title: The state of well-being - A search for meaning in the New Zealand Regulatory Environment

authors: Wallace, Philippa Jane

abstract: The term "well-being" has gained prominence in national and international policy agendas. A malleable term with positive connotations and wide reach, it has become a standard objective for human advancement. New Zealand makes extensive use of the term in legislation, but well-being is seldom defined. This article explores wellbeing in New Zealand law and policy, with a focus on the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) and the Local Government Act 2002 (LGA). "Well-being" is revealed as a contested and context-dependent term at the heart of New Zealand's resource debates. Application tends to the uncritical in terms of definition and theoretical foundation. This may mask important differences between the states, which are not necessarily correlative, and may result in conflation of well-being with development. Although the term "well-being" is used with frequency in legislation, important differences are evident in the subject of wellbeing, the nature and extent of any obligation in respect of well-being, the identity of the obligor and the particularisation of dimensions of well-being. At times these nuances are lost in translation, and whilst acknowledging the benefits of the expansive and adaptive term, recommendations are made regarding its use in environmental law.

text: The state of well-being - A search for meaning in the New Zealand Regulatory Environment The term "well-being" has gained prominence in national and international policy agendas. A malleable term with positive connotations and wide reach, it has become a standard objective for human advancement. New Zealand makes extensive use of the term in legislation, but well-being is seldom defined. This article explores wellbeing in New Zealand law and policy, with a focus on the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) and the Local Government Act 2002 (LGA). "Well-being" is revealed as a contested and context-dependent term at the heart of New Zealand's resource debates. Application tends to the uncritical in terms of definition and theoretical foundation. This may mask important differences between the states, which are not necessarily correlative, and may result in conflation of well-being with development. Although the term "well-being" is used with frequency in legislation, important differences are evident in the subject of wellbeing, the nature and extent of any obligation in respect of well-being, the identity of the obligor and the particularisation of dimensions of well-being. At times these nuances are lost in translation, and whilst acknowledging the benefits of the expansive and adaptive term, recommendations are made regarding its use in environmental law.

year: 2019

title: Um Olhar Estrangeiro sobre Segurança e Securitização na Amazônia (A foreigner’s reflections on securitization and security projects in Amazonia)

authors: Zirker, Daniel

abstract: A "securitização" brasileira da sua região amazônica é desconcertante, por vezes, para observadores estrangeiros. Relaciona-se com o surgimento de uma variada gama de possíveis ameaças à segurança no novo contexto global, com as enormes e em grande parte desprotegidas fronteiras brasileiras, e com a necessidade de uma ampla e agressiva expansão das políticas governamentais de múltiplos níveis no âmbito tecnológico e geopolítico para proteger a Amazônia, que devem ser coordenadas por um crescentemente vigilante establishment militar. Tentativas históricas de alienar vastas porções da Amazônia, incluindo Fordlândia, a vasta propriedade do americano Daniel Ludwig, e Estados falidos nas fronteiras amazônicas brasileiras, têm enfatizado as vulnerabilidades deste patrimônio do Brasil, tradicionalmente despovoada. As definições de "segurança" têm ampliado cada vez mais o conceito, e dadas às condições únicas da Amazônia, o Exército brasileiro passou se defrontar com a necessidade de apoiar a migração para esta região. Este estudo examina esas necessidades de segurança no contexto dos projetos militares brasileiros, incluindo Calha Norte, SIVAM / SIPAM, SISFRON e "Amazônia Verde", SisGAAz e "Amazônia Azul", e as respostas militares brasileiras para possíveis ameaças à sua soberania nacional na região por via da implementação de programas em seus vizinhos tais como o "Plano Colômbia".

text: Um Olhar Estrangeiro sobre Segurança e Securitização na Amazônia (A foreigner’s reflections on securitization and security projects in Amazonia) A "securitização" brasileira da sua região amazônica é desconcertante, por vezes, para observadores estrangeiros. Relaciona-se com o surgimento de uma variada gama de possíveis ameaças à segurança no novo contexto global, com as enormes e em grande parte desprotegidas fronteiras brasileiras, e com a necessidade de uma ampla e agressiva expansão das políticas governamentais de múltiplos níveis no âmbito tecnológico e geopolítico para proteger a Amazônia, que devem ser coordenadas por um crescentemente vigilante establishment militar. Tentativas históricas de alienar vastas porções da Amazônia, incluindo Fordlândia, a vasta propriedade do americano Daniel Ludwig, e Estados falidos nas fronteiras amazônicas brasileiras, têm enfatizado as vulnerabilidades deste patrimônio do Brasil, tradicionalmente despovoada. As definições de "segurança" têm ampliado cada vez mais o conceito, e dadas às condições únicas da Amazônia, o Exército brasileiro passou se defrontar com a necessidade de apoiar a migração para esta região. Este estudo examina esas necessidades de segurança no contexto dos projetos militares brasileiros, incluindo Calha Norte, SIVAM / SIPAM, SISFRON e "Amazônia Verde", SisGAAz e "Amazônia Azul", e as respostas militares brasileiras para possíveis ameaças à sua soberania nacional na região por via da implementação de programas em seus vizinhos tais como o "Plano Colômbia".

year: 2015

title: Piahana Hou: a Ngati Rahiri rangatira

authors: Hart, Philip

abstract: Piahana Hou, as the half-brother of Karauna Hou, had an illustrious ancestry, but to Pakeha he was known as, briefly, the skipper of a river steamer and, for most of his life, as a labourer. His interests in several blocks of land enabled him to obtain money through selling some of his holdings, but he never became prosperous. He had minimal involvement in mining at Te Aroha.
Piahana came to prominence not as a rangatira but as a drunk, who was even involved in a bar fight at Te Aroha. Despite this weakness, his high status meant that hundreds attended his splendid tangi. Unlike some other rangatira, he did not use his status to play an important role in either Maori or Pakeha society.

text: Piahana Hou: a Ngati Rahiri rangatira Piahana Hou, as the half-brother of Karauna Hou, had an illustrious ancestry, but to Pakeha he was known as, briefly, the skipper of a river steamer and, for most of his life, as a labourer. His interests in several blocks of land enabled him to obtain money through selling some of his holdings, but he never became prosperous. He had minimal involvement in mining at Te Aroha.
Piahana came to prominence not as a rangatira but as a drunk, who was even involved in a bar fight at Te Aroha. Despite this weakness, his high status meant that hundreds attended his splendid tangi. Unlike some other rangatira, he did not use his status to play an important role in either Maori or Pakeha society.

year: 2016