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- ItemEm-power lifting : a case study of women’s weightlifting in Aotearoa : a research report submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Master of International Development, Institute of Development Studies, School of People, Environment and Planning, Te Kunenga Ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University Aotearoa New Zealand(Massey University, 2022) Ogilvy, Jamie R. I.Through application of an Indigenous (Māori) informed theoretical framing, articulated as Mana Wāhine values, this research report explores the phenomenon of weightlifting with Indigenous (Māori) women from Aotearoa New Zealand, as a vehicle for empowerment. The research project was guided by two main research questions, firstly, what is the role of weightlifting in developing personal, relational, and collective empowerment for Aotearoa New Zealand Indigenous (Māori) women? Secondly, how does this empowerment align with strengthening the values, understood as Mana Wāhine values, of Indigenous (Māori) women? Data was collected via in-depth semi-structured interviews, nine wāhine (female) participants and one tane (male) participant. All participants were aged between 20 – 50 years old and had been participating in strength sports as an athlete or coach or both; six female and one male who were current or past Olympic weightlifters, two female strong women competitors and one power lifter. All participants were of Māori decent or coached wāhine Māori or were allies/accomplices (Whitinui, 2021) of Māori women in strength sport. Findings suggest that weightlifting and strength-based training enhanced the development of the self, increased body satisfaction thus positivity towards body image because women identifying as feeling physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually strong and thus powerful. Their ability to set and achieve goals was enhanced and this carried over into other areas of life. While seemingly an individual sport, feelings of belonging and camaraderie indicated better relational empowerment, as well as collective empowerment due to being part of the lifting community and subscribing to a similar kaupapa. In terms of how these changes aligned with Mana Wāhine values, wāhine spoke about having a sense of authority, notions of manaakitanga and giving back to others and the kaupapa of strong wāhine. Overall, this research highlights that strength-based sport like weightlifting can be a vehicle for personal, relational, and collective empowerment with these elements lending themselves towards strengthening Mana Wāhine values. Of great importance here was the transformative implications noted for women. However, any broader transformative impacts beyond the individuals will require the ongoing challenges of predetermined ideologies i.e., stereotypes of women not being strong, or norms, rules, exclusionary practices and under resourcing, for example, which sees women’s lifting to be situated at the margins. Empowerment of the individual is all well and good, but the individual can only go so far. “Empowerment requires changes to systems, rules, and norms, which undermine large groups of people [Māori women], as well as changes at the level of the individual” (Scheyvens, 2020, p. 120).
- ItemA soil-landscape model of Blind River/Otuwhero, Marlborough : a case study(Massey University, 2024) Oliver, MattSoils form in complex, four-dimensional, dynamic systems across landscapes. The role of a pedologist is to explore and describe the complexity and variability of soils within that landscape. The most common method used to document soils in the landscape is the soil map. Modern soil mapping has migrated to digital platforms where a much greater range of soil attribute information can be delivered at more appropriate scales. However, often soil mapping projects are carried out without specific reference to the landforms that the studied soils lie upon, in other words a soil-landscape model (S-LM) is often not included with the finished mapping outputs. The inclusion of an explicit soil-landscape model alongside a soil map is important for several reasons such as prediction of variability in soils across a landscape, reduction is survey costs, maintenance of an historic record and development of soil attribute mapping that allows interpolation of soil properties across the landscape rather than confining and defining soils into ‘crisp’ soil polygons. Map users who understand the S-LM can apply its principles across the wider landscape and to smaller landforms than would otherwise be captured on a broader-scale soil map. This study reviews soil-landscape modelling literature then combines Geographic Information System analysis with field work to establish a S-LM for the Blind River / Otuwhero region of Marlborough, New Zealand.
- ItemThe United Nations Declaration for the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and te reo Māori : is the Aotearoa New Zealand government fulfilling its responsibilities? : a research report presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of International Development, Institute of Development Studies, School of People, Environment and Planning, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa, Massey University, Manawatū, Aotearoa New Zealand(Massey University, 2024) Mato, Paula JaneTe reo Māori is the Indigenous language of Aotearoa New Zealand, and its survival and revitalisation is of paramount importance to Māori and others who commit to the language, and to te reo Māori having a rightful place in the fabric of Aotearoa New Zealand society. International Indigenous rights instruments, such as the United Nations Declaration for the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), are one mechanism through which Indigenous languages such as te reo Māori can be protected and revitalised. An important part of implementing such mechanisms is the establishment of monitoring and evaluation tools to ensure that progress (or lack thereof) towards implementation is tracked. Through an Indigenous rights and Kaupapa Māori lens, this research report seeks to determine the extent to which the Aotearoa New Zealand government’s approach to the revitalisation of te reo Māori, aligns with its responsibilities as a signatory to the UNDRIP. Three research questions are posed. Firstly, what responsibilities does the Aotearoa New Zealand government have as a signatory to the UNDRIP? Secondly, what has been the Aotearoa New Zealand government’s approach to the revitalisation of te reo Māori? Thirdly, how has the Aotearoa New Zealand government’s approach to te reo Māori revitalisation aligned (or not) with its responsibilities as a signatory to the UNDRIP? This research used a document analysis as its primary method. An UNDRIP Compliance Assessment Tool developed in Canada by Smith & Mitchell (2020) was adapted to assess the government in Aotearoa New Zealand’s compliance with selected UNDRIP articles as it relates to te reo Māori. When looking at the performance of government here, the overall assessment is that there is evidence of some good practice albeit within the boundaries and systems of the state. For the Aotearoa New Zealand government to fully meet its responsibilities under the UNDRIP, there would need to be more of an effort to support Māori to lead the protection and revitalisation of te reo Māori (through self-determination). However, this is unlikely to happen in the current political environment. The current National-led coalition government has made clear its unwillingness to provide support for either te reo Māori or for progressing the UNDRIP implementation plan – He Puapua. Similar research or an evaluation undertaken in three plus years’ time would help uncover the likely negative impact of this policy position, on both the revitalisation of te reo Māori and on progressing Indigenous rights through the UNDRIP in this country.
- ItemChildren's voices in the Family Court : a document analysis of Judges' decisions : a thesis report presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Social Policy at Massey University, Manawatu, Aotearoa(Massey University, 2020) Norris, Catherine MaryFamily court decisions have a long-term effect on children’s lives. Research has found that children’s wellbeing is enhanced when they are involved in family law decision-making. Having the opportunity to express their views is a protective factor and provides a sense of empowerment, leading to improved outcomes. Children’s participation in Family Court proceedings in Aotearoa is legislated for through section 6 of the Care of Children Act, 2004. Section 6 provides for their voices to be heard and their views to be taken into account. This research, located in a qualitative approach, explored the significance of children’s voices in Family Court proceedings in Aotearoa as documented in seven Family Court decisions from 2016 to 2019. The research found that judges regarded ascertaining a child’s views as taking account of them. A further finding was that a child’s age and the Judge’s perception of their maturity were determining factors in whether judges considered children’s views. Additionally, a range of practices, including prioritising the child’s best interests principles over the child’s voice, acted as barriers to children’s participation. This research recommends further large-scale research to ascertain whether section 6 of the Care of Children Act is being consistently and adequately applied. Recommendations for better practice include: mandatory and formulaic reporting of the process undertaken when accounting for children’s views within decisions; robust and external accountability that includes comparing files against decisions to ensure that children’s voices are being heard and accounted for as intended; the best interests principles contained within section 5 of the Care of Children Act extended to include hearing the views of children subject to proceedings and the views of young children being ascertained through specialist interviewers including and increasing visibility of children’s voices in Family Court proceedings.
- Item‘Nobody in the Air Force had any idea’ : understanding the origins and the early development of the aircraft collection of the Air Force Museum of New Zealand : a research report presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Museum Studies at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand(Massey University, 2023) Moremon, JohnThe Air Force Museum of Zealand was opened on 1 April 1987, originally as the Royal New Zealand Air Force Museum. This research report is a historical study of the museum’s early development. It identifies early thwarted attempts by members of the Air Force to establish a historical collection and then traces the decade-long Air Force project that resulted in the first the establishment of a RNZAF Historical Centre and finally the opening of the RNZAF Museum on the fiftieth anniversary of the Air Force’s creation. As the museum project was implemented only in the late 1970s, the RNZAF missed opportunities to ensure the preservation of certain historic aircraft and other relics. As a consequence, museum collecting and exhibition policies (particularly around aircraft) were shaped in large measure by a need to plug perceived gaps in the historical collection, particularly in relation to World War II and the early Cold War periods, with at times less emphasis placed on the provenance of airframes. This was in line with the approaches taken by several air force museums worldwide in this same period. While the late development of the museum required some compromises, the establishment of the RNZAF Museum must nevertheless be recognised as an achievement by dedicated and enthusiastic service members who possessed no prior experience of museum development.
- ItemWomen's empowerment : a case study on the Female Community Health Volunteer programme in Balkumari, Nepal : a research project presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Masters in International Development, Massey University, New Zealand(Massey University, 2023) Thompson, FrancescaThe Female Community Health Volunteer (FCHV) Programme in Nepal is considered the backbone of the national health system. With over 52,000 female volunteers trained across the country, they have gained the ability to provide intimate support to mothers and young children, acting as the interface between community and national health (MoHP, 2014, p. 23). As Nepal is a patriarchal nation, women’s and children’s health can often be not prioritised or dismissed. Prioritising women’s health is linked with women’s empowerment and a step towards addressing poverty. This study focuses on one NGO, the FCHV Programme that works towards women’s health, and aims at understanding in what areas the programme actively works towards women’s empowerment. The FCHV programme operates with female volunteers, whose responsibility is working with women that need health support. This study is framed within a gender and development context. It utilises a qualitative methodology and an empowerment framework to explore how the FCHV programme operates within a local Nepalese context, and in what ways the programme includes empowerment of women. The primary research method applied were semi-structured interviews throughout the seven-weeks of fieldwork in the village of Balkumari in Bardiya District. This study found that despite a lack of financial remuneration, the female volunteers in Balkumari have had some empowering experiences through the education they received. By sharing their education within the community, other women also benefited. In the process, the women experienced increased self-esteem and social status.
- ItemThe effects of COVID-19 on ni-Vanuatu workers in New Zealand’s Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme : a research report presented in partial fulfilment of requirements for the degree of Master of International Development at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand(Massey University, 2023) Tonkin, CameronOn March 11, 2020, the United Nations World Health Organisation declared the COVID-19 virus a global pandemic, initiating widespread government-imposed restrictions affecting peoples’ mobility, social engagement and livelihoods (United Nations, 2020). The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted global structural inequalities and recognised the importance of migrant workers in their contributions to the global economy (International Labour Organisation, 2021). This context has placed increased recognition on the temporary migration policies that facilitate mobility and their evolution over time (International Labour Organisation, 2021). For temporary workers, participation under these policies had placed restrictions on their already limited social integration and has had an undeniable restrain on their labour rights (Rosewarne, 2010). Temporary workers are often not eligible to access the social and economic safety nets provided to national residents, which has exacerbated their vulnerability from the impacts of the pandemic (Mukumbang, 2021). This study aims to explore how ni-Vanuatu participants in the New Zealand’s Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme have exercised agency during the pandemic. This research has focused on workers in Te Puke, New Zealand. The exploration of their lived experiences is harnessed through a qualitative approach and methods that have facilitated discussion in semi-structured interviews along with personal observations and reflections. The research findings demonstrate RSE scheme stakeholders consisting of RSE employers, local community organisations and respective national governments have made concerted efforts at the initial stages of the pandemic to engage RSE participants and provide the means to sustain themselves. However, as the pandemic had continued, ni-Vanuatu workers shifted their focus towards personal responsibility to supporting themselves and helping other workers. This research shows that even in the most restrictive environments, ni-Vanuatu RSE scheme participants as individuals are conscious and capable of making decisions for themselves. Contributions of this research could be reflected in the design and implementation of the RSE scheme post-pandemic to allow participants to define their needs and promote a better understanding of their experiences.
- ItemEvaluating the accessibility and inclusiveness of community playgrounds for disabled children in Australia : a research report presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Construction in Sustainable Built Environment, School of Built Environment, Massey University, New Zealand(Massey University, 2023) Glass, CourtneyPlay is a significant contributor to the social, physical, emotional, and cognitive development of children. Play is so vital to the wellbeing of children that it is recognised by the United Nations as a fundamental right of childhood. Children with disabilities however, encounter difficulty in realising their right to play. For children with disabilities, playgrounds can perpetuate exclusion and not be places of fun. The existence of barriers to participate in play for children with disabilities is contrary to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which recognises that children with disabilities should have equal accesses to participate in play. For children with disabilities an accessible playground provides an environment where there are no physical or environmental barriers to movement, access, and participation. An inclusive playground, however, not only provides an accessible environment, but also allows children regardless of ability to participate equally in play and social experiences without barriers. Physical and social participation is the ultimate goal of an inclusive playground . . . A literature review was conducted to consider what previous evaluations or on-site auditing has been undertaken to evaluate the accessibility and inclusiveness of community playgrounds for disabled children. Upon completion of the literature review, using the New South Wales Government’s Everyone Can Play: Playspace Evaluation Checklist, the accessibility and inclusiveness of community playgrounds for disabled children was assessed at 25 community playgrounds located in the states of Victoria and New South Wales, Australia. The results were used to rank the audited community playgrounds in order of highest overall score to lowest overall score, and to provide a summary of the playgrounds accessible and inclusive features. The results demonstrate a potential relationship between the construction date of the playground and the accessibility and inclusiveness of the playground for disabled children. The older the playground is, the less likely it is to offer an accessible and inclusive environment for disabled children. Playgrounds located in New South Wales were more likely to offer an accessible and inclusive environment for disabled children compared to playgrounds located in Victoria. The findings also indicate that destination playgrounds are likely to feature more accessible and inclusive elements than neighbourhood playgrounds. When comparing the overall amenities scores of destination and neighbourhood playgrounds, destination playgrounds scored higher overall. The results indicate that there is limited correlation between accessible and inclusive playgrounds in areas of socio-economic advantage or disadvantage. Additionally, wayfinding, layout and signage was found to be a significant opportunity for improvement to the accessibility and inclusiveness of community playgrounds for disabled children.
- ItemAccessibility of the built environment for vulnerable populations : a research report presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Construction in Quantity Surveying, School of Built Environment, Massey University, New Zealand(Massey University, 2023) Li, DongdongThe United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities states that the disabled have equal rights with other members of society to access the Built Environment (BE). Lots of accessibility legislation has been enacted all over the world to protect the rights of disabilities. But, what about the actual accessibility legislation compliance? It is important to evaluate to what extent the existing buildings have complied with the mandatory legislation, and how far the BE has met the needs of disabled groups to guarantee their equal human rights. This research focuses on manual wheelchair (MWC) users and BE accessibility in New Zealand. There are about 65 million people worldwide who rely on a wheelchair in their daily lives, MWC users make up around 85% of all wheelchair users. And this number is growing. This study will significantly benefit this large amount of population. It will help people more deeply understand their expectations and boost the public to improve BE accessibility and protect MWC users’ rights on the ground . . . A systematic literature review was conducted, and a research gap was identified: there isn’t a study to assess the accessibility legislation compliance of public buildings in NZ, and how well the current BE in NZ meets the MWC users’ needs. To fill this gap, an experiment of 10 case shops in NZ was conducted by measuring their practical dimensions of accessible features and comparing them with the NZ mandatory legislation. The compliance percentages were calculated by shop, by feature, and by sub-item of features. The experiment results were then compared with the findings of the literature review . . . This research will help the public better understand the practical accessibility policies implementation, the main challenges faced by MWC users, underlying causes of poor BE accessibility, and potential ways to improve the situation; it will encourage the government and the public in NZ to remove the existing barriers, address the underlying problems and finally provide an accessible BE for MWC users and protect their equal rights in practice. Other researchers can also use the data of this research, and conduct further investigations based on the findings of this study.
- ItemPartnership, participation, and protection : reflections on collection management practices at the National Museum of the Royal New Zealand Navy : a research report presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Museum Studies at Massey University, Manawatū, New Zealand(Massey University, 2022) Ennen, Caroline PatriciaThis report examines how the National Museum of the Royal New Zealand Navy (NMRNZN, Navy Museum) can ethically and respectfully incorporate te reo Māori into collection management processes, thereby making the collection more meaningful. Taking inspiration from te Tiriti o Waitangi / The Treaty of Waitangi, and the Royal New Zealand Navy’s (RNZN) Bicultural Policy, the Collections Department can develop processes to respond to the Museum’s unique social environment. Two significant events led to this research report; the first, installation of new art storage which started conversations about how management of that department could be improved. At a similar time, the RNZN Royal Guard of Honour received their orders in te reo Māori at the 2021 Waitangi Day commemorations for the first time. This highly significant event was the inspiration behind this research report with the aim of learning how we can use the principles of partnership, participation, and protection, to make the collection meaningful to RNZN personnel (Māori, Pākehā, and tauiwi) and their whānau. This research report uses the art of official RNZN artist, Colin Wynn as an example. To highlight the shortfalls in current collection management processes, early collection management systems have been analysed. These have then been compared to current museological literature which offers recommendations for institutions wishing to build or strengthen their bicultural practices and honour the principle of partnership as set down in te Tiriti o Waitangi. The link between Navy Museum practice and RNZN practice has been illustrated through a case study that looks at the experiences of personnel involved with the Royal Guard of Honour at Waitangi, and through a process of interviews, asks them the significance of using te reo Māori during a military ceremony with strong links to Aotearoa New Zealand’s colonial past. The research revealed that the Navy Museum has a lot of work to do to build meaningful partnerships with Māori service personnel. It was shown that the Navy Museum in partnership with, and with guidance from, Māori RNZN personnel, should be collecting and storing intangible knowledge associated with each piece of art. It is the kōrero and personal reminiscences of RNZN personnel that will give meaning to the Navy Museum collection.
