employment, and to a greater extent utilise the skills that were learnt in the classroom. The key ideas in the series of education planning are examined and recommended for the future are proposed with particular respect to Agriculture, School Curriculum, and Adult Education.
- ItemThe urban squatter question : squatting, housing and urbanization in Suva, Fiji : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Geography at Massey University(Massey University, 1978) Walsh, Allen CrosbieThe proliferation and apparent intransience of urban squatter settlements in Third World countries have produced numerous explanations of their cause, nature and solution. In Fiji, it is estimated that nearly one-fifth of the population of the Suva Urban Area were squatters in 1976 and that squatter numbers, in recent years, have increased by over 10 percent annually. These increases have occurred despite development plan objectives which aim to reduce regional and class disparities and a public housing programme which has housed about one-fifth of the urban area's population since the late 1950s. In the early 1960s many scholars supported the view that squatters were 'marginal' to the life of the city and this view is still held by many administrators, in Fiji and elsewhere. Studies commencing in the mid 1960s, however, have led to a revision of opinions on squatter marginality and the emergence of two major schools of thought among scholars. The Dependency School considers squatting a product of the type of urbanization experienced by Third World countries and sees no solution short of major changes to the 'system'; the Progressive Development (or Progressive Housing) School, on the other hand, sees squatting as a housing problem caused by the rate of Third World urbanization and inappropriate public housing programmes. The latter School advocates the encouragement of self-help activities among the poor to close the gap between housing supply and demand. The public housing programme in Fiji has been influenced by such arguments and during recent years there has been some official support for site and service, squatter upgrading and core housing schemes. The present work proceeds from a statement of major theoretical questions derived from the literature, and a description of urbanization and the housing situation in Fiji, to test the assumptions of the Marginality, Dependency and Progressive Development Schools. Data were obtained on urbanization and housing in Fiji, and sample surveys were conducted among Fijian and Indian squatters and other low-income households in Suva City and Urban Area in 1976. The data were used to consider six propositions which were tested via 36 hypotheses; comparisons were made between ethnic, squatter and other low-income, and city and urban area households. The propositions were found to be substantially correct. Squatter behaviour was shown to be as modern and as urban as the behaviour of other low-income people, and households with 'modern' attributes tended to be more 'successful' in the city. Modern and traditional behaviour, however, were not found to be antithetical and, at least among Fijians, the households which were the most traditional tended to be those which were most 'successful.' Squatters were also shown to make a positive contribution to the economy of the city and to be no more an obstacle to rational urban land use than many other land users. The views of the Marginality School were therefore found wanting. Squatters were shown to participate in self-help activities which led to increasing adequacy in housing. The squatter residential environment was found to permit greater all round flexibility than official public housing and was therefore considered more appropriate for poor households which relied heavily on the use of the residential environment for supplementary informal economic activities and kinship networks. In particular, squatting was found to allow Fijians and Indians to adopt strategies of survival and improvement based on their respective cultural mores. Some support was therefore provided for the views of the Progressive Development School. The levels of improvement, however, were found to be generally insufficient and to involve too few households to accept these views without reservation. Improvements occurred among more modern households, among owner-occupiers and those with some security uf tenure as claimed by the Progressive Development School, but income was found to be the most critical variable. Income increased among Fijians by accretions of kin and among Indians by accretions of time, but few households had sufficient income to permit them to alter significantly their position in society or to ensure minimally adequate housing. The views of the Dependency School that squatting is a residential manifestation of poverty, and not a housing problem as such, were therefore accepted. In accepting this explanation of the causes and nature of squatting, however, the writer maintained that practical measures advanced by the Progressive Development School could lead, if not to the solution of the problem, at least to its improvement. At the macro level, the solution to the urban squatter question in Fiji was seen to lie in the implementation of the egalitarian proposals of the VIth Development Plan, a change in Fiji's relations with other countries, and a reassessment of the position of the urban poor. At the micro level, much improvement can be achieved by the formulation of a housing policy which gives close attention to the needs and aspirations of squatters indicated in the present study. The distinction between macro and micro level 'solutions' is seen to offer a compromise position between the viewpoints of the two most prominent schools of thought on the urban squatter question.
- ItemA comparative study of the language used by New Zealand children of European and of Samoan descent aged 6 years 10 months to 8 years in conversation with an adult : a dissertation presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Language at Massey University(Massey University, 1979) Moynihan, Isobel MaryThe research represents an attempt to establish some normative data for the oral language performance of native-English speaking children aged 6 years 10 months to 8 years in conversation with an adult, and by examining the performance of Samoan children in the same age-group to determine those areas which discriminate most strongly between the performances of both groups. Children were interviewed individually and the conversations recorded over a thirty-minute period. Tapes were transcribed on the same day as the recording, and the data quantified according to the procedures of Developmental Sentence Analysis Lee, L.L. and Koenigsknecht 1974, Developmental Sentence Analysis., which established a rank-order for each group. A more detailed analysis of the data was then made in order to identify those areas of development and/or of uncertainty which were common to both groups, and those which appeared only, or mainly, among the Samoan children. The statistical analysis, based on the developmental weighting of syntactic items, (DSS scores) indicated that where errors were specific to the Samoan children they occurred in structures described as early-developing among native-English speaking children. At the higher developmental levels, the performance of Samoan children above the 50th percentile (for that group) was similar to that of their English speaking age-mates. The classification of error-patterns also distinguished between 'growth errors' (where performance was characterized by over-generalizing or by substitution, for example), and 'deficiency errors' (where morphemes and syntactic items were omitted), the latter occurring more consistently among the Samoan children. In addition, a general indication of language development in relation to chronological age was derived by comparing the DSS scores of the Samoan children falling below the 25th percentile for that group with those obtained by younger children at the 50th percentile point for each one-year interval from age 4 to age 6. In the absence of New Zealand DSS norms for these age-levels, it was necessary to use those derived from a study of American children (Lee 1974), but the results are in accord with other New Zealand-based studies (See 0.1, Introduction) which have noted the "two-year gap" appearing around age 7 among Polynesian children when their achievement on a variety of measures and tests is compared with that of their Pakeha age-mates. In the present study, the "gap" ranged from about 20 months at the 25th percentile (for the Samoan group) to over 41 months at the 10th percentile. The general intention has been to sharpen the focus for teachers wishing to develop compensatory language programmes so that effort may be directed to those specific areas where non-native speaking children appear to have missed a developmental stage in their acquisition of English. The findings also suggest that difficulty with certain syntactic structures, semantic concepts, and phonological realizations is a function of age-level and the language-situation for both groups of subjects rather than of the ethnic background of the Samoan group.
- ItemEcological and phytochemical studies on nickel accumulating plants from the Pacific Basin region : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Chemistry at Massey University(Massey University, 1979) Kersten, William JThe distribution of species and genera contained in the floras of the Pacific Basin region is discussed. The outstanding feature of these floras is the high degree of specific endemism. A survey of the 53 species of Flacourtiaceae known in New Caledonia was successful in identifying a tital of 19 nickel hyperaccumulating species. The seven previously recorded in the Homalium genus were re-identified using fresh material and a further ten were located in the Xylosma genus with one in each of Casearia and Lasiochlamys. A similar survey of the Phyllanthus revealed a further ten hyperaccululating species out of the 51 studied. It was also possible to characterise and identify a number of species from their nickel and/or cobalt contents. This was particularly true for the taxonomically-difficult section Heteroglochidion. It appears that many nickel accululating plants are exclusive to ultrabasic substrates and as well as being able to tolerate high concentrations of the non-essential heavy metals they are also able to withstand extremely low levels of the essential elements. Pot trials showed that a strong relationship existed between soil and leaf nickel concentrations in Psychotria douarrei. Elemental concentrations were determined in several specimens of Rinorea bengalensis growing over a wide variety of substrates throughout the Pacific Basin region. It appears that soil conditions determine the extent to which an element is accumulated. Statistical considerations suggested a dependency on the organic constituents in the plant for the translocation of nickel. The nature of nickel complexes in several hyperaccumulating plants was investigated using gel filtration, ion exchange chromatroraphy, high pressure liquid chromatography and gas-liquid chromatography - mass spectrometry. Aquo, citrate and malate complexes of nickel were identified. Gel-filtration, electrophoretic and spectrophotometric comparisons with synthetic compounds suggested a 1:1 nickel/organic acid ratio exists in vivo. All species studied contained aquo and citrate complexes, but Psychotria douarrei and Phyllanthus serpentinus also have a large portion of their nickel bound in a malate complex. Possible factors determining the formation of a particular nickel complex are considered as is a possible pathway for the translocation of such a complex within the plant.
- ItemThe Tongan graduate : a descriptive study : a thesis presented to Massey University in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts and Honours in Education(Massey University, 1979) Taufu, Tupou ʻUluʻaveTonga's graduates number less than two hundred among a population in excess of 90,000. Tonga remains today a closeknit, traditional and socially stratified, monocultural society yet the graduate group has lived in a foreign culture and studied at an overseas university for at least three years. How has this overseas experience in a country very different from that of the Kingdom of Tonga, influenced the lives of Tonga's graduates? After a discussion of relevant background issues and a description of the sample and the methodology of this research, the home situation and university career of the typical graduate is outlined. The conditions of the graduate's return home are investigated with particular emphasis on employment and social factors affecting readaptation to life in Tonga. The major findings of this research are drawn together in the final chapter and a series of recommendations are made suggesting changes in policy towards this particular sector of Tonga's populace.
- ItemA case study of the socio-economic development of Tovulailai : a village in Fiji : a thesis presented to the Department of Sociology, Massey University in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts(Massey University, 1981) Ratumaitavuki, MaciuThe 'Rural Development' programme in Fiji began about 1969, the eve of our independence, with the principal aim to raise the standard of living in the rural areas, in particular those who live in the villages. Consideration was given to involve the rural people closely and meaningfully with the planning, decision making and implementation of the programme. To date, because the need for development in rural areas is so great and due to the severe lack of skilled manpower, Fiji cannot do everything she requires especially in the areas of feasibility studies and research. This is why most of the works done in this areas were done mainly by expatriates who were in many instances, total strangers to the local scene and who may not have fully understood or appreciated the complex nature and the interwoven intricacies of the Fijian way of life. Compounding this problem is the lack of Fijian scholars who are interested in the areas of social research. The basic aim of this present study is to examine the development of the village people and also to stimulate Fijian scholars to become interested in studying the development of their own people, especially of those who are in the disadvantaged rural sector. This paper presents a case study of the socio-economic development of Tovulailai: a village in rural Fiji. The present study is an attempt to observe and explain the influences of the multiple outside forces, in particular those exerted by change agents and how these village people have responded and adapted to these social forces which are impinging upon them. The needs which the people of Tovulailai felt and expressed were fully identified together with the various problems why these needs were not being fulfilled. People in this village needed to raise their general standard of living; improve their level of education; their health and general sanitation; to facilitate their access to urban markets; need to increase their sources of income; the need for adequate housing; the need for transportation and communication and other infrastructural facilities. But, they cannot easily satisfy these needs because of the problems inherent in the present system. These problems are: the lack of good leadership; lack of education lack of good cultivable land; lack of access to urban markets; lack of good housing; lack of technical skills; lack of goods and services; lack of scientific agricultural techniques and low level of technology in the rural villages. The non-structured intensive interview and observation research methods were used by this study in its attempt to examine and explain how the people of Tovulailai village are responding to the impact of social change agents in their attempt to meeting their pressing needs as expressed above. Furthermore, an attempt is made to determine how change agents themselves achieved results and how the mechanism of change within the client system functioned in diffusing and communicating the process of social change and how clients attain their goals in passing from one social state to another. All these processes are fully discussed in the text. The implications of the study which can be used in other situations in Fiji are discussed in the concluding section of this paper. It is apparent that the central issue which emerged in the study is the very effective interaction between the change agents, the client system and the mechanism of diffusion of social change within the system to achieve the desired objectives in socio-economic development at the village level.
- ItemAn evaluation of the role and effects of tourism policies on the development and growth of the tourist industry in New Zealand and in Fiji : a comparative study : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Business Studies at Massey University(Massey University, 1982) Taal, Alieu Badara Saja[Please note: this is a shortened version of the abstract which is very long.] This thesis is an examination of the proposition that tourism development is to a great extent dependent upon the effectiveness of government tourism policies and government tourism organisations. Put another way, the greater the degree of effectiveness of tourism policies and organisations. the greater the degree of tourist industry development. Tourism policies and organisations are seen here as playing functional roles towards the development of the tourist industry. There are two basic hypotheses to be tested in the thesis, namely: (a) There are causal relations between tourism organisations and policies, and tourist industry development. (b) There are evaluable functions that tourism policies and organisations play in the development of the tourist industry. To test the validity of the above propositions, government tourism policies and organisations in New Zealand and Fiji are researched. analysed and evaluated.
- ItemBeginning teaching : the recruitment, selection and expectations of trainee teachers in Tonga : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Education in Education at Massey University(Massey University, 1984) Tongati'o, Lesieli PelesikotiIt has been over a hundred years since schools were established in Tonga, yet the Tonga Teachers' College is only forty years old. Thus teacher training is still in its early stages of development. Although there has been little change within the college over this period, it is moving towards growth and development in both its academic and professional capacities. The following thesis discusses the implications of teacher recruitment, selection and training within an education system aimed at raising the quality of its standard of education. Before attempting to discuss teacher education in Tonga, the social, political and physical contexts within which education operates, must be considered. These conditions have moulded the present form of teacher education. After considering these factors in Chapter Two, Chapter Three reviews the history of the Tonga Teachers' College, in relationship to Tongan social history, its aims and objectives, curriculum content, professional development, student intake and staff appointment. This chapter includes a comparative study of teacher education in some South Pacific countries in which similarities and differences in teacher education programmes and developments are discussed. General trends and methods are highlighted when comparisons and contrasts are made with teacher education in Tonga. In Chapter Four, the researcher considers teacher recruitment in Tonga. The writer proposes that teacher recruitment should be treated as an innovative means of improving the qualities of teacher trainees. Viewed from this perspective, new developments may be quickly and effectively implemented. Vocational preferences of senior secondary school students are examined to determine whether these students place teaching highly in their career priorities. Case studies of secondary school students and untrained teachers are compiled to discover the criteria used for the recruitment and selection of teachers and to provide in-depth information about these groups, from which teacher trainees are recruited. Chapter Five contains a discussion or the expectations which teacher trainees place on their training programme, followed by consideration of the methods of training and then finally discusses evaluations made of the training programme. Case studies of second year students at the Teachers' College and. of probationary assistant teachers are used to elaborate on the extent to which some of these expectations may or may not have been realised. Chapter Six contains the writer's reflections on some problems encountered with procedures and method carried out during the research project. This is followed by a concluding commentary on the results of the study and recommendations, aimed at improving teacher education in Tonga, are made.
- ItemRotuma, a changing mobility, 1978-1983 : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Geography at Massey University(Massey University, 1985) Craddock, Christopher NoelThis work describes the changes in movement of people to and from Rotuma immediately before, and following, the establishment of an airport on the Island in May 1981. A sample survey was carried out during the middle of 1983 to gain field data. The dynamics of movement are investigated and the research examines whether any subsets within the Rotuman community had a higher or lower level of movement, by sex, age, religion, education or occupation during the period 1978-1983.
- ItemLime-aluminium-phosphate interactions in selected acid soils from Fiji : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Soil Science at Massey University(Massey University, 1985) Naidu, RavendraPoor crop production in Fiji has long been associated with Al-toxicity and/or P deficiency problems. Although attempts have been made to alleviate these problems, the lack of suitable soil-testing procedures and a limited understanding of lime-Al-P interactions are restricting the better utilization of these soils. Following a preliminary investigation, 4 contrasting Fijian soils (Batiri, Koronivia, Nadroloulou, and Seqaqa) were chosen for a lime-Al-P interaction study. The soils, which had pH and M KCl-extractable Al values ranging from 3.9 to 4.9 and 35.6 to 0.3 mmol kg-1,.respectively, were used to investigate the effect of liming on surface charge, P-sorption characteristics, the amounts of P extracted by a number of soil-testing procedures, and plant uptake of P. A study was conducted to compare M KCl-extraction procedures for exchangeable Al and analytical techniques used in the determination of Al. For each soil, different extraction procedures and analytical techniques measured significantly (P < 0.01) different amounts of extractable Al. It was recommended that extractable Al in Fijian soils could be best determined by the oxine reagent following a 2 x 1-h shaking with M KCl. The ion retention method, which is commonly used to measure charge, was examined critically with a view to standardising it for the range of soils used in the present study. The method involves an initial washing of soils with an electrolyte of high concentration to remove exchangeable ions, equilibration of the washed soils with an electrolyte of the desired concentration and subsequent extraction of the equilibrated soils. The concentrations of prewash electrolyte (0.5M CaCl2, 0.1M CaCl2, and 0.01M CaCl2) used to remove exchangeable ions prior to equilibration with 0.01M CaCl2 and the soil:solution ratio were found to have a marked effect on the magnitude of the surface negative charge of unlimed soils. However, these differences were largely related to the amount of Al removed during the prewash and the equilibration procedures. Thus when the Al released in the extracting solution (0.5M KNO3) was included in the calculation of charge, the differences in the measured negative charge obtained either because of varying concentrations of prewash electrolyte or for the effect of soil:solution ratio were reduced. Surface charge, determined in 0.01M CaCl2, was always found to be higher than that determined in 0.03M NaCl and this difference was more pronounced in limed soils at high pH values. Subsequent studies revealed that this anomaly was largely due to the inability of Na to exchange with Ca at high pH values. The results of these studies, together with those involving the prewash electrolytes and the soil:solution ratio, suggested that a suitable method of measuring surface charge of limed soils would use 0.01M CaCl2 as the equilibration electrolyte and include in the calculation of charge the amount of Al released in the extracting solution. Incubation of soils with added lime caused a large increase in surface negative charge. However, the magnitude of increase in the negative charge varied considerably between soils. For example, the negative charge in the Seqaqa soil increased from 8 to over 38 cmol(p)kg-1, compared to only a small increase of 2 to 10 cmol(p)kg-1 in the Batiri soil over the same pH range. In contrast to liming, P additions resulted in only a small increase in negative charge. Interestingly, all soils possessed positive charge up to 1 cmol(p)kg-1, even at pH values as high as 7. Subsequent Studies showed that this may have been due to substitution of Ti4+ and/or Mn4+ in the iron oxide lattice. Extraction of lime- and P-treated soils with Olsen and Mehlich reagents showed that liming had a marked effect on the amount of P removed. Whereas Olsen P increased on either side of pH values 5.5 - 6.0, Mehlich P consistently decreased with increasing soil pH. For example, in the high P-sorbing Seqaqa soil, Mehlich P decreased from 0.2 mmol kg-1 at pH 4.5 to < 0.01 mmol kg-1 in soils with pH higher than 7.0. The decrease in Mehlich P was shown to be due to the neutralizing effect of lime on the extractant. An isotopic-exchange study revealed an increase in exchangeable P up to a pH approximating 7, above which there was a sharp decrease, possibly indicating the formation of insoluble Ca-P compounds. Although liming had only a small effect on the sorption of added P, this was sufficient to have a significant effect on equilibrium solution P concentration. Generally, liming caused an increase in equilibrium solution P concentration up to pH values of 5.0 - 6.0, above which there was a marked decrease. The initial increase in equilibrium solution P concentration appeared to result from an interaction between added P, surface negative charge and electrostatic potential in the plane of sorption. Subsequent sorption studies using Nadroloulou soil incubated with either KOH or Ca(OH)2 showed that the decrease in solution P at high pH values was probably due to the formation of insoluble Ca-P compounds. The effects of lime and P addition on the growth of the tropical legume Leucaena leucocephala were studied in a controlled-climate laboratory. With all 4 soils, there was an initial increase in the dry matter yield of the plant tops with liming which was followed by a marked decrease. This trend was most pronounced in the Seqaqa soil where dry matter yield of tops increased by ~2000% at the pH at which maximum growth occurred. Similar but smaller increases were noted in the other soils. The concentration of Al in plant tops increased on either side of the pH of maximum growth, but Al uptake by the whole plant (tops + roots) declined steadily with increasing pH. Poor growth at low pH values waS attributed to Al-induced P deficiency within the plant and at high pH values largely to a soil P deficiency and to a smaller extent to the increased concentration of Al in the plant tops. P deficiency at high pH value was attributed to the formation of insoluble Ca-P compounds and this was supported by the data obtained from isotopic-exchange and P-sorption studies. A further plant growth study was conducted on the limed soils, previously used for the growth of Leucaena leucocephala, Ryegrass (Lolium perenne L) plants were initially grown in sand and then transferred onto the soils. Plant growth was again retarded at low and high pH values but comparison with control plants grown in a similar manner but not transferred onto the soils demonstrated that the poor growth at both high and low pH was due in part to a toxicity effect rather than simple P deficiency. It is likely that Al was responsible. Comparision of the data obtained by resin extraction and plant P uptake gave a close 1:1 relationship. In contrast, Olsen-, Colwell-, Bray (I)-, Bray (II)-, and Mehlich-exractable P were only weakly correlated with P uptake. The difficulty in relating plant P uptake data to extractable P levels was attributed to the problems associated with extracting P from limed soils.
- ItemSelection for teaching in Tonga and Palmerston North, New Zealand : a paper presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Education at Massey University(Massey University, 1986) Tongatio, Lesieli PelesikotiTeacher education in the Kingdom of Tonga has undergone many changes within the last two years. New directions in teacher development have included the introduction of a three-year diploma course for training primary and secondary teachers. This paper examines teacher selection processes used in Tonga in comparison with those used in Palmerston North. Section One introduces the paper by stating the concerns and the need for the study. A brief profile of Tonga Teachers' College and Palmerston North Teachers' College is presented. The research questions and the limitations of the study are stated. Section Two discusses the researcher's preparations for the research and describes her use of selected relevant literature on teacher selection and the techniques of questionnaire and interview. A brief note on the use of qualitative research methods is followed by a discussion of data gathering activities. In Section Three, the writer examines teacher selection processes used in Tonga by presenting responses to questionnaire and personal interviews as answers to the research questions. The same is done for Palmerston North Teachers' College in Section Four. Section Five presents the writer's discussion of each area investigated by means of the research questions. Following is a brief summary of the writer's conclusions to the study. The writer concluded that teacher selection processes in Tonga were not highly organised or structured, not extensive and not systematically conducted in comparison to selection processes used by Palmerston North Teachers' College. Tongan selection panelists were not well prepared and their functions not clearly identified or defined. Secondary students lacked adequate preparations before the selection interview and all sectors involved with teacher selection lacked co-ordination and clearly examined and stated criteria. Selection of teacher trainees in Tonga could benefit by co-operation between the various church education services and government to conduct a national selection programme whereby use of recruitment officers, vocational guidance counsellors and careers advisors would ensure that the best possible potential trainees are selected for teacher education; and, that this process should be highly organised, structured, extensive and systematically conducted. The section ends with a summary of the researcher's recommendations and final comments.