title: Diversity and the early years

authors: Peters, Sally

abstract: Aotearoa New Zealand's early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector is characterised by diversity: diversity in settings and in the backgrounds of the children and teachers. Sociocultural theories have long held promise for pedagogy in culturally diverse contexts (see, for example, John-Steiner & Mahn, 1996), and the early childhood curriculum, Te Whiiriki (Ministry of Education, 1996), is underpinned by a sociocultural approach to learning (Carr & May, 1993). This chapter considers the changing landscape of ECEC, and, drawing on the sociocultural foundations of this book, considers some implications for working with children in the early years. We discuss the potential that the principles of Te Whiiriki offer for embracing diversity, and while we celebrate the sense of growing cultural responsiveness in ECEC, we acknowledge some of the complexities involved.

text: Diversity and the early years Aotearoa New Zealand's early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector is characterised by diversity: diversity in settings and in the backgrounds of the children and teachers. Sociocultural theories have long held promise for pedagogy in culturally diverse contexts (see, for example, John-Steiner & Mahn, 1996), and the early childhood curriculum, Te Whiiriki (Ministry of Education, 1996), is underpinned by a sociocultural approach to learning (Carr & May, 1993). This chapter considers the changing landscape of ECEC, and, drawing on the sociocultural foundations of this book, considers some implications for working with children in the early years. We discuss the potential that the principles of Te Whiiriki offer for embracing diversity, and while we celebrate the sense of growing cultural responsiveness in ECEC, we acknowledge some of the complexities involved.

year: 2015

title: Three-dimensional biomechanical analysis of fast bowling in cricket

authors: Ferdinands, R. E. D.

abstract: A three-dimensional (3-D) dynamics model of the human body has been developed to provide a mechanical basis for evaluating fast bowling technique. Thirty-four fast bowlers were selected for study and divided into four groups according to ball release speed. A five camera 240 Hz motion analysis system (Motion Analysis Corp.) was used to track markers on the bowler delivering a series of balls at a target in line with the wickets, and a Bertec force plate was used to measure ground reaction forces. The marker arrangement allowed for the 3-D motion tracking of all major body segments. The resulting kinematic and force plate data of a typical ball were fed into a computer model using Mathematica's Mechanical Systems Pack. This is a set of packages designed for the analysis of spatial rigid body mechanisms by implementing a dynamics formulation with Lagrangian multipliers. The computer model gives a 3-D representation of the human body as a system of fifteen rigid body segments with mass and inertia properties. The model can output the kinematics, inverse solution dynamics, kinetics and powers for each body segment of a bowler delivering a ball. 
Bowling in cricket is a unique method of propelling a ball at high speed so that it reaches a batter 20 m away after having bounced once off the pitch. Fast bowlers reduce the time available for the batsman to execute the correct stroke, and therefore increase the chance of error. There are a number of coaching texts available that propose various hypotheses on the correct technique of fast bowling, which have been mostly based on the experiences of successful fast bowlers. However, dynamics has not played any meaningful role in the development of fast bowling technique. 
In this thesis, the synthesis of a 3-D rigid body model of bowling was used to calculate the inverse solution dynamics, kinematics, kinetics and segment power flows to test certain established hypotheses on the mechanics of bowling technique. The analysis also probed for mechanical differences in technique between bowling speed groups. It was found that lower trunk, upper trunk, bowling arm, front arm, front leg, and rear leg interacted in such a way that each segmental motion was subject to a kinematic sequencing pattern and a dynamics actuation pattern determined by the calculation of muscle powers. Also, it was possible to differentiate between the consequential motion of a segment, and the actuation of a segment motion. This information provides a perspective of how the body needs to move in order to achieve correct technical form. The results show that that certain established concepts of bowling technique, such as front arm 'sweeping' and 'pull down', lower trunk flexion, and rear leg action have only been partially specified. Also, in certain technical and sequencing aspects there are differences between the bowling speed groups.

text: Three-dimensional biomechanical analysis of fast bowling in cricket A three-dimensional (3-D) dynamics model of the human body has been developed to provide a mechanical basis for evaluating fast bowling technique. Thirty-four fast bowlers were selected for study and divided into four groups according to ball release speed. A five camera 240 Hz motion analysis system (Motion Analysis Corp.) was used to track markers on the bowler delivering a series of balls at a target in line with the wickets, and a Bertec force plate was used to measure ground reaction forces. The marker arrangement allowed for the 3-D motion tracking of all major body segments. The resulting kinematic and force plate data of a typical ball were fed into a computer model using Mathematica's Mechanical Systems Pack. This is a set of packages designed for the analysis of spatial rigid body mechanisms by implementing a dynamics formulation with Lagrangian multipliers. The computer model gives a 3-D representation of the human body as a system of fifteen rigid body segments with mass and inertia properties. The model can output the kinematics, inverse solution dynamics, kinetics and powers for each body segment of a bowler delivering a ball. 
Bowling in cricket is a unique method of propelling a ball at high speed so that it reaches a batter 20 m away after having bounced once off the pitch. Fast bowlers reduce the time available for the batsman to execute the correct stroke, and therefore increase the chance of error. There are a number of coaching texts available that propose various hypotheses on the correct technique of fast bowling, which have been mostly based on the experiences of successful fast bowlers. However, dynamics has not played any meaningful role in the development of fast bowling technique. 
In this thesis, the synthesis of a 3-D rigid body model of bowling was used to calculate the inverse solution dynamics, kinematics, kinetics and segment power flows to test certain established hypotheses on the mechanics of bowling technique. The analysis also probed for mechanical differences in technique between bowling speed groups. It was found that lower trunk, upper trunk, bowling arm, front arm, front leg, and rear leg interacted in such a way that each segmental motion was subject to a kinematic sequencing pattern and a dynamics actuation pattern determined by the calculation of muscle powers. Also, it was possible to differentiate between the consequential motion of a segment, and the actuation of a segment motion. This information provides a perspective of how the body needs to move in order to achieve correct technical form. The results show that that certain established concepts of bowling technique, such as front arm 'sweeping' and 'pull down', lower trunk flexion, and rear leg action have only been partially specified. Also, in certain technical and sequencing aspects there are differences between the bowling speed groups.

year: 2003

title: The Treaty of Waitangi and Asian Immigrants in Aotearoa: A Reflective Journey

authors: Omura, Saburo

subjects: Te Tiriti o Waitangi

abstract: The Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840 between the British Crown and Māori, the indigenous people of New Zealand being represented at the signing by chiefs from various tribes. The Treaty promised to ensure legitimate control on European settlers, while guaranteeing Māori their sovereignty, undisturbed possession of natural and cultural resources, and citizenship. However, these commitments were reneged upon and were largely discarded over the next century, including devastating confiscations of land and other natural resources, undignified treatment of Māori culture and language, and the loss of indigenous sovereignty following large-scale European migration to Aotearoa/New Zealand in the late 19th century. 
The New Zealand government maintained a ‘white’ New Zealand immigration policy until the late 1980s. An orientation towards white British in New Zealand was so deeply entrenched that the idea of monocultural assimilation remained the norm and went unchallenged until the 1960s. A reflection of this is in the fact that even today the Treaty of Waitangi is not formally recognised in the country’s immigration policies. 
Since the 1990s, there has been a major upsurge in the number of Asian migrants arriving in Aotearoa/New Zealand, so that today people of Chinese, Indian, and similar origin constitute about 11% of the national total population. 
However, settlement support programmes and academic research relating to them have focused on superficial coping and adaptation issues. Integration of these migrants has been frequently discussed but without specific cultural references. Māori culture and the Treaty have never been an integral part of the research scope in the study of acculturation of such migrants in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Government. Politicians, and academics have consequently isolated migrants from indigenous issues, because indigenous people were regarded as irrelevant in this field. 
Nevertheless, some ethnic community groups and individuals have taken initiatives to learn about the Treaty in recent times. I interviewed 17 key informants and conducted six focus groups, with seven people on average participating in each session. Employing a free-association approach in these interviews enabled me to explore significant psychological changes after my informants had learned about the Treaty. 
As a result, many of the participants went through a process of redefining their identity in a new country, rather than just adjusting to or coping with a different environment. Essentially, learning about the Treaty facilitated psychological integration after migrating to New Zealand. 
The future implications of such findings, especially the significant effect of repositioning Māori culture and history in cross-cultural research in New Zealand, is also discussed in this thesis.

text: The Treaty of Waitangi and Asian Immigrants in Aotearoa: A Reflective Journey The Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840 between the British Crown and Māori, the indigenous people of New Zealand being represented at the signing by chiefs from various tribes. The Treaty promised to ensure legitimate control on European settlers, while guaranteeing Māori their sovereignty, undisturbed possession of natural and cultural resources, and citizenship. However, these commitments were reneged upon and were largely discarded over the next century, including devastating confiscations of land and other natural resources, undignified treatment of Māori culture and language, and the loss of indigenous sovereignty following large-scale European migration to Aotearoa/New Zealand in the late 19th century. 
The New Zealand government maintained a ‘white’ New Zealand immigration policy until the late 1980s. An orientation towards white British in New Zealand was so deeply entrenched that the idea of monocultural assimilation remained the norm and went unchallenged until the 1960s. A reflection of this is in the fact that even today the Treaty of Waitangi is not formally recognised in the country’s immigration policies. 
Since the 1990s, there has been a major upsurge in the number of Asian migrants arriving in Aotearoa/New Zealand, so that today people of Chinese, Indian, and similar origin constitute about 11% of the national total population. 
However, settlement support programmes and academic research relating to them have focused on superficial coping and adaptation issues. Integration of these migrants has been frequently discussed but without specific cultural references. Māori culture and the Treaty have never been an integral part of the research scope in the study of acculturation of such migrants in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Government. Politicians, and academics have consequently isolated migrants from indigenous issues, because indigenous people were regarded as irrelevant in this field. 
Nevertheless, some ethnic community groups and individuals have taken initiatives to learn about the Treaty in recent times. I interviewed 17 key informants and conducted six focus groups, with seven people on average participating in each session. Employing a free-association approach in these interviews enabled me to explore significant psychological changes after my informants had learned about the Treaty. 
As a result, many of the participants went through a process of redefining their identity in a new country, rather than just adjusting to or coping with a different environment. Essentially, learning about the Treaty facilitated psychological integration after migrating to New Zealand. 
The future implications of such findings, especially the significant effect of repositioning Māori culture and history in cross-cultural research in New Zealand, is also discussed in this thesis.

year: 2014