Pacific Research and Policy Centre

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    Between a rock and a hard place : analysing and evaluating the Samoan Mental Health Policy for its applicability to policy development in Niue : a research report presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Masters of International Development at Massey University, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2017) Corcoran, Dale
    Mental health is a prevalent, but often ignored area of health. Mental disorders can significantly impact the mentally ill, their families, and the wider community. Access to proper care and treatment for the mentally ill can be hindered by availability, ignorance, discrimination, and stigma, and can result in human rights violations. This is especially true in developing countries where services may be inadequate or non-existent. National mental health policies can help this situation by improving and prioritising mental health services in terms of finance, legislation, advocacy, human rights, mental health training, and service delivery. In 2001 the WHO launched Project Policy to support this effort. Sixteen years later, Niue has yet to formally begin the process of developing their national policy, while their neighbour Samoa, has had a policy in place since 2006. This research project seeks to determine if and how the Samoan mental health policy should be leveraged for Niue’s future policy development. This desk-based research has been completed through a critical literature review that includes government documents, WHO publications and policy guidelines, Pacific Island Mental Health Network reports, academic literature, and mental health and rights-based organisational websites. This research is accomplished in several steps: critically analysing the WHO mental health policy guidelines that have been chosen as the framework for this report, detailing regional mental health considerations with a focus on Niue and Samoa, and evaluating and analysing the Samoan policy using the WHO framework. The findings from this allows for a discussion of strategies for Niue to best leverage Samoa’s policy. This research concludes, based on Samoa and Niue’s cultural connections, their similarities in terms of mental health challenges and capacities, as well as the positive findings from the analysis and evaluation of the Samoan policy, that the Samoan policy is an excellent choice for Niue to leverage in their future policy work. While noting areas for improvement concerning finance and human rights, the remaining contents of the Samoan policy strongly align with the requirements and depth of information required by the WHO framework. Going forward, Niue would benefit from developing their mental health policy based on the precepts of South-to-South Cooperation by collaborating and sharing knowledge with their experienced neighbour Samoa.
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    A general survey of education on Niue : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Education at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1977) Tauevihi, Niuaviu
    The primary purpose of the thesis is to survey the provisions for education which began with the London Missionary Society Schools and eventually in 1952 the Government Administration assumed responsibilities towards developing a full quota of primary education. Secondary education at Niue High School followed in 1956, with a Teachers Training Centre in 1958, both of which constituted provisions for post-primary education, supplemented by higher education made available in New Zealand and other overseas institutions. Niue's educational provisions will continue to become dependent on New Zealand in opportunities for higher education, in educational policies, for financial aid and to a less extent for the vocational courses designed to furnish Niue's manpower requirements. Part II deals with the relationships between education, manpower needs and economic development in which ideas are explored within the Niuean context. This scrutiny indicates that the education provisions are not well related to the manpower needs of Niue as a politically self-governed state. The Government Administration and in general the Niue Public Service are adequately catered for, but not so in economic development and manpower needs. Irrelevancy in education provisions resulted in social disorganisation which is a direct effect of Nuieans emigrating to New Zealand to seek employment, and to a greater extent utilise the skills that were learnt in the classroom. The key ideas in the series of education planning are examined and recommended for the future are proposed with particular respect to Agriculture, School Curriculum, and Adult Education.
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    The role of renewable energy in the achievement of sustainable livelihoods in rural South-East Asia and the South Pacific : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy in Development Studies at Massey University
    (Massey University, 2007) Cole, Peter
    Access to an affordable and reliable supply of energy is an accepted part of our day to day lives. While the increasing price of oil and environmental issues are of concern, the great majority of people in developed countries are not yet faced with the prospect of energy becoming unaffordable or unavailable. The situation in developing countries is far less comfortable where the purchase of energy can account for 25% of total household income and price increases can mean that an energy source becomes no longer affordable. Given that energy supplies underpin economic and social development, such situations can not only hold up development and the consequential move out of poverty but actually move people further away from this goal. This thesis examines the role of energy in people's livelihoods in two locations, one in South East Asia and the other in the South Pacific. The first of these comprises six farming villages in the Kerinci Valley in Sumatra while the second is Niue Island. Both these communities rely heavily on energy supplies but in very different ways, this being a function of the different economic situation that applies in each location. Both communities have renewable energy resources which are yet to be used or yet to be used effectively or sustainably. The sustainable livelihoods approach is used to analyse existing livelihoods with particular reference to the role of energy. The available renewable energy resources are identified and the impact that increased use of these could have in terms of livelihood outcomes is determined. The conclusion is that renewable energy has the potential to contribute to the achievement of sustainable livelihoods. However, while the outcomes are positive, renewable energy will not by itself achieve the transformation necessary for sustainable livelihoods. There are also barriers to the implementation of renewable energy programmes, not the least being access to funding.
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    The role of energy supply in the shaping of development prospects in small and isolated Pacific Island communities -- past, present and future : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Development Studies at Massey University, Manawatu Campus, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2015) Cole, Peter Sherwin
    The thesis examines the way that energy supply has influenced directly or indirectly the transformation of society in Niue and Tuvalu from the time before the arrival of palagi (Europeans) to the present day. Of particular interest is the vulnerability that this reliance creates in terms of the risk to people’s wellbeing. Most of New Zealand’s South Pacific neighbours have to import energy in the form of oil products. In the case of Niue and Tuvalu, over 90% of their energy is imported, largely paid for through aid from overseas donors. Like New Zealand, people in both countries rely on energy to maintain their livelihoods and lifestyles. There is near 100% electrification and vehicle ownership is high and government and commercial enterprises that provide services and employment rely on continuous and affordable energy, the supply of which is highly vulnerable to economic and political pressures beyond their control, a situation not expected to improve. The thesis addresses four questions: how and why this situation has come about, would these two communities be able to adapt to a much reduced or changed energy supply, what steps are being taken to reduce this dependency before a crisis occurs and whether these steps are likely to be effective. The research used the sustainable livelihoods approach to develop an integrated research methodology including field methods and a novel, systematic form of analysis. Field research methods involved interviews, conversations and observation. The results of the research are set out in narrative form that reviews changes to livelihoods in Niue and Tuvalu over time from the arrival of palagi to the present day. The narrative is followed by an original sustainable livelihoods analysis, the output of which is a series of livelihood profiles including livelihoods asset pentagons that illustrate changes in livelihood assets. A parallel series of “livelihood energy pentagons” were developed to demonstrate the influence of energy on livelihoods. The same method of analysis is used to analyse an “energy-deprived” future scenario, postulated in order to illustrate the impact on livelihoods in Niue and Tuvalu should the supply of oil-based fuels become severely constrained. The narrative and the analyses show that the role of energy has changed from having an essential role although limited in form, in supporting people’s traditional livelihoods to one that enables the full spectrum of services on which contemporary livelihoods rely in Niue and Tuvalu. The analysis of the energy-deprived scenarios underlines this reliance by demonstrating the serious and negative impact on contemporary society should imported fuel supplies be seriously disrupted. Current plans by the two governments to reduce reliance and imported fuel supplies are reviewed and this thesis concludes that while proposed measures go some way to mitigating the impact of a fuel supply disruption, the consequences of such a disruption will still be severe. A recommendation is made that both governments prepare strategic action plans that specifically address fuel supply disruption by emphasising a focus on endogenous rather than exogenous energy sources.