title: Pākehā counsellors consider their positioning: Towards postcolonial praxis

authors: Crocket, Alastair Robert

subjects: Counselling

abstract: The challenges of achieving the potential, which the Treaty of Waitangi offers for a postcolonial present and future, have shaped life in Aotearoa New Zealand over the last four decades. This thesis draws on this history and challenge to consider the practice possibilities for Pākehā counsellors when they work with clients and colleagues of other cultures. It is strongly influenced by the Treaty of Waitangi but seeks not to be limited to a Māori/Pākehā binary. It has been undertaken in the hopes of informing developments in the practice of students seeking to qualify to work as counsellors and more experienced practitioners. The first theoretical foundation for this study is poststructuralism which is considered as a braided stream of theorizing where braids divide and unite. A Foucauldian social constructionism underlies this project, which extends to a consideration of subjectification, agency and positioning theory. This study is also intentionally postcolonial drawing on Said’s seminal works, Orientalism (1979) and Culture and Imperialism (1993) and North American and European writing about identity politics and intersectionality. It views the centring of the Treaty of Waitangi in this land as postcolonial work. These two emphases, poststructuralism and postcolonialism, provide the theoretical base for an exploration of the context of professional counselling practice in Aotearoa New Zealand. Five experienced counsellors constituted a research group who firstly discussed practising as a Pākehā counsellor and then acknowledged their hopes and fears for their practice with clients of other cultures. In later stages of the data generation the participants were invited to join in processes of discourse analysis and deconstruction which produced shifts in practice and practice identity. This study identifies two forms of praxis that might inform a counselling practice which seeks to achieve a postcolonial purpose: these are named as critical discursive praxis and critical Pākehā praxis.

text: Pākehā counsellors consider their positioning: Towards postcolonial praxis The challenges of achieving the potential, which the Treaty of Waitangi offers for a postcolonial present and future, have shaped life in Aotearoa New Zealand over the last four decades. This thesis draws on this history and challenge to consider the practice possibilities for Pākehā counsellors when they work with clients and colleagues of other cultures. It is strongly influenced by the Treaty of Waitangi but seeks not to be limited to a Māori/Pākehā binary. It has been undertaken in the hopes of informing developments in the practice of students seeking to qualify to work as counsellors and more experienced practitioners. The first theoretical foundation for this study is poststructuralism which is considered as a braided stream of theorizing where braids divide and unite. A Foucauldian social constructionism underlies this project, which extends to a consideration of subjectification, agency and positioning theory. This study is also intentionally postcolonial drawing on Said’s seminal works, Orientalism (1979) and Culture and Imperialism (1993) and North American and European writing about identity politics and intersectionality. It views the centring of the Treaty of Waitangi in this land as postcolonial work. These two emphases, poststructuralism and postcolonialism, provide the theoretical base for an exploration of the context of professional counselling practice in Aotearoa New Zealand. Five experienced counsellors constituted a research group who firstly discussed practising as a Pākehā counsellor and then acknowledged their hopes and fears for their practice with clients of other cultures. In later stages of the data generation the participants were invited to join in processes of discourse analysis and deconstruction which produced shifts in practice and practice identity. This study identifies two forms of praxis that might inform a counselling practice which seeks to achieve a postcolonial purpose: these are named as critical discursive praxis and critical Pākehā praxis.

year: 2010

title: He raraunga inamata, he toronga ānamata, he huanga āke tonu atu: A multifaceted approach to improving quality of life for upper limb amputees

authors: August, Luke

subjects: Prosthesis

abstract: This thesis investigates innovative approaches to enhance the quality of life for upper limb amputees, integrating advanced prosthetic design, neurocontrol systems, and Māori knowledge systems. With the prevalence of prosthetic rejection and limitations in current designs affecting amputees' daily functionality and psychological well-being, a multifaceted strategy is essential. This research aims to address these challenges by improving prosthetic functionality, user control mechanisms, and incorporating cultural perspectives into prosthetic development.
The study first focuses on the design, development, and evaluation of four low-cost prosthetic hands. Assessing their Degrees of Freedom (DoF), Range of Motion (RoM), and Kapandji scores. The research proposes a novel hybrid coupled-tendon system. This system aims to combine the adaptability of underactuated designs with the precision control of coupled mechanisms, enhancing the prosthetic hands' functionality and grasp versatility.
In exploring control mechanisms, an EEG-based control system was developed to improve the intuitiveness of prosthetic control. Through comparative analysis of motor execution and action observation training regimes, facilitated by a digital twin, the study evaluates the efficacy of these methods in enhancing users' control over the prosthetics. The research identifies limitations in the classification of multiple active grasps and suggests potential improvements through augmented and virtual reality training environments. 
This thesis incorporates Māori perspectives by examining how mātauranga Māori can inform and enrich prosthetic design and usage. Through the analysis of pūrākau Māori, this work highlights the importance of considering the mauri, whakapapa of materials in prosthetic manufacturing and the implications of tapu on control systems. This inclusion aims to create culturally resonant devices that acknowledge and integrate the spiritual and cultural dimensions of the user's identity, offering a holistic approach to prosthetic development.
This interdisciplinary research contributes to the field by proposing a comprehensive framework that not only advances prosthetic technology but also aligns with cultural values and practices. By addressing the technical, psychological, and cultural needs of upper limb amputees, the project underscores the potential of combining engineering innovation with cultural wisdom to significantly improve amputees' autonomy and well-being. The findings advocate for a more inclusive and holistic approach to prosthetic development, emphasizing the importance of user-centric design and cultural competency in enhancing the quality of life for individuals with limb loss.

text: He raraunga inamata, he toronga ānamata, he huanga āke tonu atu: A multifaceted approach to improving quality of life for upper limb amputees This thesis investigates innovative approaches to enhance the quality of life for upper limb amputees, integrating advanced prosthetic design, neurocontrol systems, and Māori knowledge systems. With the prevalence of prosthetic rejection and limitations in current designs affecting amputees' daily functionality and psychological well-being, a multifaceted strategy is essential. This research aims to address these challenges by improving prosthetic functionality, user control mechanisms, and incorporating cultural perspectives into prosthetic development.
The study first focuses on the design, development, and evaluation of four low-cost prosthetic hands. Assessing their Degrees of Freedom (DoF), Range of Motion (RoM), and Kapandji scores. The research proposes a novel hybrid coupled-tendon system. This system aims to combine the adaptability of underactuated designs with the precision control of coupled mechanisms, enhancing the prosthetic hands' functionality and grasp versatility.
In exploring control mechanisms, an EEG-based control system was developed to improve the intuitiveness of prosthetic control. Through comparative analysis of motor execution and action observation training regimes, facilitated by a digital twin, the study evaluates the efficacy of these methods in enhancing users' control over the prosthetics. The research identifies limitations in the classification of multiple active grasps and suggests potential improvements through augmented and virtual reality training environments. 
This thesis incorporates Māori perspectives by examining how mātauranga Māori can inform and enrich prosthetic design and usage. Through the analysis of pūrākau Māori, this work highlights the importance of considering the mauri, whakapapa of materials in prosthetic manufacturing and the implications of tapu on control systems. This inclusion aims to create culturally resonant devices that acknowledge and integrate the spiritual and cultural dimensions of the user's identity, offering a holistic approach to prosthetic development.
This interdisciplinary research contributes to the field by proposing a comprehensive framework that not only advances prosthetic technology but also aligns with cultural values and practices. By addressing the technical, psychological, and cultural needs of upper limb amputees, the project underscores the potential of combining engineering innovation with cultural wisdom to significantly improve amputees' autonomy and well-being. The findings advocate for a more inclusive and holistic approach to prosthetic development, emphasizing the importance of user-centric design and cultural competency in enhancing the quality of life for individuals with limb loss.

year: 2024

title: "Schema" in theories of truth

authors: Ulatowski, Joseph W.

abstract: This brief summary of “schema” aims to help novices better appreciate what a schema is, how it is used, and why it is important for theories of truth. The summary should not be interpreted as replacing original work on “schema;” rather, it is meant to serve as a supplement for students who are unfamiliar with schema in philosophy or mathematics. For a more detailed account, I encourage interested readers to read Corcoran (2006) and Corcoran and Hamid (2016).

text: "Schema" in theories of truth This brief summary of “schema” aims to help novices better appreciate what a schema is, how it is used, and why it is important for theories of truth. The summary should not be interpreted as replacing original work on “schema;” rather, it is meant to serve as a supplement for students who are unfamiliar with schema in philosophy or mathematics. For a more detailed account, I encourage interested readers to read Corcoran (2006) and Corcoran and Hamid (2016).

year: 2021