Research Reports

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/924

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End date: 2019Subject: search.filters.subject.New Zealand

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    Para Kore : an alternative voice for a zero waste world : a research project presented to Massey University in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of International Development, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Institute of Development Studies, Massey University, Manawatu, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2019) Banfield, Jane
    Issues of solid waste pollution are viewed as a serious threat to the global Sustainable Development Goals. Waste minimisation in New Zealand centres around a loose government policy framework underpinned by a neoliberal belief in market-driven solutions from the business sector. The traditional ‘waste hierarchy’ model (Reduce-Reuse-Recycle-Recover) remains at the core of legislation, while the more recently developed ‘Circular Economy’ model is increasingly viewed by both state and business sector as offering new hope. However, strategies for waste minimisation in New Zealand are still failing to reduce waste, as exemplified by the annual growth in waste-to-landfill rates. Given the failures mentioned above, this research looked to investigate the merits of an alternative indigenous approach to waste minimisation based upon a different epistemology. Framed by a hope-filled post-development outlook, an in-depth critique of current literature regarding mainstream waste minimisation strategies was undertaken alongside a qualitative case study with Para Kore Marae Inc., a Māori not-for-profit organisation active in 12 regions of New Zealand. The study revealed there are contradictions within mainstream waste minimisation strategies. Resolution of waste issues is constrained by political adherence to neoliberal economic theory which promotes continuous growth in production and consumption. A dominant metanarrative around waste has developed allowing the collective impact of factors incompatible with waste eradication to remain unacknowledged and unaddressed by state actors. The Para Kore model contrasts significantly with technocentric state-led approaches. Para Kore Marae Inc. views solid waste issues through the spiritual lens of kaitiakitanga, the relationship and consequent responsibility of each person to the natural world. For participants adopting a Para Kore approach, intrinsic motivation developed to align waste reduction behaviours with personal values and cultural principles. In addition to reducing waste-to-landfill, the Para Kore approach resulted in holistic improvements to individual and community wellbeing. Cost and time constraints to waste reduction were not found to be an issue. The most significant challenge to the model was ‘burnout’ experienced by the ‘champion’ facilitators. The Para Kore approach is identified as reflecting the emergent post-neoliberal political framework, the ‘Politics of Belonging’. It is concluded that Para Kore’s approach has significant value not only in engendering waste reduction behaviours within organisations and households but also in reinvigorating individual and community wellbeing.
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    At war on Twitter? : the impact of gendered harassment across digital platforms on high-profile women in broadcast journalism : a 60-credit Journalism project presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Journalism at Massey University, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2017) Graham-McLay, Charlotte
    This research project explores the impact of gendered harassment across digital platforms on high-profile women in broadcast journalism. The journalistic feature article collated stories of gendered harassment that women journalists had experienced online, most of which they had not spoken publicly about before. The interviews conducted for this feature found a lack of policy in newsrooms to address gendered harassment, and no strong awareness or understanding of the issue in other places journalists might expect to be able to seek redress, such as ACC, counselling services, or their union. Scholarly research into the effects of repeated exposure to trauma on journalists is a fledgling field, and journalists’ exposure to trauma in digital spaces is even less examined or understood. This leaves a broad scope for further research. This project found, through a content analysis, evidence that women broadcasters were subject to more gendered feedback than men. While women broadcasters interviewed said they could weather abuse, most acknowledged that gendered harassment took some form of toll, and that they had been forced to develop mechanisms to cope with it. In keeping with global trends, this project found most New Zealand newsrooms surveyed are not proactively addressing the problem.
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    Fruits of the Fig-Tree. A Counsellor’s Role in Assisting Gifted and Talented Adolescents to Address Their Multipotentiality : research project completed in partial fulfilment of the Master of Counselling degree
    (Massey University, 2013) Hurst, Nicola
    Multipotentiality in gifted and talented adolescents refers to the idea that these individuals have numerous and diverse abilities and interests that can have an impact on career choice. To help these children achieve their potential a broad understanding of the issue of multipotentiality is crucial, as is emotional support and advocacy from counsellors – with school guidance counsellors ideally placed to assist. This article provides information and ideas from academic literature and research to facilitate understanding of the broader concepts and introduce suggested interventions for use with multipotentialed gifted and talented individuals. The principal findings from the review of literature suggest differentiation of counselling, a holistic, values-based and lifespan approach to career planning, mentoring, experiential learning and early intervention, coupled with long-term planning and broad academic study are useful. It has also become clear that much more research is required, particularly from the New Zealand viewpoint.
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    Sex work advocacy in Aotearoa New Zealand: Advocates’ perspectives on effecting positive change: A research report presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Applied Social Work at Massey University, Manawatu, Aotearoa New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2015) Sheehan, Kim
    Aotearoa New Zealand is in a unique position, being the only country to implement a model of full decriminalisation of sex work. This research explores the perspectives of sex work advocates on how they perceive their roles and the part they play in reducing the stigma associated with the sex industry. Given that Aotearoa New Zealand decriminalised sex work over a decade ago, the impact this legislation has had on the role of sex work advocacy was of particular interest. Strong radical feminist ideologies and moral judgement have succeeded in influencing international sex work legislation, including that of Sweden and Canada. However, this has not been the case for Aotearoa New Zealand. More robust research is needed to fully understand the effects these different legislative models have on the health and wellbeing of sex workers. This research project draws on a qualitative methodology and semi-structured interviews were conducted with three female sex work advocates, all of whom had lived experiences as sex workers prior to the law change, and have had significant involvement in sex work advocacy efforts, with upwards of seventeen years of advocacy experience each. The results of the study are largely consistent with the reviewed literature regarding the amount of time and effort involved in advocacy, as well as the importance of building relationships and alliances with key decision makers in order to facilitate positive change for sex workers. The results have also highlighted the positive effect decriminalisation has had on the lives and wellbeing of sex workers, and not the feared negative outcomes that oppositional groups had suggested. It was also noted that legislation alone is not enough to combat the stigma associated with the sex industry, but it does go a long way in protecting the basic rights of sex workers. So while legislative success has been achieved due to advocacy efforts, more effort is still required to counteract the existing and deeply entrenched myths surrounding sex work. With the literature detailing the Aotearoa New Zealand experience still being limited, this research contributes to the growing body of literature that advocates for the decriminalisation of sex work, with the hope of continuing to effect positive change for sex workers across the globe.
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    Learning English for a life of choice in New Zealand : a case study of Afghan women refugees' bilingual class experiences in Palmerston North : a research project presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of International Development Development Studies, Massey University, Manawatu, New Zealand
    (The Author, 2015) Hermawan, Erika Soraya
    This thesis looks at the experiences of a group of women refugees learning English as part of their resettlement in New Zealand. The women’s husbands were working as interpreters for the New Zealand Police in Bamiyan, Afghanistan. To ensure their safety after the New Zealand Police were withdrawn, these Afghan families were invited to resettle in Palmerston North, New Zealand. To attain in-depth results, this research report focuses on the women’s efforts to integrate within the social life of New Zealand and their experiences in acquiring English as a tool to their successful resettlement program. A small study was conducted in the context of an English Language Partners’ (ELP) Bilingual English for Speakers of Other Language (ESOL)-Literacy class for refugees. Participants for this research were five Afghan women, two ELP’s ESOL teachers, and one of the women’s husbands. The methods used were semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, classroom observation, and curriculum analysis. This report is framed within adult pre-literacy education and investigates whether women refugees become empowered through taking literacy classes. Findings show that there are links between language acquisition within the refugees’ resettlement process and personal empowerment. Afghan women’s acquisition of English language skills has brought more personal control over their mobility and has changed relationships with their husbands to some extent since moving to New Zealand. Furthermore, the woman’s learning experiences have brought them to a level where they can move on from ELP to a higher English level class.
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    Corporate governance in the New Zealand public health sector: a 152.785 research report presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Management (Management) at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand
    (2010-07-07T00:19:08Z) Whitfield, Kyle
    This research report considers corporate governance within the public health sector, an area which has undergone significant changes in terms of structures, focus, and demand for service and funding. As there has been little research conducted in this specific area, the report?s major findings are based on a critical examination of the literature on governance in private and public sectors along with an analysis of the changes that have occurred in the New Zealand Health sector over time. A review of the governance literature provides evidence that good corporate governance, if it is initiated and maintained properly, has benefits that can be organisation wide. The literature review provides evidence that effective governance can enhance the outcomes in the New Zealand health organisations that are part of a sector that has undergone four major restructures since 1989. It appears that these restructures have largely been driven by post-election political ideology and in most cases the changes have had little success in improving corporate governance within this sector. This research report concludes that some small, but significant, changes are necessary if the effectiveness of District Health Boards is to be improved. This report suggests three key changes. The first is to improve the structure by introducing new governance positions within District Health Boards. This position is based at the executive level and offers impartial advice to the board on all corporate governance issues. The second suggestion is that boards need to increase their diversity in order to improve performance, especially in geographical areas which have a large proportion of Pacific and Asian communities. The final recommendation is that board members are offered individual remuneration linked directly to their attendance and performance. These three changes, in turn, will help District Health Boards to become more effective in the way they operate.