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- ItemSolarise : solar branding through the culture lens of tri hita karana(Massey University, 2024) Jessica, VictoriaThe project is an enquiry into a cultural approach to branding. It utilises a holistic process inspired by a Balinese moral compass, the Tri Hita Karana, which is a balance between humans, nature, and spiritual aspects. The project explores through branding a solar organisation that seeks to promote sustainability and the benefits of solar energy through a visual communication design system. Bali, an island in Indonesia, is currently experiencing a power shortage due to its high electricity demand and being the last in the transmission line from Java island. Solar power is a viable substitute for fossil fuels to address the issue, as Bali receives plenty of sunlight. However, the need for more public awareness about solar energy and sustainability hinders the solar movement. This research aims to communicate its purpose and meaning e ectively by adopting a cultural branding approach emphasising the rich cultural aspects of Bali through visual language and graphic elements. The goal is to encourage a shift in behaviour and attitude towards clean energy technologies as part of the energy transition movement. The project uses cultural brand theories and energy transition frameworks to approach Balinese culture empathetically. The objective of this master's project is to explore the narratives of Balinese culture and find ways to create a brand identity system that synergises with these elements. A website, out-of-home QR codes, and social media are part of the visual communication design research outcomes. The narrative of the outcomes intends to increase awareness and support positive initiatives for rebuilding sustainability in Bali. It emphasises the connection between humans, nature, and spirituality while highlighting solar panels' benefits and their connection to the brand.
- ItemCharacterisation of proteases and lipases produced by Paenibacillus spp. and analysis of heat stability of these enzymes : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Master of Food Technology at Massey University, Manawatū, New Zealand(Massey University, 2025) Fang, JefferyThe aim of this study includes the isolation of Paenibacillus species from raw milk, investigation of Paenibacillus species that produces protease and lipase, investigation of the effect of temperature, growth medium and inoculum conditions (fresh and chilled) on the production of protease and lipase by Paenibacillus species and the heat stability of protease and lipase produced by Paenibacillus species. The isolation of Paenibacillus species from raw milk was carried out by using milk plate count agar and the isolated species were identified using Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry analysisThere were none Paenibacillus species isolated from raw milk therefore pre-isolated Paenibacillus species obtained from Massey University microbiology lab culture collection were used for further experiments. The production of protease and lipase were tested using milk agar and tributyrin agar plates respectively. Seven out of 26 isolates were strong positive for protease at 37 °C. Only 2 isolates were positive for proteolysis at 30 °C and 2 isolates were strongly positive for proteolysis at 30 °C. The effects of inoculum conditions (fresh and chilled) were tested by comparing the ability of isolated Paenibacillus species at day 1 (fresh) and day 31 (chilled) of storage and there were no obvious differences. The effect of medium was tested by growing Paenibacillus in TSB, 10% TSB and 1% skim milk. Paenibacillus produced more proteolysis in full strength Tryptic Soy Broth (TSB), 10% TSB and 1% skim milk. The enzyme activities were further investigated by using azocasein and p-nitrophenol palmitate assays. Seven isolates produced obvious amounts of proteolysis, and the highest amount of proteolysis produced was 72 U/mL. There was no proteolysis and lipolysis found after heat treatment at 100 °C for 10 minutes which indicated no production of heat-stable enzymes by the Paenibacillus isolates. In conclusion, the investigation of enzyme activities of species provides new insights for the dairy industry with no heat-stable enzymes produced by the Paenibacillus isolates tested. Further studies are required for medium effect on enzyme production and heat stability of enzyme produced by testing different medium of growth and different temperature conditions for the enzyme produced.
- ItemTuhia ki te rangi : teaching and learning practices to support the development of academic writing capabilities of foundation Ākonga Māori : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Education at Massey University, Te Kunenga ki Purehuroa, New Zealand(Massey University, 2024) Nepia, WilliamAcademic writing is essential for success in tertiary education, yet ākonga Māori continue to face barriers and challenges that impact their writing potential. This is particularly evident in the Hikitia te Ora Certificate in Health Sciences programme, where there is a growing need for additional support in academic reading and writing. This qualitative study, grounded in Kaupapa Māori methodology, aims to identify key factors that enhance the teaching and learning of academic writing skills for ākonga Māori in foundation programmes. The research involved semi‐structured interviews with three pouako Māori (teachers/educators with Māori ancestry) and a focus group of nine ākonga Māori who had completed the programme in the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at Waipapa Taumata Rau. Thematic analysis revealed three central themes: challenges in academic writing, supporting factors for writing development, and the role of culturally responsive teaching. These themes informed the creation of four instructional strategies: (1) Use culturally responsive teaching and learning practices, (2) Provide a culturally inclusive and safe learning environment, (3) Use relevant, fun, and interactive learning activities, and (4) Provide comprehensive resources to support learning. This study provides practical strategies for pouako and tertiary institutions to enhance the academic writing capabilities of ākonga Māori, contributing to the development of more inclusive and effective teaching practices. The insights derived from this research also serve as a valuable resource for other tertiary institutions in Aotearoa (New Zealand) and beyond, aiming to enhance academic writing skills among Māori and Indigenous ākonga.
- ItemSustainability in the New Zealand wine industry : a Foucauldian discourse analysis : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Business Studies in Management at Massey University, Distance, New Zealand(Massey University, 2024) McCormick, Jade MareeThe contention that businesses must be ‘sustainable’ is ubiquitous, with businesses treating sustainability as a given within their operations. However, what ‘sustainability’ means and entails remains unclear, causing ambiguity that may impede addressing issues affecting both people and the planet. This research examines the New Zealand wine industry’s version of sustainability through Foucauldian discourse analysis, uncovering assumptions and mechanisms that normalise, legitimise, and construct truth claims around what this industry has accepted as being sustainable. ‘Power/knowledge networks’ and the ‘subjectivating’ effects of discourse are also of key consideration. Finally, the research considers discourse’s role in fostering an audit culture within the wine industry’s sustainability efforts. Neoliberalism was identified as the overarching discourse in the primary text, exemplified by discursive strategies that unquestioningly prioritise competition and the role of market demands in constructing and describing sustainability. Neoliberalism was identified as the overarching discourse for its pervasiveness in shaping sub-discourses. In identifying each sub-discourse, it became evident that these were supported or enabled by neoliberalism. The sub-discourses are: Colonialism, whereby Te Ao Māori is appropriated and used in a colonial, compensatory manner to meet market demands. The second and third discourses, the Leadership discourses, are Leadership through competition, whereby leadership is individualised, identified through competition, and used to achieve social sustainability; and Leadership through collaboration, where Neoliberal discourse contributes to the design of diversity programmes in order to meet social sustainability outcomes. In the final sub-discourse, People as the other, the overarching discourse of Neoliberalism and its accompanying business practices produce sustainability in a form that treats people as an ‘other’. Repetition of discourse was seen in secondary texts to varying extents, with Te Ao Māori having potential to be a counter-discourse. The spread of discourse as a consequence of industry social processes, is also discussed in terms of audit culture and institutions. This research demonstrates how Foucauldian approaches can be utilised for in management and organisational settings by examining the impact of power/knowledge on people within an industry. Through questioning the assumed and familiar, new knowledge and learnings can be generated, along with highlighting unintended consequences that can arise when historically reinforced regimes of truth are accepted without interrogation.
- ItemExploring dietary patterns of a vegan population living in Auckland, New Zealand : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics at Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand(Massey University, 2024) Henderson, PhillipaBackground: The vegan diet is increasing in popularity in New Zealand, however the current literature regarding dietary intake in NZ vegan populations is limited. Overseas studies in vegan populations have focused mostly on nutrient adequacy rather than broader dietary patterns. Dietary patterns can be used to measure diet quality as they look at the whole diet rather than single aspects. Given the diversity within vegan dietary practices, an increasing number of people choosing veganism and the growing market of ultra-processed vegan foods, this study seeks to fill a critical gap by examining the dietary patterns of vegans living in Auckland, New Zealand. Aim: To identify and analyse dietary patterns among vegans living in Auckland, New Zealand, and explore associations with socio-demographic and lifestyle factors. Methods: This study recruited participants as part of the larger Vegan Health Research Program at Massey University. Inclusion criteria were at least 2 years following the vegan diet, not pregnant or breastfeeding and living in Auckland, New Zealand. Dietary intake was assessed using a validated Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) including 196 vegan foods, which were grouped into 34 food groups. Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to identify common dietary patterns, and associations with socio demographics such as ‘age, gender, education, alcohol consumption and physical activity score’ were examined. Results: Participants (n=212) were 71% female with a mean age of 39.4 (12.2) years. Participants were mostly European (85%) and most had an education level of undergraduate or higher (68.2%). Four patterns emerged from principal component analysis explaining 35.3% of the variation in the diet; Health-Conscious, Convenience, Western and Traditional. The Health-Conscious pattern was positively associated with higher alcohol consumption (p= 0.005) and a higher physical activity score (p=<0.001). The Convenience pattern had a positive association with lower alcohol intake (p= 0.015). The Western pattern was positively associated with being female, having a higher physical activity score (p= 0.009), higher alcohol consumption (p=<0.001) and participants having less than a bachelor's degree of education (p= 0.027). The Traditional pattern was positively associated with older age and lower alcohol consumption (p=<0.001). Conclusion: These results indicate that vegans following a Health-Conscious dietary pattern tend to consume more alcohol but engage in higher levels of physical activity. Those following a Western dietary pattern are also more likely to drink more alcohol and be more physically active but also have lower educational attainment. Those following the Convenience pattern are less likely to consume alcohol and similarly, the Traditional dietary pattern is associated with lower alcohol consumption and older vegans are more likely to follow this pattern.
- ItemThe feasibility, validity and reliability of a modified 24-hour multiple pass dietary recall to assess fruit and vegetable intake in New Zealand children : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand(Massey University, 2025) Patel, Varshika VrindaBackground Adequate intake of fruits and vegetables (F/V) is crucial for children’s growth, development, and health. Despite this, many New Zealand children do not meet recommended F/V intake levels. The validity and reliability of a modified 24-hour multiple pass recall (MPR) and alternative tools such as the Veggie Meter® (VM®) for measuring skin-carotenoid scores (SCS) as a biomarker of F/V intake in children remain unexplored. Aims To establish the feasibility, validity and reliability of the modified 24-hour MPR for the evaluation of carotenoid and fruit and vegetable intake against weighed food diaries in 9 to 13–year–old school children living in Auckland. To estimate the reliability of the VM as a tool to measure chronic skin carotenoid levels. Methods Thirty-two children (20 boys, 12 girls) participated in this study. Over a one-to-three week period, F/V intake was assessed using a modified 24-hour MPR (child-reported, weighed food diaries (parent-reported), and SCS measured by the VM®. Validity was evaluated by comparing the modified 24-hour MPR to weighed food diaries as the criterion. Reliability of the modified 24-hour MPR F/V servings were determined from raw arithmetic difference, while reliability of the modified 24-hour MPR carotenoid intake (μg/d) was expressed as a ratio. Inter-day reliability of the modified 24-hour MPR and the VM SCS reliability were estimated using various metrics. Results Children did not meet recommended F/V intake levels based on both the modified 24-hour MPR (1.31 fruit serves; 2.00 vegetable serves) and weighed food diaries (1.26 fruit serves; 1.87 vegetable serves). Boys had higher F/V and carotenoid intakes, while girls had slightly higher SCS. The modified 24-hour MPR demonstrated significant bias and poor reliability for estimating F/V and carotenoid intake. In contrast, the VM® showed good reliability with low variability and excellent intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Conclusions The modified 24-hour MPR was valid but unreliable for measuring F/V intake in New Zealand children. The VM was found to provide a reliable measure of carotenoid intake over a chronic time.
- ItemComparative study of first lactation performance of Norwegian Red crossbred cows with traditional breeds in New Zealand dairy systems : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand(Massey University, 2024) Curry, BeckyThe Norwegian Red (NR) dairy breed has garnered global interest due to its breeding objectives, which prioritize health and fertility traits alongside production performance. The increasing demand for enhanced robustness in dairy cattle worldwide has led to the integration of this breed into various production systems. In New Zealand, some dairy farmers are utilising semen from Norwegian Red bulls, exploring the potential benefits of this breed under New Zealand’s unique pastoral farming conditions. The aim of this research was to compare the first lactation performance of F1 NR cattle with traditional New Zealand breeds. Data for this study was collected from six dairy farms in Southland, New Zealand, during the 2022–2023 milk production season. Data was collected from 1178 first lactation cows including 4639 herd-tests of daily yields of milk, fat, protein, somatic cell counts, and persistency. Animals included 386 NR cross (NRX), 231 Holstein Friesian (F), 84 Holstein Friesian cross (FX), 134 Holstein Friesian ×Jersey (FJ) and 58 Jersey cross (JX) cows. Findings indicate Holstein Friesian cows produced the greatest cumulative milk yield (3,744 kg), 138.6 kg more than NRX cows. The JX demonstrated the highest yields for protein, fat, and milksolids, while the NRX exhibited significantly lower yields for most of these lactation parameters. There were no significant differences between the breed groups for milk yield and milksolids yield, persistency and somatic cell score (somatic cell score = Log2 somatic cell count). Lactation curves for milk and milksolids yield were modelled for each breed, with the F cows initially outperforming the other breed groups, then for the remainder of both lactation curves, differences among breeds were not significant. Overall, the lactation performance of the NRX tends to be reduced in comparison to the traditional New Zealand breeds. These results pertain specifically to first lactation cows; therefore it is necessary to undertake further analysis to evaluate the long-term productivity and longevity of the NR breed under New Zealand conditions. This research provides an initial insight into the performance of the NR breed in New Zealand's pastoral farming systems.
- ItemEffects of hydraulic retention time, soluble carbon source and substrate media on nitrate removal efficiency of column denitrification bioreactors : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Agricultural Science at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand(Massey University, 2024) Vongsouthi, KevalyIn New Zealand, dairy farming is a major contributor to nitrogen (N) contamination of the aquatic environment, due mainly to nitrate leaching from cow urine patches and intensive cropping. This enrichment of the aquatic environment affects groundwater and surface water quality and their dependent freshwater ecosystems by promoting eutrophication. It is therefore important to better understand and mitigate critical flows of nutrient losses from agricultural lands to receiving waterways. In response to this environmental challenge, denitrifying bioreactors have emerged a novel edge-of-field practice, which can reduce nitrate levels in agricultural drainage waters by facilitating the conversion of dissolved nitrate to nitrogen gases using a carbon source in microbial denitrification process under anaerobic conditions. Woodchips, a common carbon media of bioreactors, are favoured for their simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and efficiency in nitrate removal. Their use is growing worldwide, particularly at the edges of agricultural fields to minimise farming disruption and effectively mitigate nitrate losses in drainage waters. However, as woodchips age, the availability of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) decreases, potentially limiting denitrification rates over time in woodchip bioreactor. However, soluble carbon dosing is proposed as a solution to enhance nitrate removal by maintaining a consistent supply of organic carbon. Although carbon dosing has predominantly been studied in woodchip bioreactors, it has also shown success in non-woodchip bioreactors that utilise a range of substrates including soil, sediment, sand, pumice stone, and vermiculite, supplemented with ethanol and methanol as soluble carbon sources. These systems have proven effective in reducing nitrate levels in aquaculture and underground water systems. However, the use of ethanol as an external carbon source in non-woodchip bioreactors for agricultural drainage systems has not been well researched. This study investigated the use of soluble carbon dosing in denitrifying bioreactor to enhance nitrate removal, comparing its effectiveness across woodchip, pumice, and sedimentary rock gravel a substrate media. The study used a set of nine (9) small-scale replicated column bioreactors. The specific research objectives were to investigate the effect of varying hydraulic retention time (HRT), soluble carbon source (methanol and ethanol) and compare different low-cost bioreactor media (woodchips, sedimentary gravel, and pumice gravel). The first experiment assessed the impact of different HRTs on the nitrate removal performance in woodchip column bioreactors. Three HRTs (6.6, 10, and 20 hours) and average inflow nitrate concentration of 19.6 mg N L -¹ were used to measure effects of HRT’s on nitrate removal efficiency (% reduction in nitrate concentration) and nitrate removal rate (quantified as g NO₃ - -N removed per m³ of woodchips per day). The inflow water temperature varied from 19.6 ᵒC to 20.4ᵒC, with an average of 20oC. However, extending the HRT from 6.6 to 20 hours, increased nitrate removal efficiency from an average of 35% to 71%, but decreased nitrate removal rate from an average 13.6 to 9.4 g NO₃ - -N m-³ day-¹, respectively. The second set of experiments (two) evaluated the effects of methanol and ethanol dosing on nitrate removal efficiency in woodchip column bioreactors, operated with an HRT of 6.6 hours, an average inflow water nitrate concentration at 19.5 mg N L -¹, and average water temperature of 16.4 ᵒC from both experimental sets. A soluble carbon dosing at a C:N ratio of 1:1 significantly enhanced nitrate removal efficiency. The ethanol-dosed treatment achieved a nitrate removal efficiency of 66-68%, compared to 55-57% for the methanol-dosed treatment and 33-38% for the control (non-dosed) treatment. In the third experiment, the efficacy of ethanol dosing for nitrate removal was assessed across different column bioreactor media (woodchips, pumice, and sedimentary rock gravel). The experiment used ethanol dosing at a 1:1 C:N ratio, a 6.6-hour HRT, an average inflow water nitrate concentration at 19.6 mg N L-¹, and average water temperature of 13.4 ᵒC. The ethanol dosing was effective particularly achieving an average of 97% reduction in the inflow NO₃⁻ concentration in the woodchip bioreactors columns, compared to 72% for pumice and 75% for gravel used as substrate media. However, the increased outflow total organic carbon levels in woodchip bioreactors suggest a higher release of organic carbon from both fresh woodchips and added ethanol, providing a higher carbon source for enhanced denitrification in the woodchip bioreactor columns. This was also evidenced by consistently low outflow NO₃⁻-N concentrations in the ethanol-dosed woodchip bioreactor columns. The bioreactor columns experiment results in terms of measured nitrate removal efficiency were finally applied to construct a comparative economic-opportunity cost analysis of ethanol dosed (C:N ratio of 1:1) woodchip and gravel bioreactors (assuming 200 m³ bioreactor size) for informing further development of practical cost-effective bioreactor design for agricultural drains. A lifespan of either 10 or 15 years was sued for the woodchip bioreactor and of 30 years for the gravel bioreactor. When both media (woodchips and gravel) were assumed to have a porosity of 50%, the cost-effectiveness of nitrate removal using woodchip bioreactor was calculated at NZ $5 .90 per kg N removed for a 10-year lifespan scenario, and NZ $4 .30 per kg N removed for 15 years lifespan scenario, while for the gravel bioreactor it was NZ $8 .80 per kg N removed for 30 years lifespan scenario. A gravel bioreactor, despite its higher annual costs, due to their longer lifespan without the need for media replacement offers practical advantage but requires active management of external carbon-dosing system. In summary, this thesis has developed a comprehensive dataset that enhances our understanding the potential of ethanol dosing to improve the performance of denitrification bioreactors, while also exploring alternative media such as gravel and pumice compared to woodchips. The accompanying cost analysis reveals that although woodchip bioreactor appears more cost-effective in the short term, due to lower initial and maintenance costs, gravel bioreactor may have potential to be cost effective and practical in the long-term. However, longer term field testing is needed to assess the actual relative performance of these two media over time to better assess their cost-benefits and practicality in their potential applications in real-world conditions.
- ItemEthically valuable failure? : confession, sacrifice, and ethical responsibility in three novels by J.M. Coetzee : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in English, Massey University, Manawatū, New Zealand(Massey University, 2024) Murdoch, AlbanyThis thesis explores impulses and resistances to confession in three novels by J.M. Coetzee: Waiting for the Barbarians (1980), Disgrace (1999), and The Schooldays of Jesus (2016). Specifically, it takes as its point of departure the apparent tension between confession and ethics in these novels, and in Coetzee’s oeuvre generally. I find that, despite his repeated return in fiction to the ethically valuable experience of being impinged upon by the other, and his repeated representation of flawed and sexually violent male characters, Coetzee seems, in both his fictional and critical work, to rule out the possibility that confession might possess any ethical valences. I analyse Coetzee’s apparent disregard for confession’s ethical value by reference to Michel Foucault, who from the mid-1970s developed a thoroughgoing critique of the role of confession in the power-knowledge nexus so central to his genealogies. I suggest that both rue confession’s role in maintaining established power dynamics, particularly in judicial settings, as well as its potential to encourage a harmful relationship of the self to itself. This latter concern is explored by way of the sacrifice Foucault claims is entailed in confession, a concern I argue is borne out in Disgrace and The Schooldays of Jesus. Judith Butler’s Giving an Account of Oneself (2005) provides a useful intervention into Coetzee’s and Foucault’s concerns. Drawing extensively from Foucault’s account of subjectivation, and yet departing from his almost wholesale condemnation of the role played by confession in Western society, Butler finds in the inevitable failure of accounting for one’s actions and who one is – and the experience of dispossession therein – grounds for the establishment of ethical responsibility. The dispossessing experience of giving an account, challenging as it does the idea of a sovereign subject, is thus seemingly intolerable to Foucault, but generative and foundational for Butler. In applying Butler’s work on giving an account to the three novels under consideration, I suggest that not only is failure inevitable when one attempts to confess, but that, far from constituting a reason to resist the interminable process of secular confession – interminability being a key concern in Waiting for the Barbarians – it may well be a source of ethical responsibility.
- ItemGender diversity : early childhood teachers’ perspectives and teaching practices in Aotearoa New Zealand : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Education at Massey University, Manawatū, New Zealand(Massey University, 2024) Gifkins, VickiNotions and understandings of gender are evolving and changing. Historically, gender tended to be viewed as a female/male binary. Increasingly, gender is becoming understood as a spectrum encompassing a diverse range of gender identities and expressions. Wide variations exist related to how gender diversity is understood in society. In this thesis, gender diversity is viewed as an umbrella concept for all genders, including binary and nonbinary gender identities. As societal understandings of gender and gender diversity shift, implications arise for early childhood kaiako. Gender diversity is a relatively new concept in Aotearoa New Zealand early childhood education (ECE). An implication of this is that ECE kaiako are grappling with new and shifting gender concepts without Ministry of Education guidance or explicit curriculum support. Te Whariki, the Aotearoa New Zealand early childhood curriculum, makes limited reference to gender. The document suggests kaiako have a responsibility to support equity and inclusion for children “irrespective of gender” and lists gender as an aspect of inclusion (Ministry of Education, 2017b). Guidance has been developed for the school sector through the Relationships and Sexuality Education guides but not for the early childhood sector (Ministry of Education, 2020a). In addition to a lack of guidance and curriculum support, there are few Aotearoa New Zealand studies addressing gender diversity in ECE. The present study was designed to help address the research gap by investigating teachers’ understandings, perceptions, and experiences of gender diversity and their reported use of associated teaching practices. Researching gender diversity in ECE is important because during their early childhood years, children are developing their early concepts of gender. The ways children experience and understand gender in their early years can inform and shape their future understandings. The ways early childhood settings support children’s concepts of gender can nurture gender concepts, whether these are binary, expansive, or somewhere in between. Through their everyday play experiences and conversations with peers and kaiako, children are learning about gender and are exposed to ideas about gender. Gender concepts often arise as children engage in imaginary play, such as role-playing different family types or selecting dress ups to wear. Gender concepts also arise when children form or organise groups of peers to play with and through literacy experiences, such as book reading or singing songs. Potential exists for children to witness or experience binary gender stereotyping in early childhood settings. Potential also exists for challenging binary stereotyping and supporting children to develop more inclusive views of gender. For kaiako to be positioned to engage in gender-inclusive teaching practices, they may require access to knowledge of gender diversity, knowledge of gender-inclusive teaching practices, and support to implement inclusive teaching practices. A key aim of this study was to find out more about the ways kaiako understand gender diversity and to identify the teaching practices and support systems used by those kaiako who say they are supportive of gender diversity. A qualitative, question-driven approach supported this exploratory two-phase study. In phase one, 431 ECE kaiako responded to an online questionnaire. In phase two, nine kaiako participated in in-depth, semi-structured individual interviews. The data were analysed through descriptive statistics, content analysis, and thematic analysis. While the survey sought to include participants with a range of views, the interviews were designed to focus on participants who reported as being supportive of gender diversity. My aim with this focus was to help lay the groundwork for positive attitudes and better understanding about gender inclusion. Findings highlighted that kaiako held a wide range of views about gender. Kaiako relied on personal experiences and informal knowledge sources to inform their views of gender rather than professional knowledge. Approaches to supporting gender diversity in ECE varied considerably, with some kaiako seeing no responsibility to support gender diversity and others utilising a range of intentional teaching practices to support children’s gender learning. Most ECE settings lacked systematic approaches and policies that addressed gender diversity in their settings. Processes for checking that books and resources were free of gender bias were ad hoc and dependent on individual kaiako with an interest in gender equity. Parents and whānau were seen as both enablers and barriers to supporting gender diversity in ECE settings. While a wide range of views about gender were shared, the majority of kaiako were supportive of gender diversity and aspired to engage in inclusive teaching practices. For kaiako who were supportive of gender diversity, reading gender-expansive books and engaging in conversations with children were key teaching practices for supporting gender inclusion. Kaiako–child conversations were seen as a key practice for challenging gender stereotypes and mostly focused on breaking boy/girl stereotypes. Books were seen as the largest enabler for teaching children about gender diversity and supported kaiako to address a complex topic. Access to books was sometimes restricted or limited. Many kaiako described using careful language with children and aspired to either be gender neutral and avoided gendered terms like “boy” and “girl.” Overall, this research offers a promising but still contested and constrained view of gender diversity and inclusion in ECE. One of the things most notable about the study was the high numbers of kaiako interested in participating in this research, which suggests ECE kaiako are interested in exploring and discussing gender diversity. Yet, many kaiako faced barriers implementing inclusive teaching practices, and opportunities for professional learning and development were rare. Implications from the study suggest a need for better guidance, systems, and policies to support kaiako to effectively implement inclusive practices.
