title: Principals’ experience of social media  in New Zealand schools

authors: Dunsmore, Stephen

subjects: Education

abstract: This study looks at the penetration of social media into the contemporary educational landscape.  Its aim is to understand the impact of social media on principals in New Zealand schools through the exploration of their experiences and perspectives, in the context of what is undoubtedly a complex and challenging leadership role. 
Social media has emerged as a ubiquitous technology that facilitates exchanges and makes collaborative stake-holder interactions possible (Bryar and Zavattaro (2011, p. 327). The positive and negative impact of this has not gone unnoticed by school principals, who as educational leaders, are expected to keep abreast of contemporary events which might impact on their individual schools.  Principals demonstrate a growing awareness of the power, potential and influence that social media wields.  This study captures some of those issues and challenges. 
This study reflects the experiences of six school principals interviewed from a range of educational settings. The research concern was: How do NZ principals experience and perceive social media? And what strategies can they adopt to address the challenges and impact of social media on their principal roles? 
Key findings from this study comprise insights from principals on their perceptions of social media.  These include a range of motivations for use of social media and their awareness of the need for an online presence, despite the perceived challenges and the dominance of Facebook.  Challenges include the permanence of digital footprints, the right to privacy, managing the misuse of social media platforms and the potential threats to their learning organisation.  Insights of the practical issues of the day-to-day management of social media are explored, including the ‘public vs private persona’ of users, and the higher standard to which principals are held due to the nature of their position.  Principals demonstrate that they are resilient - leadership challenges are discussed as is legislation, policy, practice and training and the nature of available advice and support.
This thesis adds to the limited research literature available about the use of social media by principals in New Zealand schools.  It contributes to the body of knowledge and acknowledges the agility required of principals in their day-to-day management of learning organisations. 
Recommendations to principals include a need to be fully cognisant of their digital footprint and work on the assumption that everything that is ever placed online is public and permanent.  They can learn about the many affordances of social media but also be cautious of the sources of information they choose to rely on.

text: Principals’ experience of social media  in New Zealand schools This study looks at the penetration of social media into the contemporary educational landscape.  Its aim is to understand the impact of social media on principals in New Zealand schools through the exploration of their experiences and perspectives, in the context of what is undoubtedly a complex and challenging leadership role. 
Social media has emerged as a ubiquitous technology that facilitates exchanges and makes collaborative stake-holder interactions possible (Bryar and Zavattaro (2011, p. 327). The positive and negative impact of this has not gone unnoticed by school principals, who as educational leaders, are expected to keep abreast of contemporary events which might impact on their individual schools.  Principals demonstrate a growing awareness of the power, potential and influence that social media wields.  This study captures some of those issues and challenges. 
This study reflects the experiences of six school principals interviewed from a range of educational settings. The research concern was: How do NZ principals experience and perceive social media? And what strategies can they adopt to address the challenges and impact of social media on their principal roles? 
Key findings from this study comprise insights from principals on their perceptions of social media.  These include a range of motivations for use of social media and their awareness of the need for an online presence, despite the perceived challenges and the dominance of Facebook.  Challenges include the permanence of digital footprints, the right to privacy, managing the misuse of social media platforms and the potential threats to their learning organisation.  Insights of the practical issues of the day-to-day management of social media are explored, including the ‘public vs private persona’ of users, and the higher standard to which principals are held due to the nature of their position.  Principals demonstrate that they are resilient - leadership challenges are discussed as is legislation, policy, practice and training and the nature of available advice and support.
This thesis adds to the limited research literature available about the use of social media by principals in New Zealand schools.  It contributes to the body of knowledge and acknowledges the agility required of principals in their day-to-day management of learning organisations. 
Recommendations to principals include a need to be fully cognisant of their digital footprint and work on the assumption that everything that is ever placed online is public and permanent.  They can learn about the many affordances of social media but also be cautious of the sources of information they choose to rely on.

year: 2021

title: Garden Place: Who Belongs Here? Individuals' Attitude Towards Hamilton's Homeless Population

authors: Barrow, Shevon Fern Crystal

subjects: homelessness

abstract: Like many other countries, it was during the 1980s that homelessness emerged as a social problem in New Zealand. It first became a prominent issue in cities like Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. However, in later years surveys and census readings indicated that the homeless population increased in many other cities throughout New Zealand - including Hamilton. As years passed, the number of homeless individuals increased in Hamilton, along with their tendency to congregate within the Central Business District - specifically in the popular town square known as Garden Place. Subsequently news articles emerged highlighting the congregation of the homeless in Garden Place. Media portrayals labelled these homeless men and women as a ‘problem’ for businesses and city users’ alike. As a result many expressed a need for a solution to the homeless who congregate within Garden Place. Garden Place was thus chosen as the prime area of study within this research. In addition, although conscious of the potential emergence of the contestation of this public space, and irrespective of media portrayals, this study was developed to further examine the expressed (through interviews) and observed attitudes that individuals have towards Hamilton’s homeless in Garden Place, and to gain an understanding of why individuals held such views. It is proposed that an important barrier to resolving or dealing with the issue of homelessness is our attitudes towards homeless individuals. These perceptions and attitudes are important because they determine the way we think about social problems and the solutions we offer to solve them. To gain an understanding, and tap into the emotional and textual aspects of responses on how individuals perceived this particular issue, the qualitative approach was chosen for this research. Participant observation of Garden Place, and semi-structured interviews with approximately twenty willing pedestrians and four business managers within Garden Place were also conducted. As a result, findings showed that participant responses conveyed more negative attitudes towards the congregation of the homeless in Garden Place, as compared to positive attitudes. Such attitudes were based on the construction of homeless people as non-deserving of the right to this public space because they either do not ‘fit’ into the normal activities for which this space is intended or they do not live up to the imagined depictions of such spaces. In addition, solutions offered suggested that the homeless be ‘moved along’, out of Garden Place, which favoured what to do about the homeless rather than what to do for them. Therefore this research also aims to offer additional approaches to addressing this issue of homelessness within Garden Place, which can be implemented and achieved with a more positive stance on the issue.

text: Garden Place: Who Belongs Here? Individuals' Attitude Towards Hamilton's Homeless Population Like many other countries, it was during the 1980s that homelessness emerged as a social problem in New Zealand. It first became a prominent issue in cities like Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. However, in later years surveys and census readings indicated that the homeless population increased in many other cities throughout New Zealand - including Hamilton. As years passed, the number of homeless individuals increased in Hamilton, along with their tendency to congregate within the Central Business District - specifically in the popular town square known as Garden Place. Subsequently news articles emerged highlighting the congregation of the homeless in Garden Place. Media portrayals labelled these homeless men and women as a ‘problem’ for businesses and city users’ alike. As a result many expressed a need for a solution to the homeless who congregate within Garden Place. Garden Place was thus chosen as the prime area of study within this research. In addition, although conscious of the potential emergence of the contestation of this public space, and irrespective of media portrayals, this study was developed to further examine the expressed (through interviews) and observed attitudes that individuals have towards Hamilton’s homeless in Garden Place, and to gain an understanding of why individuals held such views. It is proposed that an important barrier to resolving or dealing with the issue of homelessness is our attitudes towards homeless individuals. These perceptions and attitudes are important because they determine the way we think about social problems and the solutions we offer to solve them. To gain an understanding, and tap into the emotional and textual aspects of responses on how individuals perceived this particular issue, the qualitative approach was chosen for this research. Participant observation of Garden Place, and semi-structured interviews with approximately twenty willing pedestrians and four business managers within Garden Place were also conducted. As a result, findings showed that participant responses conveyed more negative attitudes towards the congregation of the homeless in Garden Place, as compared to positive attitudes. Such attitudes were based on the construction of homeless people as non-deserving of the right to this public space because they either do not ‘fit’ into the normal activities for which this space is intended or they do not live up to the imagined depictions of such spaces. In addition, solutions offered suggested that the homeless be ‘moved along’, out of Garden Place, which favoured what to do about the homeless rather than what to do for them. Therefore this research also aims to offer additional approaches to addressing this issue of homelessness within Garden Place, which can be implemented and achieved with a more positive stance on the issue.

year: 2015

title: Lake Rotokakahi water quality update 1990-2011

authors: Butterworth, Joseph

subjects: Lake Rotokakahi

abstract: Lake Rotokakahi is an Iwi-owned lake administered by the Lake Rotokakahi Board of Control on Behalf of lake owners who are descendants from the Ngāti Tumatawera and Tūhourangi hapū of Te Arawa. It is mesotrophic (moderate water quality) lake with an area of 4.4 km² comprised of exotic forestry (57.1%), pasture (26.3%) and regenerating indigenous forest/scrub (16.6%).

text: Lake Rotokakahi water quality update 1990-2011 Lake Rotokakahi is an Iwi-owned lake administered by the Lake Rotokakahi Board of Control on Behalf of lake owners who are descendants from the Ngāti Tumatawera and Tūhourangi hapū of Te Arawa. It is mesotrophic (moderate water quality) lake with an area of 4.4 km² comprised of exotic forestry (57.1%), pasture (26.3%) and regenerating indigenous forest/scrub (16.6%).

year: 2012