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    Social indicators and geographic research : an exploratory study of spatial variations in the provision of community services and accommodation for elderly people in New Zealand : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in geography at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1974) Britton, Stephen Graham
    Social Research and Social Learning: The operation of the welfare state system in New Zealand has undoubtedly shaped the national character and influenced at least implicitly, national socio-economic values.1 "A Welfare State is a state in which organised power is deliberately used (through politics and administration) in an effort to modify the play of market forces in at least three directions - first by guaranteeing individuals and families a minimum income irrespective of the market value of their property : secondly by narrowing the extent of insecurity by enabling individuals to meet certain "social contingencies" (for example: sickness, old age and unemployment) which lead otherwise to individual and family crises: and thirdly, by ensuring that all citizens without distinction of status or class are offered the best standard available in relation to a certain agreed range of social services". (Briggs : In Jones 1973 : 65). While several writers have documented the tangible benefits this system has offered to the nation as a whole and various social groups in particular (Baker 1955, Condliffe 1959, Scott 1955 and Sutch 1971) the welfare state concept as practiced in New Zealand has never been geared to actually anticipate or cope with any socio-economic problem outside its limited frame of application. While the Welfare State system originated in the depression era and gained strength into the 1950's, social demands today are increasingly less concerned with what Dunn (1971 : 183) has termed "deficit motives". What is now more worthy of consideration is a system of social organisation and administration that meets the human development motives of an affluent and dynamic society - demands that are not usually considered in the realm of national and political decision making. The need for a shift in the socio-political responsibilities of government was officially recognised in New Zealand at the 1969 National Development Conference, (N. D. C.). The various N. D. C. bodies identified vague and general areas of social concern outside of those issues confronted by the Welfare State system as being worthy of inclusion in Government responsibility. The National Development Conference also revealed to New Zealand government administrators that virtually no action was possible to remedy undesirable states, even if government was prepared to respond, simply because so little was known about the social phenomena in question, and only inadequate information was available on the existing states of New Zealand society. Moreover, there were few documented guidelines to suggest the future trends in New Zealand society and, indeed, what direction New Zealanders might prefer their society to take. New Zealand decision-makers and researchers were lacking in the fundamental tools for planning current and future states and coping with dysfunctions in many social fields. Data deficiencies are further exacerbated by the absence of any background of social inquiry outside of the economic sphere of national and social planning.
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    Retirement villages in perspective : a study of service provision for older people in the Waitakere Region : a thesis submitted to fulfil the requirements of the degree of MAster of Philosophy in Public Policy, Massey University
    (Massey University, 2004) Adams, Virginia
    This research was prompted by over a decade of personal experience in dealing with older people in hospitals, rest homes, in Retirement Villages and in the community. The focus of the study was about people living in Retirement Villages. This research has been contextualised within the available literature by discussing some prior research regarding informal service provision in New Zealand and by referring to prior international research regarding the role that information dissemination has on service provision for older people. Service provision by the New Zealand Government and others is well documented throughout the literature. A qualitative method of research: observation, discursive interviews and a focus group discussion, was used to determine what older people know of health and other government services that are available to them. The research was conducted in three Retirement Villages in the Waitakere Region of Auckland, New Zealand. The results of the individual interviews were confirmed after a focus group discussion. Generally all the residents were very happy with life in a Retirement Village and felt empowered to express their views and requests to the manager of the Retirement Village in which they resided. A few of the respondents (all women) said that although they knew that they had the right to, they did not venture to communicate their needs to management because they had been raised in an era when women had no 'voice'. The research confirmed that there is a need for information dissemination to older people about support services that are available to assist them to live independently to facilitate optimum use of these services. The respondents who were solely dependent on financial support from the government were better informed about available services and how to access it than were the respondents who were financially independent.