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Start date: 2020Subject: search.filters.subject.Cost and standard of living

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    Experiences of precarity for Māori in Aotearoa New Zealand : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2025-04-30) Martin, Ahnya
    Socioeconomic precarity and in-work poverty are associated with increased exposure to ill-health and untimely death. Presently in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ), there are many conversations in public discourse about the precariat, or people experiencing in-work poverty, and what “they” need. There are fewer conversations with households experiencing precarity to understand the insecurities they face in relation to inadequate incomes and associated insecurities in housing, food, and leisure, and how various policies designed by more affluent groups frustrate or improve their precarious situations. Successive governments have continued to act without adequate dialogue with the precariat, with less than desirable outcomes. These outcomes are particularly stark for Māori who as a result of ongoing processes and the legacies of colonisation are overrepresented within the precariat. Understanding precarity for Māori from the perspectives of those who are directly impacted is imperative if we are to ensure policy measures are successful in preventing and alleviating in-work poverty. This thesis contributes to current Indigenous efforts to theorise the contemporary and lived experiences of precarity for Māori. I have approached precarity as a cultural and economic assemblage that can be reassembled to enhance the lives of members of the precariat. Speaking to methodological pluralism, I have employed a qualitative methodology of enhanced interviewing using mapping and photo elicitation guided by Kaupapa Māori (KM) praxis to enact this culturally centred approach that is informed by tikanga (protocols/customs) Māori. Four consecutive engagements with one Cook Island Māori and nine Māori households (40 interviews in total) informed the development of various policy initiatives to address issues of precarity. Chapter 1 serves to historicise and situate the evolution of precarity within Aotearoa NZ: particularly for Māori. Chapter 2 (Publication 1) reflects on this application of KM praxis to document and respond to the everyday experiences of households living in precarity in Aotearoa NZ. I outline the relationally ethical and community-engaged methodology informed by key cultural principles which I have employed in my research design and fieldwork. The findings inform my recommendations for policy which responds to household needs. The third chapter (Publication 2) draws on assemblage theory to document the participants’ everyday experiences of precarity and how policy initiatives emerge as key elements within the everyday lives of the precariat. The fourth chapter (Publication 3) shifts the focus to householders’ engagement in leisure as they cope with and respond agentively to situations of precarity. I document how core Māori principles and processes of whanaungatanga (cultivating positive relationships) and manaakitanga (caring for self and others) are foregrounded in household engagements in contemporary leisure practices. Overall, this thesis contributes to current Indigenous theorising of precarity by providing insights into the lived experiences of the consequences of policy efforts to alleviate the multifaceted insecurities associated with household precarity. Recommendations to inform policy settings are outlined at the final discussion chapter.
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    Dietary intake, household food insecurity, and their associations with anthropometric status and sociodemographic factors amongst young New Zealand children : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Nutritional Science, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2024-04-08) Jupiterwala, Rosario Pillar Monzales
    Background: Household food insecurity is a serious public health concern that may impact young children's dietary intake. In New Zealand (NZ), there are limited studies on young children’s dietary intake. However, comprehensive dietary data is crucial to ensure that young NZ children obtain adequate energy and nutrient intakes to support their optimal growth and development. Certain sociodemographic groups are disproportionately affected by household food insecurity, which may have been reflected by the high proportion of obesity in NZ compared to other high-income countries and poor dietary consumption indicative of suboptimal nutrition. Aim: Therefore, this thesis aims to describe the energy and nutrient intakes, food group consumption, and household food security status of young NZ children, their relationship, and associated correlates such as anthropometric status, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sex, age, caregiver characteristics, and household size and structure. Methods: Two 24-hour food recalls from 289 children aged 1-3 years participating in the Young Foods NZ (YFNZ) study were analysed to obtain energy, nutrient, and food group intake data. YFNZ is an observational cross-sectional study of children living in Auckland, Wellington, and Dunedin, NZ. Household food security status was measured using the NZ food security scale, a NZ-specific and validated questionnaire. NZ Index of Deprivation was utilised as a proxy measure of socioeconomic status. Anthropometric status was measured using the Body Mass Index (BMI) z-score. Data on other sociodemographic characteristics such as ethnicity, sex, age, caregiver characteristics, household size and structure were collected through online and interviewer-assisted questionnaires. Results: Overall, most nutrient intake recommendations were met except for fibre, iron, calcium, and vitamin C, with a proportion of inadequacy at 54.0%, 15.2%, 3.8%, and 4.8% respectively. Additionally, high protein and saturated fat intakes were observed. Māori, Pacific, Asian, and children living in areas of high deprivation were more at risk of lower fibre intakes than their counterparts, whilst children living in areas of high deprivation had a higher fat intake than those living in low-deprived neighbourhoods. Grains and pasta (n=276 participants), fruits (n=266), and biscuits, crackers, cakes, and desserts (n=242) were most commonly consumed. Formulae (i.e., infant and follow-on formula mixes) and mixed dishes primarily contributed to the intake of energy and most nutrients. Children who were more likely to consume dairy products and dairy-alternative products were children with healthy weight compared to those who were overweight (p=0.036), NZ European compared to Māori, Asian and Pacific children (p=0.005), and children living in areas of low deprivation compared to those who live in highly deprived areas (p=0.014). Food insecure children were more likely to consume pies and pasties (p=0.013), potatoes, kūmara and taro (p=0.040), and beverages (i.e., all fluids except for milk and water) (p=0.011) but less likely to consume biscuits, crackers, cakes and desserts (p=0.001), vegetables (p=0.005), and nuts and seeds (p=0.004). Energy-dense and nutrient-poor foods such as sausages and processed meats; sugar, confectionery, sweet spreads; and pies and pasties were the primary contributors to Pacific children's energy intake and those living in areas of higher deprivation and food insecure households. Over a third of young children experienced food insecurity in the past year. Being overweight, Māori or Pacific, living in areas of high deprivation; having a caregiver who was younger, not in paid employment, or had low educational attainment; living with at least two other children in the household, and living in a sole parent household were associated with household food insecurity. Compared to food-secure children, moderately food-insecure children had higher fat and saturated fat intakes, consuming 3.0 (0.2, 5.8) g/day more fat, and 2.0 (0.6, 3.5) g/day more saturated fat (p<0.05). Moderately and severely food insecure children had lower fibre intake, consuming 1.6 (2.8, 0.3) g/day and 2.6 (4.0, 1.2) g/day less fibre, respectively, compared to food secure children. Severely food-insecure children had three times the prevalence of inadequate calcium intakes and over three times the prevalence of inadequate vitamin C intakes compared to food-secure children. Conclusion: Young NZ children consume a diet that is mostly adequate in terms of most nutrients with the exception of fibre, iron, calcium, and vitamin C. High intakes of nutrients of concern (i.e., saturated fat and protein) were detected and reported to be commonly sourced from low-cost, energy-dense, and nutrient-poor foods. The consumption of these foods mirrors the high prevalence of household food insecurity and obesity amongst young NZ children. Other sociodemographic factors closely related to poverty or low income were associated with food insecurity. Therefore, targeted policies and programmes are imperative, particularly for the most vulnerable groups, to ensure young children's optimal growth and development and attain more equitable health outcomes in NZ.
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    Human capital effects for productivity and income : a New Zealand perspective : a thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Economics at Massey University, School of Economics and Finance, Massey University
    (Massey University, 2023-11-28) Thomson, Jeffrey
    The overarching purpose of this dissertation is to identify factors crucial for improving the performance of the New Zealand economy and in turn, for raising standards of living. Within this overall aim, I investigate whether and/or how human capital affects the key growth driver of labour productivity, and flowing from this, worker income. The findings of my research suggest several policy measures to support existing government initiatives as well as identifying further avenues for research into the contribution of human capital to economic growth. In my first study I examine the effects of industry skill on labour productivity. I find gains in labour productivity from increases in capital intensity. Capital intensity is particularly effective for raising labour productivity in lower to medium-skilled industries, relative to lower-skilled. This result indicates possible skill-capital complementary effects. I also observe significant improvements in labour productivity from increases in total factor productivity. This result indicates the importance of technology adoption in New Zealand production. For input substitution effects, I observe a negative relationship between labour cost and capital intensity. This indicates that firms may reduce capital investment when managing labour cost increases. Additionally, low sensitivity is observed from increasing physical capital returns for capital investment. The latter two results are likely to be negative for productivity in the relatively labour-intensive New Zealand economy. In my second study I build on the established human capital measure of years of schooling, drilling down further to examine the impacts of the core cognitive skills of literacy, numeracy, and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) problem-solving on worker income. I find a positive relationship between proficiency in each of these three core skills and worker earnings. This result indicates demand in the New Zealand labour market for greater cognitive skill proficiency. A further important finding is that earnings are improved from greater use of ICT problem-solving skills in the workplace. This result indicates the importance of the continuing integration of technology into industries for lifting worker productivity and income. There are also significant earnings benefits from further adult education and training, after completion of foundation studies. For occupational effects, I observe a fall in the relative value of the skills of white-collar workers. However, this may be offset by greater use of numeracy skills, for each occupational skill level group. Further findings for the New Zealand labour market include that the peak level of earnings for New Zealand workers occurs for the 35 to 44-year age group and an expected negative gender earnings gap is observed for female workers. These findings indicate a loss of earnings potential for many workers, restricting the performance of the New Zealand labour market and economy. In my third study I evaluate similarities and differences in the impacts of the core cognitive skills on worker earnings internationally. I find a positive relationship between proficiency in numeracy skills in particular, and worker income. Increased usage of ICT problem-solving skills in the workplace is the most significant of the skill use variables for raising earnings internationally. This also indicates the earnings potential from greater development of this key infrastructure for economies. The results also show significant gains to worker earnings from investment in job-related adult education and training for countries with less developed programmes. I find that countries providing the strongest worker protection show the smallest range in earnings by occupational skill and by gender and age. In contrast, increasing numeracy skill improves earnings by occupational skill, with the greatest benefit for countries with more flexible labour markets. Similarly, increasing numeracy and ICT skill proficiency improves earnings for workers in the lower three age bands. This is found for numeracy proficiency in flexible labour markets. Rather than through regulation, earnings and living standards for individuals may instead be improved through greater cognitive skill proficiency in flexible labour markets.