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'But we're just the same humans as you' : refugees negotiating exclusions, belonging and language in Sweden and New Zealand : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Linguistics at Massey University, Manawatū, New Zealand
(Massey University, 2025-01-28) Svensson, Hanna Lena Katrin
Refugee settlement is a complex process requiring the navigation of new linguistic and social spaces and the renegotiation of belonging and identity. The process can also be complicated by the contested nature of national belonging and the politicisation of social cohesion, as well as by forms of everyday exclusion. Drawing on a Bakhtinian dialogical framework, this study used qualitative data from interviews with language teachers, settlement support workers and refugee-background residents in New Zealand and Sweden to investigate dimensions of belonging, social cohesion, and language in relation to refugee settlement. The study sought to discover how belonging and social cohesion are perceived and experienced by refugee-background residents in these contexts, how they are promoted by the two settlement nations, and how they are operationalised in political and public discourse to enforce boundaries and construct national and refugee identities. Of particular interest was the intersection of public discourse and lived experience, and the tensions and contestations that may arise in these spaces. Language learning and use were seen as crucial aspects of belonging and social cohesion and were investigated both in terms of linguistic inequalities in the settlement location and in terms of the unique language learning journeys of adult learners. The findings suggest that there are significant gaps in the understanding of refugee experiences among policy makers and that discursive representations of refugees, particularly in terms of social cohesion and belonging, often impact negatively on the settlement process. The politicisation of belonging and the appropriation of social cohesion discourses as tools for differentiation, and potentially exclusion, can have negative impacts on individuals’ rights and settlement prospects while reductive representations of refugees lead to unrealistic expectations in terms of language acquisition and labour market participation and to restrictive policies that hinder the settlement process. The thesis concludes by arguing that in order to strengthen social cohesion and belonging, it is imperative that refugees are included as dialogical partners, practically and ideologically. It identifies theoretical, methodological, and practical implications of the research and raises further questions in relation to gender, language acquisition, incentivisation and dialogical practice in the context of refugee settlement.
Silicon Welly : the rise of platform capitalism and the paradoxes of precarity in Wellington City : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Social Anthropology at Massey University Manawatū, Aotearoa New Zealand
(Massey University, 2024-09-20) Halley, Jessica
This thesis addresses a central question: why do digital workers in Wellington’s tech sector persist despite the inherent precarity of platform capitalism? Examining the career histories of members of the Enspiral Network, a community focused on social entrepreneurship, reveals the paradoxical nature of subjectivity in digital labour. The research employs ethnographic methods, including life histories and narrative analysis, to explore the intersection of software materiality, neoliberal political economy, and Silicon Valley-inspired discourses. It investigates how digital workers navigate the precariousness of platform capitalism through emotional investment in programming and strategic career adaptations. Findings highlight the distinctive influence of Wellington’s cultural, political, and economic landscape on digital labour. The city’s counter-cultural ethos and state-driven entrepreneurial initiatives foster unique collaborative practices and open-source contributions within the tech sector. These elements collectively shape a hybrid form of platform capitalism that challenges traditional capitalist models. In conclusion, this thesis contributes to the understanding of contemporary labour by emphasizing the role of place, subjectivity, and paradox in the production end of platform capitalism. It underscores the active agency of digital workers in constructing their careers and identities amidst precarious conditions, offering insights into the broader implications of digital labour in the twenty-first century.
Reconciling Paid Work and Informal Caregiving Among Older Adults: Implications for Work Interference With Family.
(Oxford University Press, 2023-10-06) Koreshi SY; Alpass F; Leggett AN
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Many older adults who combine paid work and informal caregiving responsibilities are often in work arrangements that differ from their preference. There is reason to believe that such work status incongruence may lead to work interference with family (WIF). In response, many governments have policies that support flexible work arrangements (FWA) to help individuals manage work and family commitments. This paper examines whether work status preferences contribute to WIF for older adults who combine work and care and whether the use of flexible work arrangements moderates this relationship. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The study included 610 informal caregivers (aged 55-70 years) in paid employment who participated in either the 2018 or 2020 waves of the New Zealand Health, Work and Retirement study. Using a simple moderation analysis with demographic controls, the effects of work status preferences and FWAs on WIF were estimated. RESULTS: After controlling for confounds, significant main effects were found for both work status preferences and flexible work arrangements on WIF. The moderation analysis revealed that involuntary part-timers using flexible time-off arrangements reported lower levels of WIF. However, other types of flexible work arrangements did not moderate the relationship between work status preferences and WIF. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: These findings suggest that work status preferences can contribute to WIF, but not all types of flexible work arrangements alleviate it. Policy initiatives designed to reduce WIF for those combining work and care should consider accounting for differences in the work status preferences of older workers.
Reciprocal relations between cardiovascular disease, employment, financial insecurity, and post cardiac event recovery among Māori men: a case series.
(BioMed Central Ltd, part of Springer Nature, 2023-11-12) Lisipeki S; Masters-Awatere B; Hodgetts D; Liew TV
BACKGROUND: Disparities in cardiovascular outcomes between Māori and non-Māori persist despite technological advances in the treatment of cardiovascular disease and improved service provision. Little is known about how social determinants of health, such as income [in]security affect Māori men's access, treatment, and recovery from cardiovascular disease. This paper explores the contexts within which cardiovascular disease is experienced and healthcare becomes embedded. METHODS: This study utilized a case-comparative narrative approach to document and make sense of the patient experiences of four male Māori patients who, in the previous 6 months, had come through cardiac investigation and treatment at Waikato Hospital, a large tertiary cardiac center in New Zealand. Participant accounts were elicited using a culturally patterned narrative approach to case development, informed by Kaupapa Māori Research practices. It involved three repeat 1-3-hour interviews recorded with participants (12 interviews); the first interviews took place 5-16 weeks after surgery/discharge. RESULTS: Each of the four case studies firstly details a serious cardiac event(s) before describing the varying levels of financial worry they experienced. Major financial disruptions to their lives were at the forefront of the concerns of those facing financial insecurity-as opposed to their medical problems. Financial hardship within the context of an unresponsive welfare system impacted the access to care and access to funding contributed to psychological distress for several participants. Economic security and reciprocal relationships between employers and employees facilitated positive treatment experiences and recovery. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that although multiple factors influence participant experiences and treatment outcomes, financial [in]security, and personal income is a key determinant. The heterogeneity in participant narratives suggests that although general inequities in health may exist for Māori as a population group, these inequities do not appear to be uniform. We postulate diverse mechanisms, by which financial insecurity may adversely affect outcomes from treatment and demonstrate financial security as a significant determinant in allowing patients to respond to and recover from cardiovascular disease more effectively.
Disability work matters : employment opportunities for disabled people in the New Zealand disability sector : a thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) at Massey University, Manawatū, New Zealand
(Massey University, 2023-12-30) MacNeill (née Crothall), Pamela
Although disabled citizens represent almost a quarter of the total population in Aotearoa New Zealand, they experience significant and persistent barriers to employment. This research examined the barriers and enablers to employment for disabled New Zealanders, both generally and those specifically relevant to the disability sector. The research had four aims: to examine the navigation of family, identity, and education by disabled people; to identify barriers to paid employment in both mainstream and disability sector settings; to investigate potential employment enablers; and develop recommendations. This research employed a qualitative thematic analysis approach, underpinned by the social model of disability and the theoretical concepts of Pierre Bourdieu, guiding interpretation of results. The study began with a focus group of six disabled people, to discuss possible themes for the research. Results from the focus group were then developed further to inform interviews with 13 disabled and 12 nondisabled people, on topics relating to: the navigation of family, identity, and education by disabled people; barriers to paid employment in mainstream and disability sector employment; and potential employment enablers. Key research findings include: the development of individual agency is critical to build the resilience necessary to navigate many environmental, structural, and attitudinal barriers encountered in education and employment; similar employment barriers are experienced by disabled people in all employment settings; the creation of opportunities for employers to meet with disabled people could be valuable and may lead to job offers; time-limited voluntary work, which includes pathways to paid employment, may assist to both allay employer apprehension, and enable disabled people to demonstrate capability. Research strongly suggests that the disability sector would benefit from including the lived experience of disability as a key competency for employment within a sector which exists in the name of disabled people. Ensuring disabled people achieve greater authority in their sector is an equity issue in urgent need of attention, and this study takes a step forward to address this need.
Decolonising mahi : a Kaupapa Māori theory and practice framework : a thesis presented in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health at SHORE & Whāriki Research Centre, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University, Aotearoa-New Zealand
(Massey University, 2023) Emery-Whittington, Isla Te Ara o Rehua
The thesis is a narration of a process to reclaim theoretical space where everyday acts are once again regarded as mahi and as māori. It is a philosophical decolonial examination of both Western theories and notions of occupation (activities, acts, work, deeds) and Kaupapa Māori praxis of mahi. The aim of this Kaupapa Māori study is to examine the relationship between ‘colonisation’ and ‘occupation’ and specifically, how this relationship contributes to both the reproduction of colonialism and decolonisation of everyday life for Māori peoples. This provides a basis for formalising the Māori Occupational Therapy Network’s theorising of a Kaupapa Māori theory of mahi and practice model. Kaupapa Māori methodology provided a foundation that privileged tikanga and mātauranga through the study. Wānanga as theory making, writing to understand, publishing to disrupt and building antiracist collectives were the Kaupapa Māori methods utilised. These methods supported a critical examination of the links between occupation and colonisation. Specifically, notions of ‘occupation as a series of separations’, ‘occupations as having’, and ‘occupational justice’ were examined for their utility in reproducing and maintaining colonialism. A taxonomy of human occupations in settler-colonial states captured the observations and is outlined alongside emerging Indigenous and critical occupational therapy and occupational science literature. This study used a ‘thesis with publications pathway’ to collaboratively disrupt colonial reckons about occupation and carved new spaces to share how decoloniality is generated and transforms everyday tasks of life. Guidance for antiracist, Tiriti-based praxis is designed into a Kaupapa Māori Theory of Mahi and a practice framework called Ngā Mahi a Rehua. The study was tasked with noticing, examining and explaining how the ‘colonised’ struggle is lived and transcended in the minutiae of everyday occupations. In so doing, it also highlighted the links between institutionalised dehumanisation practices within occupational therapy and occupational science, and monocultural theorising of occupation. Despite this, the study also highlighted how an Indigenous way of being, is transformative and necessary. Evidently, despite the chronic, multi-layered, and shape-shifting nature of ‘being colonised’, mahi is a potent and abundantly accessible site of decoloniality.
Understanding the use of Flexible Work Arrangements Among Older New Zealand Caregivers
(SAGE Publications, 2023-05) Koreshi SY; Alpass F
Flexibility in the workplace has been suggested to promote prolonged employment among older workers. This study focuses on the question of whether the use of flexible work arrangements (FWAs) differs between caregivers and non-caregivers and how potential differences can be explained. Participants were 296 carers and 1611 non-carers (aged 55–70 years) who completed the 2018 Health, Work and Retirement survey and were in paid employment. Hierarchical regression was used to investigate caregiving as an independent predictor of use of FWAs after controlling for demographic and work-related variables. Results show that caregivers on average used more FWAs than non-caregivers, including flexible work hours, flexible schedules and time off. Differences in FWAs use between caregivers and non-caregivers cannot be explained by differences in socio demographic and work characteristics. The use of FWAs warrants attention in discussions about prolonged employment and reconciliation of care and work among older adults.
Skilled migrant women : evolving or devolving careers : a study exploring the unfolding career experiences of skilled migrant women : a dissertation presented in the partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Human Resource Management at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand
(Massey University, 2023) Odedra, Nimeesha
This research explores how the career experiences of skilled migrant women unfolds over the first ten years in their host country, New Zealand. Most scholars have classified ‘skilled’ migrants as people on the move, possessing tertiary or professional qualifications and/or professional experience at the time they leave their home countries to seek employment elsewhere (Al Ariss & Syed, 2011). Women comprise almost half of the skilled migrants approved permanent residency in New Zealand, and they bring with them skills, qualifications and experience that are highly advantageous to organisations in today’s competitive marketplace. However, their skills are often under-utilised, and while this has repercussions for the migrant women themselves, it can cost organisations substantially in lost productivity. Although some studies have explored the career experiences of skilled migrant women, relatively little is known about the complex interplay of factors that shape their career pathways, or how skilled migrant women utilise their agency in navigating their career in the host country. To address this gap, this study provides a deeper contextual understanding of the career experiences of skilled migrant women in New Zealand by exploring their experiences through the lens of contemporary migration and career theories. This research is guided by the question: how do the career experiences of skilled migrant women unfold in their host country? There were two underlying research objectives: i) to provide more in-depth understanding and meaning to the life and career experiences of skilled migrant women, and ii) to contribute to existing migration and career theories by exploring the applicability of career and migration theories to the career experiences of skilled migrant women. This study adopts an interpretivist philosophical approach aligned with a constructionist stance which focuses on how the participant makes sense of their career, specifically on how they construct and experience their career in New Zealand (which is the host country context of this study). A career life history approach is utilised as this is appropriate for an exploratory nature of this study, allowing participants to reconstruct events subjectively and meaningfully in their social and cultural context and in their own words. By embracing a holistic classification of career, this research takes into consideration the whole life perspective of the participants’ careers. The findings of this study were informed by 40 semi-structured life narrative interviews conducted with skilled migrant women in New Zealand. Thematic narrative analysis of the data was used to shed light on how skilled migrant women’s experiences aligned with contemporary migration and contemporary career theoretical frameworks. The migration theoretical frameworks examined in the course of this study are the relational perspective (Syed, 2008), the integrated model (Tharmaseelan et al, 2010), the highly skilled migrant women's career development framework (van den Bergh & Du Plessis, 2012), the skilled migrant’s qualification-matched employment model (Shirmohammadi et al, 2018), modes of engagement (Al Ariss, 2010), and theory of motivation to integrate (Cerdin et al., 2014). The three-phase career model (O'Neil & Bilimoria, 2005) and the kaleidoscope career model (Mainiero & Sullivan, 2005) were the contemporary career theories examined. This study focuses on the evolving/devolving career experiences skilled migrant women have due to the major disruption of international career transition. In contextualising the findings of this study, three theoretical contributions to the understanding of how skilled migrant women’s careers unfold are made. The first contribution is to existing international migration literature. The second contribution this study makes is to career theories. The third, and critical, contribution this study makes is the nexus of international migration and career literature together. The careers of skilled migrant women are under-explored and under-theorised in both these literatures. In addition, by adopting an exploratory life history approach and utilising a lifeline perspective, which anchored critical events, enabling participants to reconstruct experiences subjectively and meaningfully in their own words, this study makes a key methodological contribution. This study adds to the body of knowledge on skilled migrant women, both as a group and as individuals, which may be of strategic benefit to organisations thus making a practical contribution. This study does have some limitations, and further research could mitigate some of these. First, the study was undertaken in New Zealand. A comparative study undertaken in other countries would be informative and beneficial. Secondly, a more diverse and representative sample would be favourable. Thirdly, a more diverse representation of participants in terms of the LGBT+ community and the additional challenges they may face would make this study more inclusive. Finally, potentially a quantitative study could be applied to approach a broader research scenario.
Employing nurse practitioners in general practice: an exploratory survey of the perspectives of managers
(CSIRO Publishing on behalf of The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners, 2021-09) Mustafa M; Adams S; Bareham C; Carryer J
INTRODUCTION: Establishing the nurse practitioner (NP) workforce in New Zealand is a viable solution to health and workforce challenges in primary health care. General practices have been slow to implement NP services. Managers of general practices are central to the employment and development of NP roles. AIM: To explore the perspectives of managers on employing NPs in general practice. METHODS: An electronic survey was used to collect demographic and numerical data, which were analysed descriptively and analytically using SPSS (version 26). Written answers to open-ended questions were analysed qualitatively. RESULTS: In total, 143 managers participated in the survey (response rate 39.7%); 54 (37.8%) worked in practices employing at least one NP. Of respondents, 88.9% (n = 127) agreed or strongly agreed that NPs could enhance continuity of care (89/143, 62.2%), improved access to services and medications (89/143, 62.2%) and filled a gap that added value to health care (97/143, 67.8%). Practices employing NPs had statistically significant higher levels of agreement about the advantages of NPs than practices not employing NPs. Challenges and enablers to employing NPs were themed under organisational environment, NP scope of practice and role, and NP workforce development. DISCUSSION: This exploratory study revealed that there is little knowledge about the NP workforce in surveyed general practices. Ongoing work is required to improve knowledge for employing general practices, including dissemination of information about NP education and training, scope and models of care, and ability to generate business income.
Essays on managerial foreign experience and corporate behaviours in China : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Finance at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
(Massey University, 2022) Sun, Zixiong
Managerial foreign experience is a type of resource which allows managers to think globally and act locally. This thesis contributes to the literature on how foreign experienced managers impact corporate behaviour in China, the world’s largest emerging market. The first essay examines how managers with foreign experience influence corporate risk-taking. I find that foreign experienced managers are positively associated with corporate risk-taking. This relationship only robustly exists among private firms rather than state-owned enterprises (SOEs). The excess risk-taking through foreign experienced managers is positively related to Tobin’s Q, indicating that foreign experienced managers increase firm value through value-enhancing projects, which benefits shareholders. The second essay concentrates on the relationship between managerial foreign experience and earnings quality. I find that foreign experienced managers improve corporate earnings quality, and this improvement is more pronounced in private firms. Moreover, I document that the improved earnings quality is an important mechanism for which foreign experienced managers increase stock returns and decrease agency costs. The third essay in the thesis investigates the relationship between foreign experienced managers and corporate labour investment. I find foreign experienced managers are more likely to recruit and retain high skilled employees, which in turn increases labour cost for firms in total. The positive relationship between managerial foreign experience and labour cost is significant in both SOEs and private firms. Foreign experienced managers may focus on employees’ well-being to complete political goals in SOEs while they are more likely to retain and attract high skilled employees to benefit shareholders’ value in private firms. I further document that the increased labour costs through managerial foreign experience can influence firm value positively. However, it also increases the labour stickiness cost. Overall, this thesis documents the benefits and costs of hiring foreign experienced managers in firms.

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