title: Dust under the whāriki: Embracing the messiness of curriculum

authors: White, Elizabeth Jayne

subjects: early childhood education

abstract: This article examines the early childhood curriculum in action by looking at two oppositional forces that are at play: authoritative discourse (which is perceived as uncontestable) and internally persuasive discourse (which is open for debate). Unless challenged by knowledgeable teachers, authoritative discourse may dominate. When this occurs, there is little place for uncertainty (that is, 'dust') - significant parts of the curriculum may go underground (that is, get swept under the whariki). In this location they still exist, but are neither valued nor embraced in the public domain and therefore do not have the opportunity to enrich the curriculum whariki.

text: Dust under the whāriki: Embracing the messiness of curriculum This article examines the early childhood curriculum in action by looking at two oppositional forces that are at play: authoritative discourse (which is perceived as uncontestable) and internally persuasive discourse (which is open for debate). Unless challenged by knowledgeable teachers, authoritative discourse may dominate. When this occurs, there is little place for uncertainty (that is, 'dust') - significant parts of the curriculum may go underground (that is, get swept under the whariki). In this location they still exist, but are neither valued nor embraced in the public domain and therefore do not have the opportunity to enrich the curriculum whariki.

year: 2011

title: Quiet Activists - Environmental Values and Value Adjustment in Environmental Policy Advisors

authors: Grübmeyer, Sonja Felicitas

subjects: Environment

abstract: In this thesis, I investigate the influence of environmental values on the work of environmental policy advisors in a regional council in New Zealand and the influence on the institutional values of their work environment on their personal environmental values.

Values are relatively stable concepts of socially acquired beliefs and norms that influence the perception and behaviour of humans and are organised in interdependent and dynamic structures that can be changed through social experiences. Environmental values are partly responsible for environmentally friendly behaviour, which encompasses a variety of activities and even lifestyle choices. 

People, who have chosen to work in the environmental sector are exposed to environmental values through working for institutions that represent environmentally friendly principles. By working in an environmental context, environmental values can get changed by social interaction, which can lead to an adjustment or approximation to the dominant notion of environmental values within the workplace (Finegan, 2000) 

Although policy advice is expected to be a neutral and objective task, statements are still written by persons with an individual opinion that, although suppressed, represents the values of the writer (Heineman, Bluhm, Peterson,  Keary, 2002). It is therefore likely that the whole process of evaluating information and preparing a policy recommendation is influenced by the values of the policy advisor.

My findings indicate that environmental values of employees get adjusted to the institution's environmental values through their work. This happens through a merging of their private environmental values into their professional values, through  processes of adjustment. This change not only results in identification with the job but also presents a way to circumvent possible value conflicts in the work environment. 

The policy process involves a number of stages where information is re-evaluated and discussed to fit the formal and structural requirements of policy making under the  Resource Management Act, which is done in collaboration with others. This leads to a social construction of values that are represented in collaboratively developed policy recommendation. 

In my conclusion, I show that policy advisors at regional government level use. in New Zealand have environmental values, use them for environmental protection, and adjust them to work more efficiently for the environment within a public service organisation. The use of their environmental values by the participants show that they are environmentalists and do what environmentalists do, but in a quiet, unobtrusive way.

text: Quiet Activists - Environmental Values and Value Adjustment in Environmental Policy Advisors In this thesis, I investigate the influence of environmental values on the work of environmental policy advisors in a regional council in New Zealand and the influence on the institutional values of their work environment on their personal environmental values.

Values are relatively stable concepts of socially acquired beliefs and norms that influence the perception and behaviour of humans and are organised in interdependent and dynamic structures that can be changed through social experiences. Environmental values are partly responsible for environmentally friendly behaviour, which encompasses a variety of activities and even lifestyle choices. 

People, who have chosen to work in the environmental sector are exposed to environmental values through working for institutions that represent environmentally friendly principles. By working in an environmental context, environmental values can get changed by social interaction, which can lead to an adjustment or approximation to the dominant notion of environmental values within the workplace (Finegan, 2000) 

Although policy advice is expected to be a neutral and objective task, statements are still written by persons with an individual opinion that, although suppressed, represents the values of the writer (Heineman, Bluhm, Peterson,  Keary, 2002). It is therefore likely that the whole process of evaluating information and preparing a policy recommendation is influenced by the values of the policy advisor.

My findings indicate that environmental values of employees get adjusted to the institution's environmental values through their work. This happens through a merging of their private environmental values into their professional values, through  processes of adjustment. This change not only results in identification with the job but also presents a way to circumvent possible value conflicts in the work environment. 

The policy process involves a number of stages where information is re-evaluated and discussed to fit the formal and structural requirements of policy making under the  Resource Management Act, which is done in collaboration with others. This leads to a social construction of values that are represented in collaboratively developed policy recommendation. 

In my conclusion, I show that policy advisors at regional government level use. in New Zealand have environmental values, use them for environmental protection, and adjust them to work more efficiently for the environment within a public service organisation. The use of their environmental values by the participants show that they are environmentalists and do what environmentalists do, but in a quiet, unobtrusive way.

year: 2007

title: Safety hubs and partnership policing: Coordination, collaboration and partnership working in Auckland city centre

authors: Tompson, Lisa

subjects: Community Safety

abstract: This report presents key insights from an exploratory study of the Safety Hub initiative that first appeared in the run up to the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Auckland. It highlights the potential and the pitfalls of partnership-based approaches to community safety in Aotearoa New Zealand. The study was based on a series of in-person focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews with key partners and stakeholders including Community Patrols New Zealand (CPNZ) volunteers, NZ Police (Auckland city Beat officers and Liaison staff), Auckland council staff and Ngā Watene Māori (Māori Wardens). Data collection for this study took place over a four-month period from November 2024 through to February 2025, structured around the availability of participants. The study employed a thematic analysis methodology to systematically identify and organise key themes and issues within the qualitative data gathered from interviews and focus groups.
In summary, the operational reality of the Safety Hub was rather less structured and more ‘organic’ than some participants had hoped, but it still delivered meaningful outcomes. The Safety Hub made its own valuable contribution to community safety while the difficulties it faced helped identify the need for a wider, linked-up ecosystem of community safety in Auckland city. The Hub has proved itself to be a viable concept, that diverse partners can work together in a shared space, and that the presence of volunteers does offer reassurance and can make people feel safer. However, those involved in the Hub also identified a range of challenges that need to be overcome if the Hub is to be more than just a base for increasing the visibility and presence of capable guardians.

text: Safety hubs and partnership policing: Coordination, collaboration and partnership working in Auckland city centre This report presents key insights from an exploratory study of the Safety Hub initiative that first appeared in the run up to the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Auckland. It highlights the potential and the pitfalls of partnership-based approaches to community safety in Aotearoa New Zealand. The study was based on a series of in-person focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews with key partners and stakeholders including Community Patrols New Zealand (CPNZ) volunteers, NZ Police (Auckland city Beat officers and Liaison staff), Auckland council staff and Ngā Watene Māori (Māori Wardens). Data collection for this study took place over a four-month period from November 2024 through to February 2025, structured around the availability of participants. The study employed a thematic analysis methodology to systematically identify and organise key themes and issues within the qualitative data gathered from interviews and focus groups.
In summary, the operational reality of the Safety Hub was rather less structured and more ‘organic’ than some participants had hoped, but it still delivered meaningful outcomes. The Safety Hub made its own valuable contribution to community safety while the difficulties it faced helped identify the need for a wider, linked-up ecosystem of community safety in Auckland city. The Hub has proved itself to be a viable concept, that diverse partners can work together in a shared space, and that the presence of volunteers does offer reassurance and can make people feel safer. However, those involved in the Hub also identified a range of challenges that need to be overcome if the Hub is to be more than just a base for increasing the visibility and presence of capable guardians.

year: 2025