Massey Documents by Type

Permanent URI for this communityhttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/294

Browse

Subject: search.filters.subject.New Zealand -- Waitakere

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Inspiring and creative public places : what are the crucial ingredients when developing a successful arts precinct? a Waitakere City, New Zealand case-study : a thesis submitted for the degree of Master of Public Policy at Massey University, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2007) Mason, Nicola Michelle
    The Local Government Act 2002 directs New Zealand local authorities to promote the social, economic, environmental and cultural wellbeing of their communities. Together, these elements can produce profound results for local communities, as has been demonstrated through Waitakere City's Eco City commitments and outcomes. As a further step in this holistic journey, Waitakere City Council has committed itself to developing an arts precinct in the heart of the city. This applied thesis has identified how public policy and other factors described through qualitative research can support the development of a successful arts precinct. Internationally, what was found to be successful when developing creative public places was where a mix of sustainable cultural and creative activities and enterprises were co-located and importantly connected with the existing historical, environmental, economic and industrial character and features of the place. In light of this thesis' findings, the New Zealand addendum to this evidence would be to bring local government into the journey at an early phase of planning, and to make explicit the continuous involvement of local communities in their arts precinct's development. Keywords Sustainability, wellbeing, creative, cultural, local government, public space, policy, participation, urban form and design, Waitakere City, Corban Estate, community, connectivity.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Volunteering for a job : converting social capital into paid employment : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy in Sociology at Massey University
    (Massey University, 2005) Davidson, Christopher Mark
    The study explores the extent to which the environment of voluntary associations promotes the development of social capital. Moreover, it asks about the extent to which an individual can convert the social capital they have developed in this environment into economic capital, via the labour market. Social capital is primarily concerned with the resources embedded in social relationships, and how individuals can access and use them. Qualitative and quantitative research methods were used to enquire into the experiences of volunteers affiliated to voluntary associations based in West Auckland. The findings indicate there is no simple causal relationship between an individual's voluntary activities, and the level and value of social capital they can accrue from them. Nevertheless, the findings do suggest that the social capital that is developed through voluntary activity can influence an individual's labour market outcomes. The research reported here indicates that labour market information is not equitably distributed through society. The study suggests that social policy can help bring this information to excluded groups. Targeted government support of the voluntary sector, aimed at providing opportunities for marginalised or minority groups to develop social capital, is one important option available to government to achieve this goal.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Talking responsibility : discourses of accountability at the Waitakere Family Violence Court : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University
    (Massey University, 2008) McGray, Sarah
    To meet the six aims of the court's protocol, the operations of the court need to be effective from a variety of different vantage points: from perspectives of victims and defendants, the judiciary and court administration, and also from the perspectives of community organisations, lawyers, police and community probation. This research was undertaken as part of a wider project to assess the extent to which the court protocols are effective in achieving the court's aims from the point of view of all those who take part in translating the court's principles into everyday practice. These perspectives are all vital to the dynamic process through which the state, the judiciary and the community collaborate at Waitakere (holistic accountability). Interviews and focus groups were conducted with court professionals practicing from diverse vantage points in the WFVC process. Through a discursive analysis of interview data it was evident that offender accountability was interpreted differently among participants, and variations in interpretations co-articulated with different perspectives in understanding the philosophy of therapeutic jurisprudence, its relationship to procedural justice, and the responsibility of the court to provide legal protection for victims. This thesis is an analysis of court participants' interpretations of offender accountability and how these interpretations are produced through different theories of justice. Constructions of domestic violence and accountability are analysed to show how dominant constructions reproduce victims' responsibility for their own safety.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    The renewable energy and energy efficiency potential of Waitakere City : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Technology in Energy Management at Massey University
    (Massey University, 2005) Grooby, Lloyd D
    Electricity restrictions and blackouts have occurred in Waitakere City in the past and are likely to occur again in the future unless the city can become more self reliant by meeting, at least in part, the increasing energy requirements for what is one of the fastest growing cities in New Zealand. In this study the potentials for energy conservation, energy efficiency and renewable energy resources have been broadly quantified and assessed using desktop analysis of publicly available data for stationary final use energy systems (i.e. excluding transportation) within the geographical area of Waitakere City and adjoining waters. It was found that energy efficiency and energy conservation measures can consistently and predictably achieve overall energy savings and reduce daily and seasonal peak demand. The best renewable energy resource potential exists with solar and geothermal for heating applications and wave, offshore and inshore wind and tidal currents for electricity generation. There is very limited potential for hydro and bioenergy systems beyond what already exists. PV solar and land based wind power generation are currently only feasible for limited off-grid applications. This scoping study confirms the achievability of the vision expressed in Waitakere City Council's "Long Term Council Community Plan" (LTCCP) that by 2020 " Waitakere City will be an energy cell, not an energy sink. Air quality supports good health". A range of flagship projects have been identified to progress the achievement of this vision. Waitakere City Council can use this report as part of the development of a comprehensive energy management plan.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    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.