title: Kava and ethno-cultural identity in Oceania

authors: Aporosa, S. 'Apo'

subjects: Identity

abstract: Garibaldi and Turner (Ecol Soc 9:1, 5, 2004) explain the role that particular plants play in facilitating the shared ancestry, practices, and social experience of an ethnicity. This can include spiritual connections, cultural expression and practice, ceremony, exchange, linguistic reflection, socialization, and medicinal and/or dietary systems. They term these plants “cultural keystone species” and icons of identity, plants that if removed would cause some disruptions to the cultural practices and identity of an ethnic group. Undoubtedly, kava (Piper methysticum) is the cultural keystone species for many Oceanic and Pacific peoples, a “differentiating element of common culture” (Zagefka, Ethnicity, concepts of. In: Smith AD, Hou X, Stone J, Dennis R, Rizova P (eds) The Wiley Blackwell encyclopedia of race, ethnicity, and nationalism. West Wiley, Sussex, pp 761–763, 2016) informing their ethno-cultural identity. That influence is also extending to new non-Pacific Island user groups who have embraced elements of kava ethno-cultural identity in what has been termed diasporic identity formation in reverse. This chapter will discuss kava with specific reference to ethnic positionality in Fiji while recognizing the tensions from inside and outside the region that support and threaten the continuance of the kava drinking tradition.

text: Kava and ethno-cultural identity in Oceania Garibaldi and Turner (Ecol Soc 9:1, 5, 2004) explain the role that particular plants play in facilitating the shared ancestry, practices, and social experience of an ethnicity. This can include spiritual connections, cultural expression and practice, ceremony, exchange, linguistic reflection, socialization, and medicinal and/or dietary systems. They term these plants “cultural keystone species” and icons of identity, plants that if removed would cause some disruptions to the cultural practices and identity of an ethnic group. Undoubtedly, kava (Piper methysticum) is the cultural keystone species for many Oceanic and Pacific peoples, a “differentiating element of common culture” (Zagefka, Ethnicity, concepts of. In: Smith AD, Hou X, Stone J, Dennis R, Rizova P (eds) The Wiley Blackwell encyclopedia of race, ethnicity, and nationalism. West Wiley, Sussex, pp 761–763, 2016) informing their ethno-cultural identity. That influence is also extending to new non-Pacific Island user groups who have embraced elements of kava ethno-cultural identity in what has been termed diasporic identity formation in reverse. This chapter will discuss kava with specific reference to ethnic positionality in Fiji while recognizing the tensions from inside and outside the region that support and threaten the continuance of the kava drinking tradition.

year: 2019

title: Modelling safety properties of interactive medical systems

authors: Reeves, Steve

subjects: computer science

abstract: Formally modelling the software functionality and interactivity of safety-critical devices allows us to prove properties about their behaviours and be certain that they will respond to user interaction correctly. In domains such as medical environments, where many different devices may be used, it is equally important to ensure that all devices used adhere to a set of safety, and other, principles designed for that environment. In this paper we look at modelling important properties of interactive medical devices including safety considerations mandated by their users. We use ProZ for model checking to ensure that properties stated in temporal logic hold, and also to check invariants. In this way we gain confidence that important properties do hold of the device, and that models of particular devices adhere to the properties described.

text: Modelling safety properties of interactive medical systems Formally modelling the software functionality and interactivity of safety-critical devices allows us to prove properties about their behaviours and be certain that they will respond to user interaction correctly. In domains such as medical environments, where many different devices may be used, it is equally important to ensure that all devices used adhere to a set of safety, and other, principles designed for that environment. In this paper we look at modelling important properties of interactive medical devices including safety considerations mandated by their users. We use ProZ for model checking to ensure that properties stated in temporal logic hold, and also to check invariants. In this way we gain confidence that important properties do hold of the device, and that models of particular devices adhere to the properties described.

year: 2013

title: Māori engagement with early childhood education in a low-socioeconomic area

authors: Nuri, Sinead

subjects: early childhood education

abstract: The early childhood education (ECE) options available to parents in New Zealand are many and varied. As a country New Zealand values ECE and has a high rate of engagement. However, despite a number of government initiatives targeting Māori and those from lower socio-economic areas Māori engagement remains low. This is widely acknowledged and the challenge is to not only find the reasons why but to also be responsive to the causes for low engagement.

Early learning services in New Zealand follow a curriculum that considers an holistic approach with the child at the centre of the learning. That curriculum is Te Whāriki: He whāriki mātauranga mō ngā mokopuna o Aotearoa. The curriculum recognises the potential of children and the importance of belonging in developing the whole child. 

ECE in New Zealand is important for children who are aged zero to five. It is during these early years that children will begin to develop an understanding of the world around them. The environment that children live in is important to their development and it is generally considered that those from low socio-economic areas are less likely to succeed than those from higher socio-economic areas.

This thesis investigated Māori engagement in ECE from one low socio-economic area in New Zealand using an overarching Kaupapa Māori methodology. Semi-structured interviews were held with five participants from the low socio-economic area using a case study research design. My analysis found that there were many reasons behind the parents' decisions to send their children to ECE or not. It can be concluded that Māori engagement with ECE is dependent upon parents’ early life experiences and their cultural values.

text: Māori engagement with early childhood education in a low-socioeconomic area The early childhood education (ECE) options available to parents in New Zealand are many and varied. As a country New Zealand values ECE and has a high rate of engagement. However, despite a number of government initiatives targeting Māori and those from lower socio-economic areas Māori engagement remains low. This is widely acknowledged and the challenge is to not only find the reasons why but to also be responsive to the causes for low engagement.

Early learning services in New Zealand follow a curriculum that considers an holistic approach with the child at the centre of the learning. That curriculum is Te Whāriki: He whāriki mātauranga mō ngā mokopuna o Aotearoa. The curriculum recognises the potential of children and the importance of belonging in developing the whole child. 

ECE in New Zealand is important for children who are aged zero to five. It is during these early years that children will begin to develop an understanding of the world around them. The environment that children live in is important to their development and it is generally considered that those from low socio-economic areas are less likely to succeed than those from higher socio-economic areas.

This thesis investigated Māori engagement in ECE from one low socio-economic area in New Zealand using an overarching Kaupapa Māori methodology. Semi-structured interviews were held with five participants from the low socio-economic area using a case study research design. My analysis found that there were many reasons behind the parents' decisions to send their children to ECE or not. It can be concluded that Māori engagement with ECE is dependent upon parents’ early life experiences and their cultural values.

year: 2024