title: Investigating children's participation in decision-making in New Zealand primary schools: Participation, pathways and potential.

authors: Smith, Alison Ann

subjects: student participation

abstract: The notion of children and young people participating in a school’s decision-making processes has been the topic of much research and writing throughout the Western world since the 1980s. Existing research has included work that spans the continuum from individual students having input into decisions that affect them specifically, to a focus on student councils or other student groups where a small number of students contribute to decision-making that affect the student body as a whole. However, only a very small body of research or literature focuses on primary school children’s participation in decision-making and there appears to be little published in the New Zealand context. This thesis addresses this knowledge gap by examining children’s participation in decision-making in two New Zealand primary schools. 

By investigating the perspectives of principals, teachers and children, this study sought to critically examine the ways in which children participated in decision-making in two New Zealand primary schools, and explore the outcomes for children through their involvement in various decision-making mechanisms, including that of student leadership or representational roles.
The related research questions (RQ) were:
RQ1:	In what ways do children participate in decision-making mechanisms, including formal student leadership roles; and
RQ2:	What are the lived experiences, perceptions and understandings of the children in regard to this participation?

This thesis takes a qualitative, case study approach to examining teachers’, principals’ and children’s beliefs and practices in two primary schools. The research used semi-structured interviews to generate data from two principals and ten teachers about children’s participation in decision-making. Four focus groups were also conducted with a total of 29 children. Participative activities were completed by the children to gain insights into their perspectives about their experiences of participating in decision-making in their schools.

The research found that the schools offered a variety of opportunities for children to participate in decision-making, including formal student leadership roles. Where authentic participation existed, adults facilitated and organised for children to be active and agentic decision-makers. Conversely, where adults offered contrived or very narrow opportunities, children had little voice or agency and authentic participation did not occur. The research raised issues about schools practices and pathways related to children’s participation in decision-making and found that the nature of these practices depended on adults’ knowledge about children and children’s rights, their views about children’s competency and agency, and the extent to which democratic practices within a social justice worldview were implemented. These findings enabled the creation of the pikotoru Mahi Ngātahi model of children’s participation in decision-making in primary schools.

text: Investigating children's participation in decision-making in New Zealand primary schools: Participation, pathways and potential. The notion of children and young people participating in a school’s decision-making processes has been the topic of much research and writing throughout the Western world since the 1980s. Existing research has included work that spans the continuum from individual students having input into decisions that affect them specifically, to a focus on student councils or other student groups where a small number of students contribute to decision-making that affect the student body as a whole. However, only a very small body of research or literature focuses on primary school children’s participation in decision-making and there appears to be little published in the New Zealand context. This thesis addresses this knowledge gap by examining children’s participation in decision-making in two New Zealand primary schools. 

By investigating the perspectives of principals, teachers and children, this study sought to critically examine the ways in which children participated in decision-making in two New Zealand primary schools, and explore the outcomes for children through their involvement in various decision-making mechanisms, including that of student leadership or representational roles.
The related research questions (RQ) were:
RQ1:	In what ways do children participate in decision-making mechanisms, including formal student leadership roles; and
RQ2:	What are the lived experiences, perceptions and understandings of the children in regard to this participation?

This thesis takes a qualitative, case study approach to examining teachers’, principals’ and children’s beliefs and practices in two primary schools. The research used semi-structured interviews to generate data from two principals and ten teachers about children’s participation in decision-making. Four focus groups were also conducted with a total of 29 children. Participative activities were completed by the children to gain insights into their perspectives about their experiences of participating in decision-making in their schools.

The research found that the schools offered a variety of opportunities for children to participate in decision-making, including formal student leadership roles. Where authentic participation existed, adults facilitated and organised for children to be active and agentic decision-makers. Conversely, where adults offered contrived or very narrow opportunities, children had little voice or agency and authentic participation did not occur. The research raised issues about schools practices and pathways related to children’s participation in decision-making and found that the nature of these practices depended on adults’ knowledge about children and children’s rights, their views about children’s competency and agency, and the extent to which democratic practices within a social justice worldview were implemented. These findings enabled the creation of the pikotoru Mahi Ngātahi model of children’s participation in decision-making in primary schools.

year: 2020

title: Influence of open and closed river systems on the migrations of two northern New Zealand populations of banded kokopu (Galaxias fasciatus)

authors: Hicks, Brendan J.

subjects: banded kokopu

abstract: Otolith microchemical analysis by laser ablation inductively coupled mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to investigate the migratory life histories of banded kokopu (Galaxias fasciatus) in two streams on the North Island of New Zealand. Known differences in marine and freshwater chemistry were used as a premise to document the migratory life strategies of banded kokopu between these environments. More specifically, temporal trends in high and low strontium/calcium ratios (Sr/Ca) identified in fish otoliths were used to determine evidence of migration between fresh and saltwater environments. Trace element analysis of fish captured above the Whau Valley Reservoir reflected non-migratory life histories and exhibited consistently low Sr/Ca ratios across the entire otolith. However, one fish from above the reservoir indicated unusually high Sr/Ca ratios in early adulthood. These high Sr levels were attributed to localised inputs from mineral-rich seepages associated with past mining practices in the region and low calcium availability within the Pukenui Stream. Otoliths from banded kokopu collected from Komiti Stream were shown to be migratory with a marine larval stage (high Sr/Ca ratio levels at the otolith nucleus), followed by a freshwater adult phase (low Sr/Ca ratio levels towards the edge) indicating their amphidromous origins. The study provides further evidence of non-diadromous recruitment for banded kokopu as a consequence of a large in-stream barrier and will add to the known distribution of landlocked species in New Zealand.

text: Influence of open and closed river systems on the migrations of two northern New Zealand populations of banded kokopu (Galaxias fasciatus) Otolith microchemical analysis by laser ablation inductively coupled mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to investigate the migratory life histories of banded kokopu (Galaxias fasciatus) in two streams on the North Island of New Zealand. Known differences in marine and freshwater chemistry were used as a premise to document the migratory life strategies of banded kokopu between these environments. More specifically, temporal trends in high and low strontium/calcium ratios (Sr/Ca) identified in fish otoliths were used to determine evidence of migration between fresh and saltwater environments. Trace element analysis of fish captured above the Whau Valley Reservoir reflected non-migratory life histories and exhibited consistently low Sr/Ca ratios across the entire otolith. However, one fish from above the reservoir indicated unusually high Sr/Ca ratios in early adulthood. These high Sr levels were attributed to localised inputs from mineral-rich seepages associated with past mining practices in the region and low calcium availability within the Pukenui Stream. Otoliths from banded kokopu collected from Komiti Stream were shown to be migratory with a marine larval stage (high Sr/Ca ratio levels at the otolith nucleus), followed by a freshwater adult phase (low Sr/Ca ratio levels towards the edge) indicating their amphidromous origins. The study provides further evidence of non-diadromous recruitment for banded kokopu as a consequence of a large in-stream barrier and will add to the known distribution of landlocked species in New Zealand.

year: 2012

title: The marine reservoir effect in the Southern Ocean: an evaluation of extant and new R values and their application to archaeological chronologies

authors: Petchey, Fiona

subjects: ∆R

abstract: The last phase of human colonisation of the south-west Pacific occurred around the 12th Century AD amongst the islands of the subtropical and temperate zones of the Southern Ocean (i.e., Norfolk Island, the Kermadec Islands, New Zealand and the Chatham Islands) (Fig. 1). Archaeological evidence indicates that initial colonisation of the region was rapid, possibly taking less than 100 years. Unfortunately, the chronology of these events has been largely reliant on charcoal radiocarbon determinations that have not been successful in delineating these changes. This paper investigates the use of marine shell for radiocarbon dating as an alternative to charcoal, with specific focus on variation in the marine 14C reservoir (specifically the ∆R) of Raoul Island (Kermadec Islands), Norfolk Island and Chatham Island (Fig. 2). Results from known-age, pre-AD 1950 shellfish indicate that ∆R values south of the South Pacific Convergence Zone are low compared to those recorded for islands within the South Pacific generally (Fig. 1) (see Petchey et al.in press). An average ∆R value of –19 ± 13 14C yr is recorded for Raoul Island and –49 ± 10 14C yr for Norfolk Island. These values are attributed to heightened absorption of atmospheric CO2 in this region. Extant published ∆R information from New Zealand (Fig. 2A) also suggests a low average ∆R value for these southern waters, but the range of values indicates that considerable variability is possible because of the complex interplay of currents around the New Zealand coastline. In contrast, results from Chatham Island are more variable and much higher (average ∆R = 134 ± 83 14C yr). Stable oxygen and carbon isotope data support the hypothesis that these ∆R values are caused by upwelling and mixing of 14C-depleted water along the Chatham Rise. Comparison of marine and charcoal 14C determinations from archaeological sites on Raoul Island support, within the limits of the available data, the ∆R values obtained, but further analysis is required to establish the stability of this value over time.

text: The marine reservoir effect in the Southern Ocean: an evaluation of extant and new R values and their application to archaeological chronologies The last phase of human colonisation of the south-west Pacific occurred around the 12th Century AD amongst the islands of the subtropical and temperate zones of the Southern Ocean (i.e., Norfolk Island, the Kermadec Islands, New Zealand and the Chatham Islands) (Fig. 1). Archaeological evidence indicates that initial colonisation of the region was rapid, possibly taking less than 100 years. Unfortunately, the chronology of these events has been largely reliant on charcoal radiocarbon determinations that have not been successful in delineating these changes. This paper investigates the use of marine shell for radiocarbon dating as an alternative to charcoal, with specific focus on variation in the marine 14C reservoir (specifically the ∆R) of Raoul Island (Kermadec Islands), Norfolk Island and Chatham Island (Fig. 2). Results from known-age, pre-AD 1950 shellfish indicate that ∆R values south of the South Pacific Convergence Zone are low compared to those recorded for islands within the South Pacific generally (Fig. 1) (see Petchey et al.in press). An average ∆R value of –19 ± 13 14C yr is recorded for Raoul Island and –49 ± 10 14C yr for Norfolk Island. These values are attributed to heightened absorption of atmospheric CO2 in this region. Extant published ∆R information from New Zealand (Fig. 2A) also suggests a low average ∆R value for these southern waters, but the range of values indicates that considerable variability is possible because of the complex interplay of currents around the New Zealand coastline. In contrast, results from Chatham Island are more variable and much higher (average ∆R = 134 ± 83 14C yr). Stable oxygen and carbon isotope data support the hypothesis that these ∆R values are caused by upwelling and mixing of 14C-depleted water along the Chatham Rise. Comparison of marine and charcoal 14C determinations from archaeological sites on Raoul Island support, within the limits of the available data, the ∆R values obtained, but further analysis is required to establish the stability of this value over time.

year: 2008