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- 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.
- ItemFrom lodgement to cover: a qualitative inquiry into the steps and factors that lead to cover decision for a leptospirosis claim in New Zealand : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master in Veterinary Studies, Massey University, New Zealand(Massey University, 2019) Uy, Abbie Stephanie S.Leptospirosis is an occupational hazard for people working with animals, and while occupationally-acquired leptospirosis is a compensable condition, the mechanics of the compensation process are not well understood by patients. In addition, much of the crucial decisions affecting the claim outcome are made by treatment providers and insurance claim assessors largely outside of the patient’s purview. This lack of understanding adds to the disease burden experienced by patients. This study was therefore designed to improve the understanding of the compensation process for leptospirosis, by first establishing what are the bases of a claim, and second, investigating how treatment providers and insurance claim assessors evaluate a case or claim. A qualitative approach was utilised in this study. Government reports and publications were analysed in order to determine the formal procedure and requirements of the process, while interviews with treatment providers and insurance claim assessors revealed how the actual process plays out in real life. The results showed that a claim is assessed against two main requirements: having a confirmed diagnosis and having an appropriate exposure. A claim must have sufficient information to support both of these requirements. The criteria for the exposure are set in legislation, but the diagnostic criteria may vary depending on which case definition is used. The results from the study showed that the assessment may be affected by factors like physician experience, laboratory test preference, and patient and employer compliance.
- ItemE Hāpai Ana i ā Mātou Uara mā roto i Te Mana Whakahaere Raraunga hei Whakapūmau i te Mana Motuhake = Utilising our values through Te Mana Whakahaere Raraunga to enact Māori data sovereignty : a research report presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Health Science (Māori Health) at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand(Massey University, 2022) Te Whata, Felicity JayneWhānau Ora has evolved from a policy position to a practice that provides pathways for whānau to achieve their own moemoeā. Across multiple projects and programmes Te Tihi o Ruahine Whānau Ora Alliance (Te Tihi) capture large amounts of whānau data. As kaitiaki within our data environment, it is crucial that we ensure the understanding of Māori data sovereignty, actualise it into usable tools, maintain a strength-based approach to data analysis, and implement robust security protocols. Additionally, maintaining the rights of whānau (those whom the data is about) regarding use, access, and dissemination is essential to Māori data sovereignty. This research project seeks to understand Māori data sovereignty through the experience of a Whānau Ora provider by exploring the development of our data governance and management framework, Te Mana Whakahaere Raraunga, and its impact within Te Tihi as well as the wider mahi we engage with. Interviews from key informants who hold expertise in the unique knowledge of Te Tihi and/or Māori data sovereignty were thematically analysed with a deductive approach based on our organisation’s values. The key findings of this research will be illustrated by examples of Māori data sovereignty such as within Kāinga Whānau Ora and Āta - our (data and communications) COVID-19 response, demonstrating how Te Mana Whakahaere Raraunga assists Te Tihi in upholding our organisational values that support our hapori and whānau.
- ItemWhat health and safety and wellbeing issues currently confront professionals working in the building industry that undertake roles in certifying projects : a research report presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Construction in Construction Law, School of Built Environment, Massey University, New Zealand(Massey University, 2022) Chen, Zhimei CaraThis research project aims to investigate what are the health and safety and wellbeing issues currently confronting Building Professionals, and what support they received from their organisation. The World Health Organisation defines that health and safety covered three areas: physical health, mental health, and social wellbeing. Occupation health and safety issues are caused by work activities and the working environment (Gardiner et al., 2022). Also, workplace wellbeing is relative to an organisation policy and work environment (WellBQ | NIOSH | CDC, 2022). Building Professionals in this research are defined as “professionals certifying building work under the Building Act 2004, such as a building consent officer, building inspector, code compliance certificate officer etc.” Building Professionals play an important role in the building industry, as they get involved in every stage of a building project. However, in New Zealand, a Building Professional’s health and safety and wellbeing are barely considered. Under the Building Act 2004, Building Professionals certifying a building project, must decide within a defined tight timeframe, and their reasons must be recorded. Also, Building Professionals must have competence which needs to be annually assessed. This review and often training must be recorded. Any work that Building Professionals do as defined under the Building Act might be reviewed by an external auditor or reviewed as part of a dispute. Most Building Professionals work in office-based roles, and usually in the public sector such as local Council. A Geek study by Nasios (2021) showed that public sector worker’s occupational health issues come from work-related stress and musculoskeletal disorders. As most Building Professionals work in the office, resulting in long sitting times, called sedentary behaviour. Sedentary behaviour can directly cause musculoskeletal discomfort, also it can cause mental health issues and increase the risk of some chronic disease (Ma et al., 2017; Leitzmann et al., 2018; Kett & Sichting, 2020). Occupational stress can also be caused by varied hours of work, workload and wages, resulting in physical and mental health and wellbeing issues (George et al., 2021; Qiu et al., 2022). There are some international studies that have showed that adequate ethical policies for the workplace can reduce a worker’s sedentary behaviour and occupational stress. Leadership, communication methods, and social responsibility are all contribute (Maphong et al., 2022; Schwepker Jr et al., 2021; Wang et al., 2020; Maartje et al., 2020). In New Zealand, legislation and government agencies have limited information about Building Professionals health and safety and wellbeing issues. This gap was confirmed in the literature review. The research methodology was to adopt a survey questionnaire. The design of these questions were based on the literature review, and focused on finding what health and safety and wellbeing issues Building Professionals are currently facing at work. There are 3 parts in the survey: Part 1, personal characteristics, to identify if age, gender, or role can affect their occupational health. Next, part 2, health and safety and wellbeing questions, to identify if total working and leisure hours affect professional’s physical and / or mental health. Finally, part 3, open-ended questions, to identify what wellbeing support professional received from organisation, and to collect the recommendations from Building Professionals about how to improve their health and safety and wellbeing. This survey was collected in Christchurch City Council Building Consent Unit. This research has completed a peer review, and Massey University Human Ethics Committee has identified this research as low risk. 63 Building Professionals participated in this research, and all valid surveys were collected by face-to-face interviews. 57% of the participants were in technical roles; most were aged were between 31-60 years old; male participants were slightly more than female participants in number. The survey showed that Building Professionals in a management role had more working and leisure hours. 48% of Building Professionals had physical health issues, and 75% had mental health issues. Also, Building Professionals in supporting and technical roles had higher mental issues than those in management roles. Female Building Professionals had higher mental issues than male ones. Almost half of those surveyed experienced muscular tension. About 30% suffered one or more of the following symptoms from work: headaches, anxiety, sleeping difficulty, work and / or private life distraction. 100% of the management roles surveyed agreed that they received adequate support from their employer, while 58% non-management roles agreed. Some Building Professionals indicated that their employer provided a supporting work environment, also they received flexible work agreements and employee assistance. More than half of those surveyed suggested that to improve their organisation’s policy, also they suggested that pay increases and office furniture updates would have the potential to improve their occupational health. This research found that over 80% of Building Professionals have mental and / or physical health issues at work, especially mental health ones. This research found that the organisation provided some support for the employee to improve their occupational mental and physical health wellbeing, such as flexible work agreements and employee assistance. However, there is a significant gap about the satisfaction rate between management and non-management roles, about the support they received, which indicated that there is lack of communication between managers and team players. This research also found that lower income roles have lesser leisure time and higher mental health issues, which is match with the literature review. To improve the Building Professional’s occupational health and safety and wellbeing, the employer should enhance their organisation policy, that should include key things like fair pay and improve communication methods. The government could also review and enhance the current Health and Safety at Work Act, by providing some standards or framework around improving a sustainable and acceptable health and safety and wellbeing work environment.
- ItemWairua and the relationship it has with learning te reo Māori within Te Ataarangi : a report presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Educational Administration at Massey University(Massey University, 2005) Browne, Marcia HThis “compressed ethnographic study” (LeCompte & Schensul 1999:59,88) investigates wairua as an aspect of second language acquisition within the organisation of Te Ataarangi, and suggests that wairua is an important phenomenon within the discipline of second language teaching and learning. As this particular area of enquiry has not been a subject of research, the literature review was essentially interdisciplinary. A literature search that incorporated Ethno-linguistics, Linguistics, Psycholinguistics, Philosophy, Psychology, Physics and Indigenous epistemologies provided the support for clear understandings that are being discussed in this thesis. An analysis of ‘organic intellectual’ experiences and flax-root theory regarding wairua and its relationship with learning te reo Māori was interpreted through Māori and Language Acquisition epistemologies based upon implicit learning, and then tied back to other disciplines when the literature was scarce. Wairua a spiritual phenomenon, as described by participants in this study enters the learning environment through a variety of means, which can then be utilised within the teaching and learning process. It is posited that this is essentially through a physical gateway as paralinguistic phenomena, such that sound vibration derived from positive thought intent with related kinaesthetic body responses act as vehicles to transport wairua. Thus wairua becomes an affective input for the implicit unconscious of students. Common links, patterns and themes within participant interview material triangulated with observations, written teaching resources and documents were arrived at with the aid of NVivo, a computer program designed specifically to “give access to data” that “can be examined and analysed” (Gibbs 2002:11) in order to build theoretical understandings. Teaching principles and practices identified by participants as the essential keys in accessing wairua to enhance the learning of te reo Māori are documented. This study opens the field for further investigation which potentially strengthens the work being done to “further current goals for Māori wellbeing” (Durie1995:8) within the cultural framework of a Māori world view.
- ItemPassive users vs. active users : a qualitative investigation of brand page attachment on Facebook : a research report presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Business Studies in Marketing, School of Communication, Journalism and Marketing, Massey University, New Zealand(Massey University, 2022) Goldschagg, CaressaBrand attachment is the emotional connection consumers have with a brand and is essential in building lasting brand relations. Of equal importance is the construct of brand page attachment; however, it is a relatively new concept with few available studies in the literature. Using the case of Pams' brand page, a home brand of the supermarket chain New World, this study aimed to identify factors that influence passive brand page users to not engage with the brand page. Semi-structured interviews with six users, three passive and three active, were conducted. The interviews explored brand perception, brand page interaction, and brand page attachment. Thematic analysis indicated a direct link between past negative online experiences and the lack of user participation. Brands need to engage with passive brand page users, practically address their concerns, and so increase their brand page interaction to solidify their brand page attachment; this will lead to stronger brand attachment and a more committed consumer.
- ItemDigital vs paper-based checklists in high performance single pilot aircraft : a mixed methods investigation : a 190.895 (60 credit) research report presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Aviation at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand(Massey University, 2022) Barron, PeterThe aircraft checklist has been described as the most critical man-machine interface in aviation. Checklists can significantly enhance flight safety when designed well and used properly. The ‘look’ and content of a checklist affects how well pilots interact with it. Emergency checklists in particular, are only accessed during emergency situations, a time of heightened stress and cognitive degradation for the pilot. It is crucial therefore, that emergency checklists are developed with precision and skill to facilitate ease of use during times of stress. A poorly designed checklist can hinder rectification of an emergency situation and can adversely affect flight safety. The aim of this study was to determine whether flying performance is improved, and pilot workload is lower, when using a digital checklist application created specifically for the T-6C Texan II compared with the existing paper-based Quick Reference Handbook (QRH). For this study, twenty pilots from the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) underwent two emergency scenarios in a flight simulator using either the QRH or the digital checklist application. The independent variable was checklist type (paper or digital). Dependent variables were: i) time to find the checklist; ii) time to complete the checklist; iii) flight path accuracy; and iv) workload. Additionally, a qualitative investigation into error occurrences during checklist execution was undertaken. The results suggested that workload is lower when using the digital checklist application compared to the QRH, but there were mixed results regarding the improvement in flying performance with the digital checklist application. The time to find the checklist was quicker with the digital application, but checklist completion times and flight path accuracy were similar across both checklist types. The qualitative investigation noted that the digital checklist reduced errors and was easier to manipulate. The collection of qualitative data enabled the generation of a hypothesis that frequency and type of error occurrences are affected by checklist type. Despite the interface improvements of the digital checklist over the QRH, this research suggests that an enhanced checklist interface is secondary to checklist location or checklist content, and that the greatest gains in safety will likely be achieved by addressing these two factors over checklist interface. This research provides support for an iPad mount in front of the pilot in the T-6C. Additionally, this research provides further evidence that the T-6C checklist content is poorly written and can negatively impact flight safety and may assist in arguing for a content re-write. From a wider perspective, most RNZAF pilots fly with a kneeboard and this research may be relevant for other aircraft types operated by the RNZAF, noting also that other aircraft types are flown by two pilots which may negate some of the findings in this research. Further research should standardise the placement of the checklist to fully determine the relationship between flying performance and checklist type. Additionally, future research could also make use of eye tracking equipment to measure attention switching and could investigate the hypothesis generated from the qualitative data.
