title: Meat in the sandwich: The impact of changing policy contexts and local management of schools on principals’ work in New Zealand 1989-2009

authors: Alcorn, Noeline

subjects: education

abstract: The impact of principal leadership on school outcomes, particularly student achievement, is assuming unprecedented attention internationally. Official discourses often assume that principals can be trained to achieve prescribed outcomes through the employment of learned strategies. Such claims are challenged by critical leadership scholars who insist on the significance of context. This paper explores the impact of policy contexts on the work of a small group of experienced principals in New Zealand over a period of 20 years. During that time, they often struggled to reconcile their own espoused educational principles with policy imperatives in a small country where Local Management of Schools (LMS) has been extreme. It argues that national policy discourse around competition, curriculum and achievement, together with formal accountability to local lay Boards of Trustees (BOTs), are sources of tension and moral ambiguity, which tempt principals to comply and play the game for the sake of their schools. Principals are also caught between local and national accountabilities. In spite of this, principals in the study maintained an educational vision encompassing the wider social context of New Zealand education and retained a sense of personal agency.

text: Meat in the sandwich: The impact of changing policy contexts and local management of schools on principals’ work in New Zealand 1989-2009 The impact of principal leadership on school outcomes, particularly student achievement, is assuming unprecedented attention internationally. Official discourses often assume that principals can be trained to achieve prescribed outcomes through the employment of learned strategies. Such claims are challenged by critical leadership scholars who insist on the significance of context. This paper explores the impact of policy contexts on the work of a small group of experienced principals in New Zealand over a period of 20 years. During that time, they often struggled to reconcile their own espoused educational principles with policy imperatives in a small country where Local Management of Schools (LMS) has been extreme. It argues that national policy discourse around competition, curriculum and achievement, together with formal accountability to local lay Boards of Trustees (BOTs), are sources of tension and moral ambiguity, which tempt principals to comply and play the game for the sake of their schools. Principals are also caught between local and national accountabilities. In spite of this, principals in the study maintained an educational vision encompassing the wider social context of New Zealand education and retained a sense of personal agency.

year: 2011

title: Deposit characteristics and dynamic processes of large volume pyroclastic density currents of the Taupo Volcanic Zone approaching and entering the sea

authors: Richmond, Mia Ani

abstract: Pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) entering the sea are a rare but dynamic phenomenon that cause significant change to the topography and bathymetry of coastal and island arc settings. Very little is known about their complex behaviour and depositional processes, as observation of such an event is uncommon and conducting experiments that simulate PDCs is challenging. A better understanding of this phenomena can aid in future volcanic monitoring and hazard management around coastal and oceanic settings.

This study combines both field observations and laboratory experiments of PDCs entering the sea. Case studies around North Island, New Zealand of pre-historic pyroclastic deposits found near the coast focused on, the Rotoiti Ignimbrite that originated from the Okataina Volcanic Centre (Pacific Coast Highway between Matata and Maketu; Mimiha Road near Matata), and the Ongatiti Ignimbrite (Glenbrook Beach, Waiuku; Kihi Road, inland of Kawhia Harbour) from the Mangakino Volcanic Centre. At each location, field observations were recorded, and samples collected, followed by grainsize and texture analysis in the laboratory (scanning electron microscopy, laser diffraction particle size analysis, dry sieving). Laboratory experiments that simulated small-scale PDCs generated by a column collapse mechanism and a dam-break mechanism into a flume were conducted.

The Ongatiti Ignimbrite at Glenbrook Beach presented flow-water interaction features through soft sediment deformations such as dewatering structures, flame structures, and thin beds of convoluted laminae. The Rotoiti Ignimbrite at Mimiha Road showed distinctive crossbedding. Both examples highlighted PDC processes after entry into the water. The Rotoiti and Ongatiti ignimbrites along the Pacific Coast Highway and Kihi Road, respectively presented typical subaerial ignimbrites that had travelled long distance overland and were still undergoing significant deposition near the coastline. The flume experiment demonstrated that PDCs segregate into two parts when entering the water, (1) a dilute overflow cloud, and (2) a dense underwater current. The entrance of pyroclastic ash material into water also generated a wave. Underwater obstructions will affect a submergent current by significantly decreasing its height and runout distance.

text: Deposit characteristics and dynamic processes of large volume pyroclastic density currents of the Taupo Volcanic Zone approaching and entering the sea Pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) entering the sea are a rare but dynamic phenomenon that cause significant change to the topography and bathymetry of coastal and island arc settings. Very little is known about their complex behaviour and depositional processes, as observation of such an event is uncommon and conducting experiments that simulate PDCs is challenging. A better understanding of this phenomena can aid in future volcanic monitoring and hazard management around coastal and oceanic settings.

This study combines both field observations and laboratory experiments of PDCs entering the sea. Case studies around North Island, New Zealand of pre-historic pyroclastic deposits found near the coast focused on, the Rotoiti Ignimbrite that originated from the Okataina Volcanic Centre (Pacific Coast Highway between Matata and Maketu; Mimiha Road near Matata), and the Ongatiti Ignimbrite (Glenbrook Beach, Waiuku; Kihi Road, inland of Kawhia Harbour) from the Mangakino Volcanic Centre. At each location, field observations were recorded, and samples collected, followed by grainsize and texture analysis in the laboratory (scanning electron microscopy, laser diffraction particle size analysis, dry sieving). Laboratory experiments that simulated small-scale PDCs generated by a column collapse mechanism and a dam-break mechanism into a flume were conducted.

The Ongatiti Ignimbrite at Glenbrook Beach presented flow-water interaction features through soft sediment deformations such as dewatering structures, flame structures, and thin beds of convoluted laminae. The Rotoiti Ignimbrite at Mimiha Road showed distinctive crossbedding. Both examples highlighted PDC processes after entry into the water. The Rotoiti and Ongatiti ignimbrites along the Pacific Coast Highway and Kihi Road, respectively presented typical subaerial ignimbrites that had travelled long distance overland and were still undergoing significant deposition near the coastline. The flume experiment demonstrated that PDCs segregate into two parts when entering the water, (1) a dilute overflow cloud, and (2) a dense underwater current. The entrance of pyroclastic ash material into water also generated a wave. Underwater obstructions will affect a submergent current by significantly decreasing its height and runout distance.

year: 2022

title: Re-examining the best interests of child principle. Can this help tamariki and rangatahi Māori achieve the highest attainable standard of mental health?

authors: Karunaratne, Kalupathirannehelage Dona Thilini Prathiba

abstract: This thesis explores how a re-examination of the best interests of the child principle can assist tamariki and
rangatahi Māori to achieve the highest attainable standard of mental health. Although New Zealand has ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989, which enshrines the “best interests of the child” principle, significant disparities in mental health outcomes remain between tamariki and
rangatahi Māori and non-Māori children and young people. Drawing on international human rights law, domestic legislation, case law, and Māori concepts of health and wellbeing, this thesis develops a theoretical
and practical framework for reducing these mental health disparities. It explores whether New Zealand can utilise the best interests principle in a way that recognises and incorporates the unique cultural identity and
collective rights of tamariki and rangatahi Māori. The flexible nature of the best interests principle is leveraged to integrate collective cultural rights and Māori worldviews into mental health law and policies. By doing so, it aims to facilitate greater recognition of Māori collective rights and practices within NewZealand's legal and healthcare systems.
This research proposes that a culturally-informed interpretation of the best interests principle, aligned with Māori worldviews and values, is important for fulfilling New Zealand’s international obligations and the achievement of the highest attainable standard of mental health for tamariki and rangatahi Māori. The thesis contends that decisions concerning the best interests of tamariki and rangatahi Māori in mental health
should be guided by a “by Māori, for Māori” approach, which informs and shapes the broader application of the best interests principle. Through this analysis, the thesis seeks to contribute to the improvement of mental health outcomes for tamariki and rangatahi Māori.

text: Re-examining the best interests of child principle. Can this help tamariki and rangatahi Māori achieve the highest attainable standard of mental health? This thesis explores how a re-examination of the best interests of the child principle can assist tamariki and
rangatahi Māori to achieve the highest attainable standard of mental health. Although New Zealand has ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989, which enshrines the “best interests of the child” principle, significant disparities in mental health outcomes remain between tamariki and
rangatahi Māori and non-Māori children and young people. Drawing on international human rights law, domestic legislation, case law, and Māori concepts of health and wellbeing, this thesis develops a theoretical
and practical framework for reducing these mental health disparities. It explores whether New Zealand can utilise the best interests principle in a way that recognises and incorporates the unique cultural identity and
collective rights of tamariki and rangatahi Māori. The flexible nature of the best interests principle is leveraged to integrate collective cultural rights and Māori worldviews into mental health law and policies. By doing so, it aims to facilitate greater recognition of Māori collective rights and practices within NewZealand's legal and healthcare systems.
This research proposes that a culturally-informed interpretation of the best interests principle, aligned with Māori worldviews and values, is important for fulfilling New Zealand’s international obligations and the achievement of the highest attainable standard of mental health for tamariki and rangatahi Māori. The thesis contends that decisions concerning the best interests of tamariki and rangatahi Māori in mental health
should be guided by a “by Māori, for Māori” approach, which informs and shapes the broader application of the best interests principle. Through this analysis, the thesis seeks to contribute to the improvement of mental health outcomes for tamariki and rangatahi Māori.

year: 2026