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How indigenous systems and emergent leadership in the tourism sector in Vanuatu contribute to resilience in the face of shocks : a research report presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Masters of International Development at Massey University Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa, New Zealand
(Massey University, 2024-03-10) Gadsby, Wade
The Covid-19 pandemic severely challenged the tourism-dependent economies of Small Island States. Vanuatu’s international borders were closed for two years and, with tourism income making up almost half of the country's GDP, the people of Vanuatu had to adapt to survive. Historically, Pacific Island nations have adapted and worked well through crisis events, and this study examines how Pacific people have utilised Indigenous resilience systems to respond to recent shocks. In particular, it examines how ‘emergent leadership’, defined in the literature as managing uncertainty and mitigating crisis factors (Hunt, 2019), can help to achieve resilience in the face of crises. The research sought to define key components of both emergent leadership and resilience in the tourism sphere in Vanuatu, and it highlighted the role that emergent leadership plays within the Tourism Resilience Framework – a novel approach to operationalising an Indigenous values set in the tourism sphere. This research found that there were certain key factors that contributed to resilience in Pacific contexts, specifically: traditional knowledge (kastom nolej); the informal economy (kastom ekonomi); and Plan B (vanua). These factors have been central to past adaptation in the face of crises and could inform future responses to shocks and stressors. It also found that emergent leadership materialises in a crisis, showcasing the traits of a comprehensive understanding of the situation, adaptability, passion, and also through the use of storytelling as a means to convey change – particularly in the instances of slow-burn crises. The interaction of emergent leadership's traits and key factors of resilience are portrayed through a pawpaw tree metaphor, illustrating how they inform the necessary elements of effective adaptation in the face of shocks and stressors
Building community resilience in mine impacted communities : a study on delivery of health services in Papua New Guinea : a thesis presented in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Development Studies at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
(Massey University, 2016) Kuir-Ayius, Dora Dau
The purpose of this study was to explore the building of Community Resilience in mine-impacted communities in Papua New Guinea (PNG). The study aimed to establish the general relationship between community resilience, community capitals and the delivery of health services. It investigated the delivery of health services in three mining communities in PNG to see how these services contribute to or detract from the building of resilience. The study investigated relevant models of community resilience from the literature, and how the way policy functions in PNG can be related to these models. The study also developed a way of quantifying the impact of mining on health service delivery (through the use of community capitals) and the building of resilience in these communities. Furthermore, the thesis develops an indigenous, Melanesian-centric ‘Bilum Framework’ approach to resilience to create greater understanding of how resilience in the mining communities can be strengthened through improved access to health services. Three mining communities were selected as case studies, each representing a different stage of mining: (i) the beginning; (ii) the operational; and, (iii) post-mine closure. A mixed method approach comprising both quantitative and qualitative methods was used to collect data for this study. A survey questionnaire was designed to collect views of community members who accessed health services in their respective communities. Results from the survey questionnaire were converted to proxy indicators and led to the development of a Community Resilience Index (CRI) to provide a measure of resilience in each community. The qualitative research methods included document analysis, semi-structured interviews, and purposive observations. Document analysis was important in reviewing relevant policy documents and other literature to link theories to the experiences of the people while the latter methods contributed to describing people’s encounters in accessing health services. Analysis showed inconsistencies in the levels of resilience in these communities that varied with the stages of mining: both the beginning and post- mine closure stages demonstrated significantly lower levels of community resilience than the operational phase. Findings from the research indicated a lack of access to health services – a key influence in building resilience – is the result a range of factors including insufficient finances, weak sector governance, and the need for infrastructure and transport. The Bilum Framework is proposed as an approach that allows decision-makers to target assistance to strengthen and support specific community capitals and hence more effectively build community resilience in the mining communities in PNG.
Surviving and Thriving: An Introduction to Childhood and Youth Post-Disaster Recovery in the Context of the Canterbury Earthquakes of 2010-2012
(School of Psychology, Massey University, 2012) Mooney, Maureen F; Johal, Sarb; Paton, Douglas; Tarrant, Ruth; Johnston, David
Potentially traumatic experiences, such as disasters, represent particularly complex experiences. While generally agreed that adversity has definite effects at a population level, the nature of these effects is open to debate. Past research has tended to focus on vulnerability and trauma. However, recent research suggests that experiencing adversity can sometimes be resolved in terms of enhanced well-being, and capacities to adapt. The specific focus of this paper is on children and youth, as there has been minimal research on how models of adaptation and accommodation in adults may apply to young people. The study seeks to further understanding of factors and processes that promote positive coping, adaptation, and wellbeing. It will examine adaptation using a study of experience over the course of a recovery process. A repeated measures approach will examine recovery processes, including resilience and post-traumatic growth. It is hoped that results will inform future preparation for adversity, and increase support to children and youth recovering from challenging life experiences, including disasters.

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