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    The contribution of kumala to traditional food systems in two districts of Tanna Island, and its potential for increasing food security : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Horticulture and Ethnobotany at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2024) Nasse, Amanda
    Sweetpotato (Ipomea batatas) is considered a versatile food crop owing to its robust adaptability to diverse soil conditions and environmental conditions. In Vanuatu sweetpotato is a significant food security crop that smallholder farmers cultivated within traditional cropping system. Within the national and local context, sweetpotato has played a significant role as recovery crop that supports the farmers and increasing urban population buffer against food scarcity during the aftermath of natural disasters. The research reported in this thesis examined and explored how kumala (sweetpotato) contributed to smallholder farmers livelihood and enhanced food and nutrition security. The aim of the study was to understand the significant role of kumala within the traditional food system and draws on smallholder farmers perspectives. Storian is the overarching cultural approach that underpinned the research process in this study, supported with the use of qualitative methods of collecting data these included, semi structure interviews, secondary data, and field observation. Subsequently the data collected through the interviews and storian were analysed using qualitative data analysis. The research study was carried out in Tanna Island, a society with stronghold of traditions and cultural activities that are interwoven in the livelihood of smallholder farmers influencing the farmers perception on the production of kumala. This research highlights kumala is a favoured food security and recovery crop featured as response to recovery program. Kumala has a role in the traditional food system which is enhanced by existing social and cultural ties. The study put forward a critical perspective on leveraging on short term resilient crops that emerge through strengthening and revitalize the role of kumala within the local food system can strengthen household resilience and enhance food security for smallholder farmers.
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    Sport as a vehicle for development in Vanuatu : a review of the literature and analysis of the Women's Island Cricket Project : a research project presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of International Development, Development Studies, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
    (The Author, 2014) Farrell, Julie Ann
    Approaches to development delivery have changed significantly post World War II. Current development delivery practices are often referred to as the 4th paradigm of aid delivery. A focus on the concept of empowerment through the delivery of aid has become very popular, especially in relation to women’s development (Cornwall & Brock, 2005, Batliwala, 2007). The 3rd Millennium Development Goal with an aim to empower women is a good example of the increased international focus on and support for, the development of women around the world. This popularity has also surfaced within the new and emerging Sport-for-Development paradigm. The marrying of Sport for Development and empowerment seem to be synonymous in a number of aid projects. However due to the fact that empowerment is a multi-faceted and contested term, there are issues concerning implementation and effectiveness of Sports for Development projects. Monitoring and evaluating Sport for Development projects continues to be an issue many writers lament about. As many have empowerment as an end goal, this is something that causes disquiet in the development field. With the above-mentioned in mind, this research project aimed to investigate, via a desk-based study and field observations, in what ways the Women’s Island Cricket Project in Vanuatu has contributed to women’s empowerment and identify what some of the consequences of this empowerment of participants were at the personal, family and community level. Using Kabeer’s (1999, 2005) notion that empowerment is about the ability to make choices to improve one’s life, and transform one’s life, I consider whether the women involved in the cricket project had acquired agency – the ability to transform – and whether the women have changed the way they feel about themselves and have been able to improve their own self-efficacy. My research identified that Island cricket has considerable ‘buy-in’ by the participants of the Women’s Island Cricket Project and their families. I conclude that this project has been successful, resulting in empowerment-type behavioural change for participants. Whilst paternalistic attitudes towards women exist in Vanuatu, on Ifira Island, the project has challenged and transformed some of these historical attitudes. Development Alternatives for Women of a New Era’s idea that women’s solidarity adds to empowerment (Sen & Grown, 1988) was observed by me when attending the Women’s Island Cricket Committee meeting. Whilst Vanuatu women who play cricket are the focus of this aid project, the reality is that despite sport for women not being equal with empowerment opportunities available to male sports people, well-planned and well-organised Sport for Development projects that involve local women in the planning, implementation and evaluation, are meritorious and provide considerable scope to transform participant’s lives.
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    The efficiency of the commercial banks in six Pacific Island countries : a dissertation in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor in Philosophy, Banking Studies, School of Economics and Finance, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2010) Maea, Samisoni Fotu
    This thesis explores the efficiency of the commercial banks in six Pacific Island Countries (PICs): Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu over the period 2000 to 2006 using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). The use of DEA is justified primarily due to the small number of commercial banks operating in these small countries. This is the first detailed study of the relative efficiency and performance of banking firms in this selected group of small countries. The dominant feature of this research is to investigate the primary prudential tools commonly used by banking supervisors in regulating the local banking system. In our understanding, this is the first effort to investigate the link between individual prudential tools and bank efficiency. The small number of banks in this dataset further enables a structural investigation of the relative efficiency across commercial banks nationally and across countries, employs a series of explanatory variables to explain the possible sources of efficiency variation, and provides a series of practical measures to validate resulting efficiency scores from DEA. This comprehensive structural construct is also a new development in bank efficiency studies. The key research finding is the identification of liquidity requirements as the main source of bank inefficiency. Capital requirements are not only ineffective in promoting bank efficiency but in the absence of formal liquidity requirements, they become a contributing factor for causing asset deterioration. Hence, asset quality is inversely related to bank efficiency. Scale inefficiency is unusually large compared with reported scale inefficiency in the literature and in most countries, it dominates technical inefficiency. Finally, efficiency-based ratios should continue to supplement resulting efficiency scores, at least in the current measurement and development of bank efficiency in the context of smaller developing economies.
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    Social development outcomes of participation in the New Zealand Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme for ni-Vanuatu seasonal migrant workers : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy in Development Studies at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2011) Cameron, Ed
    This thesis is focused on the New Zealand Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme which enables low-skilled seasonal migrant workers, primarily from the Pacific Islands, to work temporarily in New Zealand’s horticulture and viticulture industries. This study examines how seasonal work schemes contribute to the social development of participating workers and their families, and therefore links to previous research that tended to focus on the positive economic development outcomes for workers, their families and communities. The primary focus of this study is on the experiences of ni-Vanuatu migrant workers. Fieldwork, utilising qualitative research methods, was conducted in two field sites – vineyards of Blenheim, New Zealand, and Tanna Island, Vanuatu. Findings suggest that the scheme is delivering social and economic benefits to participating ni-Vanuatu migrants and their families. Furthermore, migrants gain skills and knowledge, particularly in relation to their management of time and money. Although not always directly transferable to Vanuatu, the skills and knowledge gained by migrants enable their success during repeat RSE contracts in New Zealand, reflecting migrants’ cultural adaptability; the ability to move and adjust successfully to the cultural settings of both Vanuatu and New Zealand. Alongside these positive development outcomes, there are power issues at play within the RSE scheme which result in the ni-Vanuatu migrants becoming dependent on pastoral care support, and involved in a submissive relationship with their RSE employers. Positively, with the increasing independence of experienced migrants, this situation is beginning to change. Nevertheless, with the success of experienced migrants comes a caution: if a group of experienced circulating migrants come to dominate participation in the RSE scheme, opportunities for first-time migrants to participate will be reduced, and inequitable development outcomes at the grassroots level in Vanuatu may result. It would seem then, that with equitable consideration of future recruitment, the RSE scheme may continue to deliver benefits to participating migrants and their families, as well as to Vanuatu and New Zealand.
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    A critical exploration of gender analysis : exploring the value and practice of gender analysis through engaging in gender analysis with communities and development staff in Vanuatu : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Master of Philosophy in Development Studies at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2007) Kangisher, Joanna
    This research critically examines development project and programme Gender Analysis (GA) frameworks, trialing them with World Vision Vanuatu (WVV) staff and project communities. A Women’s Equality and Empowerment Framework (WEEF) analysis of the WVV country programme provided a visual overview of the programme, demonstrating that the organisation has a strong concern for women’s issues and were encouraging women’s empowerment. The programme could be improved by engaging in more conscientisation around gender issues. The Harvard Analytical Framework collected rich data on men and women in the communities and helped project staff to get to know the communities better. It also questioned the effectiveness of projects in dealing with gender issues, WVV need to provide equal opportunities for women at the project management level. The Gender Analysis Matrix (GAM) clearly showed project impacts for both men and women. One of the literacy projects had greatly benefited women, but could be improved by running separate classes for the men. The GAM results are not restricted to gender issues; the tool shows potential as a general monitoring framework. Experienced facilitators are needed to get the most out of the frameworks, however anyone can greatly benefit from utilising these tools. No GA framework can replace an awareness of gender issues and the will to work towards a fairer society. GA frameworks that are designed to empower the participants can deliberately or inadvertently be used in an extractive way, while frameworks that are labelled as extractive can be used creatively to empower those who take part. GA sessions provide rich data on gender in a relatively short period of time. While they risk not collecting enough information, the systematic collection and use of some information should help move development work forward.