title: Locked into legitimacy: a study of the place of values in politics & society

authors: Bedggood, David

abstract: The object of this thesis is the analysis of the nature, extent and origins of political beliefs and their particular role in legitimising state authority in New Zealand. In the first part two general approaches to the problem of legitimacy are considered. The first, associated with Western ‘social science’, assumes that democracy is representative of all interest groups, and is characterised by shared norms and procedures termed the ‘civic culture’. The author examines the evidence and shows that there are no valid empirical grounds in support of this assumption. The second approach, associated with Marxism, makes the reverse assumption, that the working-class in liberal democracies continues to be exploited, and that allegiance to the state in the working-class is less the consequence of ‘free choice’ than of system constraint.

In the second part the author attempts to develop a model of the causal influences which shaped the political beliefs of the working-class in New Zealand history. An assessment of the historical and contemporary evidence shows that the ‘loyalty’ of the majority of the working-class to the state was as much the product of physical, legal and symbolic constraints, as that of social mobility, rising, living standards, and welfare provisions. The author concludes that the forces which shape political consciousness in New Zealand society have been centralised and consolidated by the state as a hegemonic culture pre-empting freedom of political choice.

text: Locked into legitimacy: a study of the place of values in politics & society The object of this thesis is the analysis of the nature, extent and origins of political beliefs and their particular role in legitimising state authority in New Zealand. In the first part two general approaches to the problem of legitimacy are considered. The first, associated with Western ‘social science’, assumes that democracy is representative of all interest groups, and is characterised by shared norms and procedures termed the ‘civic culture’. The author examines the evidence and shows that there are no valid empirical grounds in support of this assumption. The second approach, associated with Marxism, makes the reverse assumption, that the working-class in liberal democracies continues to be exploited, and that allegiance to the state in the working-class is less the consequence of ‘free choice’ than of system constraint.

In the second part the author attempts to develop a model of the causal influences which shaped the political beliefs of the working-class in New Zealand history. An assessment of the historical and contemporary evidence shows that the ‘loyalty’ of the majority of the working-class to the state was as much the product of physical, legal and symbolic constraints, as that of social mobility, rising, living standards, and welfare provisions. The author concludes that the forces which shape political consciousness in New Zealand society have been centralised and consolidated by the state as a hegemonic culture pre-empting freedom of political choice.

year: 1974

title: Boat electrofishing survey of Te Weta Bay, Lake Rotoiti

authors: Hicks, Brendan J.

subjects: New Zealand

abstract: We used New Zealand’s first successful electrofishing boat to survey fish in Lake Rotoiti, North Island, New Zealand, principally in Te Weta Bay. The primary objective of the fishing was to see if undesirable fish species such as koi carp (Cyprinus carpio haemaotopterus; Zhou et al. 2003), brown bullhead catfish (Ameiurus nebulosus), and rudd (Scardinius erythophthalmus) have become established. Circular excavations were seen in the lake by a NIWA SCUBA diver in late 2003, and these were similar to nest excavations associated with catfish in other locations.
The native fish common smelt (Retropinna retropinna) and bullies (Gobiomorphus sp) were caught, with a few goldfish(Carassius auratus). Poor water visibility made observations difficult in some parts of the lake, especially on the southern shore and in the outer part of Te Weta Bay closest to the main lake.
Fish densities ranged from 2.3 to 11.7 fish 100 m⁻². These should be regarded as minimal densities because the electroshoked fish were counter from the boat but mostly not retrieved; also, only a single pass was conducted. 
No recognised pest fish species were caught, but we cannot exclude the possibility that pest fish might occur at sites that were not fished. No trout were caught, possible because of the high water temperature (22°C).

text: Boat electrofishing survey of Te Weta Bay, Lake Rotoiti We used New Zealand’s first successful electrofishing boat to survey fish in Lake Rotoiti, North Island, New Zealand, principally in Te Weta Bay. The primary objective of the fishing was to see if undesirable fish species such as koi carp (Cyprinus carpio haemaotopterus; Zhou et al. 2003), brown bullhead catfish (Ameiurus nebulosus), and rudd (Scardinius erythophthalmus) have become established. Circular excavations were seen in the lake by a NIWA SCUBA diver in late 2003, and these were similar to nest excavations associated with catfish in other locations.
The native fish common smelt (Retropinna retropinna) and bullies (Gobiomorphus sp) were caught, with a few goldfish(Carassius auratus). Poor water visibility made observations difficult in some parts of the lake, especially on the southern shore and in the outer part of Te Weta Bay closest to the main lake.
Fish densities ranged from 2.3 to 11.7 fish 100 m⁻². These should be regarded as minimal densities because the electroshoked fish were counter from the boat but mostly not retrieved; also, only a single pass was conducted. 
No recognised pest fish species were caught, but we cannot exclude the possibility that pest fish might occur at sites that were not fished. No trout were caught, possible because of the high water temperature (22°C).

year: 2004

title: From Darkness to dawn? A Forum for Kāpō Māori

authors: Te Momo, Ivan Prentus

subjects: Kāpō Māori

abstract: This thesis researches Kāpō Māori (Māori who are blind or sight impaired) and their pursuit of Te Reo Māori.  Te Reo Māori is a very significant cultural marker for Kāpō Māori to identify themselves as Māori.  Kāpō Māori face many challenges, challenges that are unknown to the mainstream.  The thesis surveys the fortunes of Te Reo Māori as it struggles to survive and find acceptance in Aotearoa/New Zealand, outlines attitudes towards disabled persons, who suffer discrimination and marginalisation, and summarises the story of the Blind in Aotearoa/New Zealand, especially through the history of The Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind, to provide context for the challenges faced by Kāpō Māori. For Kāpō Māori, discrimination and marginalisation is increased because all Māori suffer the disabilities that are a result of colonisation. The thesis sets out a methodology for field research, and draws from interviews with research participants to present the experiences of Kāpō Māori. This thesis provides an insight into the issues Kāpō Māori encounter when trying to engage Kāpō Māori , and draws those issues forward from darkness, where they are unknown, into the world of light by providing Kāpō Māori with a forum for discussion of these issues.

text: From Darkness to dawn? A Forum for Kāpō Māori This thesis researches Kāpō Māori (Māori who are blind or sight impaired) and their pursuit of Te Reo Māori.  Te Reo Māori is a very significant cultural marker for Kāpō Māori to identify themselves as Māori.  Kāpō Māori face many challenges, challenges that are unknown to the mainstream.  The thesis surveys the fortunes of Te Reo Māori as it struggles to survive and find acceptance in Aotearoa/New Zealand, outlines attitudes towards disabled persons, who suffer discrimination and marginalisation, and summarises the story of the Blind in Aotearoa/New Zealand, especially through the history of The Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind, to provide context for the challenges faced by Kāpō Māori. For Kāpō Māori, discrimination and marginalisation is increased because all Māori suffer the disabilities that are a result of colonisation. The thesis sets out a methodology for field research, and draws from interviews with research participants to present the experiences of Kāpō Māori. This thesis provides an insight into the issues Kāpō Māori encounter when trying to engage Kāpō Māori , and draws those issues forward from darkness, where they are unknown, into the world of light by providing Kāpō Māori with a forum for discussion of these issues.

year: 2007