title: A narrative exploration of sport as a transformative space for those with spinal cord injuries : "Sport is absolutely transformational post-injury. It changes people's lives."

authors: Best, Sarah Ellen

subjects: Spinal cord injury

abstract: Sport New Zealand undertook a review in 2018 which found that within our country, 24% of the population - 1.1 million people - identify as disabled, all of whom are less likely to participate in and experience the benefits of sport than those who are able-bodied. Following this came the release of Sport New Zealand’s ‘Disability Plan’, of which the enactment has been slow. With the help of further research exploring the lived experiences of those with spinal cord injuries in sport alongside the ‘Disability Plan’, there is great potential to reach Sport New Zealand’s goal of ensuring that all New Zealanders have access to quality sporting experiences. It is to this that my attention turned, with this narrative inquiry using semi-structured interviews to explore the experiences of eight individuals (seven males, one female) with spinal cord injuries in sport, all belonging to regional and national wheelchair rugby clubs. The intention was to better understand what it is like to live and participate in sport with a spinal cord injury, and what could be gained from being involved. Through these insights, it is hoped that sport is better utilised as a transformative space for a larger number of individuals, and that measures to facilitate continued participation are understood by organisations and practitioners. The results illustrate that wheelchair rugby has been nothing less than a transformational space where participants were able to accept their impairments as part of their identity and (re)discover themselves through embodied learning experiences from the sport and the environment created. This environment became an escape from the ‘real world’ for a period, and often, pain that the participants experienced. Wheelchair rugby has been a vehicle for opportunities - opening doors for participants and creating a world in which they felt as though they could do anything. This research offers insight into underdeveloped areas that are needed to be understood to allow for more individuals to experience disability sport as they deserve.

text: A narrative exploration of sport as a transformative space for those with spinal cord injuries : "Sport is absolutely transformational post-injury. It changes people's lives." Sport New Zealand undertook a review in 2018 which found that within our country, 24% of the population - 1.1 million people - identify as disabled, all of whom are less likely to participate in and experience the benefits of sport than those who are able-bodied. Following this came the release of Sport New Zealand’s ‘Disability Plan’, of which the enactment has been slow. With the help of further research exploring the lived experiences of those with spinal cord injuries in sport alongside the ‘Disability Plan’, there is great potential to reach Sport New Zealand’s goal of ensuring that all New Zealanders have access to quality sporting experiences. It is to this that my attention turned, with this narrative inquiry using semi-structured interviews to explore the experiences of eight individuals (seven males, one female) with spinal cord injuries in sport, all belonging to regional and national wheelchair rugby clubs. The intention was to better understand what it is like to live and participate in sport with a spinal cord injury, and what could be gained from being involved. Through these insights, it is hoped that sport is better utilised as a transformative space for a larger number of individuals, and that measures to facilitate continued participation are understood by organisations and practitioners. The results illustrate that wheelchair rugby has been nothing less than a transformational space where participants were able to accept their impairments as part of their identity and (re)discover themselves through embodied learning experiences from the sport and the environment created. This environment became an escape from the ‘real world’ for a period, and often, pain that the participants experienced. Wheelchair rugby has been a vehicle for opportunities - opening doors for participants and creating a world in which they felt as though they could do anything. This research offers insight into underdeveloped areas that are needed to be understood to allow for more individuals to experience disability sport as they deserve.

year: 2022

title: Semi-random model tree ensembles: An effective and scalable regression method

authors: Pfahringer, Bernhard

subjects: computer science

abstract: We present and investigate ensembles of semi-random model trees as a novel regression method. Such ensembles combine the scalability of tree-based methods with predictive performance rivalling the state of the art in numeric prediction. An empirical investigation shows that Semi-Random Model Trees produce predictive performance which is competitive with state-of-the-art methods like Gaussian Processes Regression or Additive Groves of Regression Trees. The training and optimization of Random Model Trees scales better than Gaussian Processes Regression to larger datasets, and enjoys a constant advantage over Additive Groves of the order of one to two orders of magnitude.

text: Semi-random model tree ensembles: An effective and scalable regression method We present and investigate ensembles of semi-random model trees as a novel regression method. Such ensembles combine the scalability of tree-based methods with predictive performance rivalling the state of the art in numeric prediction. An empirical investigation shows that Semi-Random Model Trees produce predictive performance which is competitive with state-of-the-art methods like Gaussian Processes Regression or Additive Groves of Regression Trees. The training and optimization of Random Model Trees scales better than Gaussian Processes Regression to larger datasets, and enjoys a constant advantage over Additive Groves of the order of one to two orders of magnitude.

year: 2011

title: Tangihanga: The ultimate form of Māori cultural expression - overview of a research programme

authors: Nikora, Linda Waimarie

subjects: Māori

abstract: Death, observed through the process of tangihanga (time set aside to grieve and mourn, rites for the dead) or tangi (to grieve and mourn), is the ultimate form of Māori cultural expression. It is also the topic least studied by Māori or understood by outsiders, even after televised funeral rites of Māori leaders and intrusive media engagements with more humble family crises. It has prevailed as a cultural priority since earliest European contact, despite missionary and colonial impact and interference, and macabre Victorian fascination. Change is speculative rather than confirmed. Tangi and death rituals have yet to be rigorously examined in the Māori oral canon, or in the archival and historic record that may be discarded or reinforced by current practice. As researchers we are committed to studying tangi, conscious of the belief that such work carries the inherent risk of karanga aituā (inviting misfortune or even death itself) by drawing attention to it. Contemporary Aotearoa New Zealand is constantly touched by aspects of tangi practice through popular media and personal exposure.

This volatile subject nevertheless demands careful and comprehensive scrutiny in order to extend and enrich the knowledge base, reveal the logic that guides ritual, inform the wider New Zealand community and, more importantly, support the cultural, social, ritual, economic and decision making processes of bereaved whānau (family, including extended family), people affiliated with marae (communal meeting complex) and iwi (tribe, tribal). This paper provides an overview of a research programme that began in July 2009, based at The University of Waikato. The programme is funded by Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga, the Marsden Fund of New Zealand and the Health Research Council of New Zealand.

text: Tangihanga: The ultimate form of Māori cultural expression - overview of a research programme Death, observed through the process of tangihanga (time set aside to grieve and mourn, rites for the dead) or tangi (to grieve and mourn), is the ultimate form of Māori cultural expression. It is also the topic least studied by Māori or understood by outsiders, even after televised funeral rites of Māori leaders and intrusive media engagements with more humble family crises. It has prevailed as a cultural priority since earliest European contact, despite missionary and colonial impact and interference, and macabre Victorian fascination. Change is speculative rather than confirmed. Tangi and death rituals have yet to be rigorously examined in the Māori oral canon, or in the archival and historic record that may be discarded or reinforced by current practice. As researchers we are committed to studying tangi, conscious of the belief that such work carries the inherent risk of karanga aituā (inviting misfortune or even death itself) by drawing attention to it. Contemporary Aotearoa New Zealand is constantly touched by aspects of tangi practice through popular media and personal exposure.

This volatile subject nevertheless demands careful and comprehensive scrutiny in order to extend and enrich the knowledge base, reveal the logic that guides ritual, inform the wider New Zealand community and, more importantly, support the cultural, social, ritual, economic and decision making processes of bereaved whānau (family, including extended family), people affiliated with marae (communal meeting complex) and iwi (tribe, tribal). This paper provides an overview of a research programme that began in July 2009, based at The University of Waikato. The programme is funded by Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga, the Marsden Fund of New Zealand and the Health Research Council of New Zealand.

year: 2010