title: A Village in my Hand

authors: Russell, Phillippa Jane

subjects: Samoa

abstract: Since its arrival, the cell phone has been transforming culture and the ways in which we live, exist and interact with life. With minimal access to telecommunications, since 2006 it has become ubiquitous in Samoa. 
Using observation and semi-structured interviews based within two villages in rural Samoa, this thesis has explored the influence of the cell phone upon Samoan daily lives. It investigates how it came to be in Samoa, what perceptions surround the cell phone and how it is seen to have contributed and influenced daily activities, culture and customs of villagers.
Similar to research and literature into mobile telephony on other cultures, affordances provided through the cell phone such as micro coordination and increased connectedness are also being experienced in Samoa, reducing time and space and facilitating activities that required a fair amount of coordination into activities of micro-coordination, also creating greater access to economic opportunities, such as work and the possibility of entrepreneurship. Nonetheless it appears influences such as locality and social status seem to affect the degree of   use for Samoans.  
The ability to have greater privacy provided by the cell phone in combination with being able to be perpetually in contact with others across time and space predominantly through communicative methods like SMS or texting seem to be challenging traditional expectations surrounding authority especially around familial relationships. What looks to be the difference between similar experiences in other cultures is the speed to which this technological affordance has been integrated within rural Samoa which had no previous telecommunication availability prior to 2006.  This combined with the absolute social and customary expectations placed on the values of obedience, respect, love, selfless service and Christianity appears to be accentuating the ‘loss of parental control’. 
Traditional  customs such as gift giving have been adapted by the service provider and  transferred into the use and practice surrounding the cell phone into daily activity and use by Samoans resulting predominately in the transference of money but does also include the gifting of cell phones. 
Crossing multiple disciplines this thesis explores a number of topics surrounding the cell phone and highlights the need for   further research establishing a primary base from which to build upon.

text: A Village in my Hand Since its arrival, the cell phone has been transforming culture and the ways in which we live, exist and interact with life. With minimal access to telecommunications, since 2006 it has become ubiquitous in Samoa. 
Using observation and semi-structured interviews based within two villages in rural Samoa, this thesis has explored the influence of the cell phone upon Samoan daily lives. It investigates how it came to be in Samoa, what perceptions surround the cell phone and how it is seen to have contributed and influenced daily activities, culture and customs of villagers.
Similar to research and literature into mobile telephony on other cultures, affordances provided through the cell phone such as micro coordination and increased connectedness are also being experienced in Samoa, reducing time and space and facilitating activities that required a fair amount of coordination into activities of micro-coordination, also creating greater access to economic opportunities, such as work and the possibility of entrepreneurship. Nonetheless it appears influences such as locality and social status seem to affect the degree of   use for Samoans.  
The ability to have greater privacy provided by the cell phone in combination with being able to be perpetually in contact with others across time and space predominantly through communicative methods like SMS or texting seem to be challenging traditional expectations surrounding authority especially around familial relationships. What looks to be the difference between similar experiences in other cultures is the speed to which this technological affordance has been integrated within rural Samoa which had no previous telecommunication availability prior to 2006.  This combined with the absolute social and customary expectations placed on the values of obedience, respect, love, selfless service and Christianity appears to be accentuating the ‘loss of parental control’. 
Traditional  customs such as gift giving have been adapted by the service provider and  transferred into the use and practice surrounding the cell phone into daily activity and use by Samoans resulting predominately in the transference of money but does also include the gifting of cell phones. 
Crossing multiple disciplines this thesis explores a number of topics surrounding the cell phone and highlights the need for   further research establishing a primary base from which to build upon.

year: 2013

title: Quaternary research in New Zealand and relationship to the International Union for Quaternary Research (INQUA). Annual Report for the Catalyst Fund: Influence 2017 (with Appendix).

authors: Lowe, David J.

abstract: It is anticipated that this report has been discussed in some form with the national committee or organisation identified above and provides the wider view of this network.
I have discussed the report with some of the leading New Zealand Quaternarists and/or leaders of several INQUAfunded projects/IFGs (names are listed on p. 7). I attach a 17-page document (Appendix A) that summarises Quaternary-related research in New Zealand and the relationship of research to the International Union for Quaternary Research (INQUA) and the associated focus groups and projects. It is referred to in the report below.

text: Quaternary research in New Zealand and relationship to the International Union for Quaternary Research (INQUA). Annual Report for the Catalyst Fund: Influence 2017 (with Appendix). It is anticipated that this report has been discussed in some form with the national committee or organisation identified above and provides the wider view of this network.
I have discussed the report with some of the leading New Zealand Quaternarists and/or leaders of several INQUAfunded projects/IFGs (names are listed on p. 7). I attach a 17-page document (Appendix A) that summarises Quaternary-related research in New Zealand and the relationship of research to the International Union for Quaternary Research (INQUA) and the associated focus groups and projects. It is referred to in the report below.

year: 2018

title: Young Māori mothers and bed-sharing with their pēpi/baby: A case study focusing on the relevance and influence of three varying health promotion resources

authors: Haereroa, Nikki M.

subjects: Māori

abstract: Māori Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy (SUDI) rates are significantly higher than non-Māori. Bed-sharing is considered to be one of the major modifiable risk factors associated with SUDI rates (Mitchell et al., 1992), although there is strong opposition that suggests bed-sharing can act as a preventative measure against SUDI (McKenna & McDade, 2005). As a result of quantitative research and statistical data, many health promotion messages now focus on discouraging the practice of bed-sharing, whether it be through policy implementation throughout hospitals or through to health promotion guidelines. Although there is a high incidence of Māori SUDI rates, there has been little emphasis on Māori perspectives and insights into the practice. Of the few qualitative studies that focus on infant sleep practices, a significant finding is the high prevalence of Māori who bed-share regularly (Tipene-Leach et al., 2010). This paper will investigate the motivations and rationale of bed-sharing amongst young urban Māori mothers to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation into the lived realities of this group. The lack of consultation with a group that has been classed by New Zealand Government bodies, the Health Quality and Safety Commission and Child and Youth Mortality Review Committee Group, as ‘most at risk’ of experiencing a SUDI, maybe a contributing factor to the high Māori SUDI rates. This has brought about the question of whether current health resources are relevant and/or influence young Māori mothers. Using a Te Whare Tapa Wha framework within a Kaupapa Māori Research methodology, this paper provides a unique and much-needed perspective into the lives of young Māori mothers. The purpose of this research overall is: if health resources and messages are not relevant to a community and they have little or no influence over infant care practices, then do health professionals and researchers need to rethink current strategies and working models to ensure we focus on the real, lived needs of our community?

text: Young Māori mothers and bed-sharing with their pēpi/baby: A case study focusing on the relevance and influence of three varying health promotion resources Māori Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy (SUDI) rates are significantly higher than non-Māori. Bed-sharing is considered to be one of the major modifiable risk factors associated with SUDI rates (Mitchell et al., 1992), although there is strong opposition that suggests bed-sharing can act as a preventative measure against SUDI (McKenna & McDade, 2005). As a result of quantitative research and statistical data, many health promotion messages now focus on discouraging the practice of bed-sharing, whether it be through policy implementation throughout hospitals or through to health promotion guidelines. Although there is a high incidence of Māori SUDI rates, there has been little emphasis on Māori perspectives and insights into the practice. Of the few qualitative studies that focus on infant sleep practices, a significant finding is the high prevalence of Māori who bed-share regularly (Tipene-Leach et al., 2010). This paper will investigate the motivations and rationale of bed-sharing amongst young urban Māori mothers to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation into the lived realities of this group. The lack of consultation with a group that has been classed by New Zealand Government bodies, the Health Quality and Safety Commission and Child and Youth Mortality Review Committee Group, as ‘most at risk’ of experiencing a SUDI, maybe a contributing factor to the high Māori SUDI rates. This has brought about the question of whether current health resources are relevant and/or influence young Māori mothers. Using a Te Whare Tapa Wha framework within a Kaupapa Māori Research methodology, this paper provides a unique and much-needed perspective into the lives of young Māori mothers. The purpose of this research overall is: if health resources and messages are not relevant to a community and they have little or no influence over infant care practices, then do health professionals and researchers need to rethink current strategies and working models to ensure we focus on the real, lived needs of our community?

year: 2015