title: My tūpuna were houseless once too: Aspirations of ‘home’ for rangatahi Māori in transitional housing

authors: Manuirirangi, Kayla

abstract: This research explores the concept of ‘home' for rangatahi Māori experiencing housing insecurity and residing within a transitional housing service in Kirikiriroa, Hamilton. Conducted in partnership with Kirikiriroa Family Services Trust (KFST), a kaupapa Māori community housing provider, this study aimed to identify rangatahi perceptions of ‘home’ and aspirations of 'home’ to contribute towards strategies for better housing supports and brighter rangatahi futures. A cohort of seven rangatahi Māori participants were involved in this study (all who identified as female; aged 15-19 years old). At the time of this study, rangatahi participants were residing in Kirikiriroa, experiencing housing insecurity and were living within a transitional house provided by KFST, either with whānau or independently. Guided by Kaupapa Māori methodology, there were a mixture of qualitative methods used to capture rangatahi voices, including Whakawhanaungatanga, Sticky Notes Brainstorms, Rangatahi Wānanga and Thematic Analysis. Through this data analysis process, a visual mind map was generated to draw out the key findings from the three main research areas: rangatahi aspirations for home; the current realities of home; and how to build a bridge to a better future. Key findings from this research conclude that: (1) Rangatahi need strength-based support; (2) Rangatahi need a permanent and stable place to call ‘home’; (3) Rangatahi need supportive adults in their life who they can trust; (4) Rangatahi need encouragement to realise their aspirations; (5) Rangatahi opinions matter; (6) Rangatahi experience contradictions; and, the need to (7) Prioritise intervention over punishment. For policy and decision-makers, these findings suggest that rangatahi Māori voices should be included in urban design process and that more Māori solutions should be utilised within this urban context. For researchers, the study highlights the importance of advancing Māori housing aspirations and deepening understandings of ‘home’ for rangatahi Māori living independent of their whānau.

text: My tūpuna were houseless once too: Aspirations of ‘home’ for rangatahi Māori in transitional housing This research explores the concept of ‘home' for rangatahi Māori experiencing housing insecurity and residing within a transitional housing service in Kirikiriroa, Hamilton. Conducted in partnership with Kirikiriroa Family Services Trust (KFST), a kaupapa Māori community housing provider, this study aimed to identify rangatahi perceptions of ‘home’ and aspirations of 'home’ to contribute towards strategies for better housing supports and brighter rangatahi futures. A cohort of seven rangatahi Māori participants were involved in this study (all who identified as female; aged 15-19 years old). At the time of this study, rangatahi participants were residing in Kirikiriroa, experiencing housing insecurity and were living within a transitional house provided by KFST, either with whānau or independently. Guided by Kaupapa Māori methodology, there were a mixture of qualitative methods used to capture rangatahi voices, including Whakawhanaungatanga, Sticky Notes Brainstorms, Rangatahi Wānanga and Thematic Analysis. Through this data analysis process, a visual mind map was generated to draw out the key findings from the three main research areas: rangatahi aspirations for home; the current realities of home; and how to build a bridge to a better future. Key findings from this research conclude that: (1) Rangatahi need strength-based support; (2) Rangatahi need a permanent and stable place to call ‘home’; (3) Rangatahi need supportive adults in their life who they can trust; (4) Rangatahi need encouragement to realise their aspirations; (5) Rangatahi opinions matter; (6) Rangatahi experience contradictions; and, the need to (7) Prioritise intervention over punishment. For policy and decision-makers, these findings suggest that rangatahi Māori voices should be included in urban design process and that more Māori solutions should be utilised within this urban context. For researchers, the study highlights the importance of advancing Māori housing aspirations and deepening understandings of ‘home’ for rangatahi Māori living independent of their whānau.

year: 2025

title: Pilot study investigating pathway for practitioner engagement with whānau during a self-control activity: Implications for uptake in the home and for empowered engagement.

authors: Watson, Kaitlyn

subjects: Community psychology

abstract: There is a gap in youth mentoring services using the home environment of at-risk youth to encourage development of the skills worked on within mentoring. This thesis explores whether a game-based intervention situated in the home environment of youth may initiate changes in behaviour that coincide with their learning during mentoring. Participants were recruited through a private youth mentoring service within Whāngarei. Participants included whānau of youth who are enrolled in the Awhi Ako youth mentoring service and their respective mentors. The Awhi Ako mentoring service aims to support youth through their selected needs by a wider wraparound service.
A game was picked to introduce to whānau to play together at home. This game contained a mechanism that may reward self-control behaviours. Whānau were interviewed and asked to discuss their child’s self-control behaviours before the introduction of the game and any changes after playing the game. 
A principal focus of this thesis is on practitioner engagement with the whānau of mentored youth. Practitioner engagement with communities and people is an integral value underpinning Community psychology. Whānau within the youth mentoring service include Māori, Pasifika, Pākehā and mixed ethnic backgrounds. A core focus of this thesis is understanding the relationship between practitioner and participants and how this impacts upon uptake of the introduction of the activity. In accordance with community psychology underpinnings and values of cultural awareness, cultural respect and understanding this thesis aspires to provide evidence towards the importance of this relationship. Another key focus of this thesis is comprehending the multifaceted effects of an intervention within the home environment and how this impacts mentors, the home environment and the development of youth. Emphasizing a fundamental principle of community psychology of interconnectedness between all facets of a persons life. 
The conclusions drawn from this thesis illustrate the importance of developing a relationship with whānau a key focus to their willingness to participate and actively engage in this pilot study. The findings from this pilot study indicate that whānau experienced hardship and that whānau within at-risk environments had competing priorities that impeded the introduction of home-based activities.

text: Pilot study investigating pathway for practitioner engagement with whānau during a self-control activity: Implications for uptake in the home and for empowered engagement. There is a gap in youth mentoring services using the home environment of at-risk youth to encourage development of the skills worked on within mentoring. This thesis explores whether a game-based intervention situated in the home environment of youth may initiate changes in behaviour that coincide with their learning during mentoring. Participants were recruited through a private youth mentoring service within Whāngarei. Participants included whānau of youth who are enrolled in the Awhi Ako youth mentoring service and their respective mentors. The Awhi Ako mentoring service aims to support youth through their selected needs by a wider wraparound service.
A game was picked to introduce to whānau to play together at home. This game contained a mechanism that may reward self-control behaviours. Whānau were interviewed and asked to discuss their child’s self-control behaviours before the introduction of the game and any changes after playing the game. 
A principal focus of this thesis is on practitioner engagement with the whānau of mentored youth. Practitioner engagement with communities and people is an integral value underpinning Community psychology. Whānau within the youth mentoring service include Māori, Pasifika, Pākehā and mixed ethnic backgrounds. A core focus of this thesis is understanding the relationship between practitioner and participants and how this impacts upon uptake of the introduction of the activity. In accordance with community psychology underpinnings and values of cultural awareness, cultural respect and understanding this thesis aspires to provide evidence towards the importance of this relationship. Another key focus of this thesis is comprehending the multifaceted effects of an intervention within the home environment and how this impacts mentors, the home environment and the development of youth. Emphasizing a fundamental principle of community psychology of interconnectedness between all facets of a persons life. 
The conclusions drawn from this thesis illustrate the importance of developing a relationship with whānau a key focus to their willingness to participate and actively engage in this pilot study. The findings from this pilot study indicate that whānau experienced hardship and that whānau within at-risk environments had competing priorities that impeded the introduction of home-based activities.

year: 2024

title: Complexity and fragility: an assessment of New Zealand trade relations

authors: Luo, Yangyuyu

subjects: International Trade

abstract: In the decade 2010-2019, international trade relationships started to show some new patterns with complex and fragile features. These patterns are attributed to various factors, including globally slower demand, greater participation in Global Value Chains (GVCs), and the application of non-tariff measures (NTMs). These factors considerably increase the difficulty of measuring and predicting future trade relationships at the sectoral and the firm level. 
	In order to provide a practical and empirical contribution to the literature on international trade and policy, especially New Zealand trade policy, this thesis assesses the past performance, identifies the determinants, and predicts the future patterns of New Zealand trade relationships using emerging methodologies. It consists of five separate but interconnected studies, of which one is published, one is under review, and two are about to be submitted to academic journals for publication. 
	The first study provides an overview of New Zealand’s participation in GVCs and identifies the key determinants of all OECD countries’ participation. It finds that New Zealand has limited participation in GVCs. Also, it observes that most underlying drivers considered have a diverse impact on the domestic and international component of GVCs. Specifically, GDP growth, R&D, tariffs, credit availability, corruption perception and port infrastructure are the most significant factors influencing OECD countries’ participation. 
	The second, third and fourth studies assess New Zealand trade relationships by investigating the duration and survival of imports and exports in multiple sectors. Results from these studies can help uncover the past trade performance of New Zealand different agricultural products in details. A common empirical approach employed in these studies includes a decomposition of the observed trade relationships by sequence and an application of the discrete-time hazard model of survival analysis. 
	To be more specific, the second study examines New Zealand horticulture imports from 1989 to 2019. The results indicate that around 58 per cent of the trade relationships had survived only one year, and approximately one-quarter of them attempted to enter the New Zealand market multiple times. As regards the determinants, duration of the sequence, the number of entries, distance, GDP per capita, import prices, domestic production, the number of import origins and export destinations are found to be the significant factors affecting the hazard rate of import survival. Most importantly, the estimated impacts of the sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures required by the New Zealand Import Health Standards (IHS) are mixed, depending on the type of treatment and the exporting countries’ level of development.
	The third study, following the same methodology, focuses on New Zealand dairy exports. It indicates that dairy export relationships are dynamic with numerous entries and exits to and from foreign markets. At the sequence level, around half of the relationships survived for 1-2 years only. As regards the determinants, duration of the sequence, left-censoring, initial export, decomposed sequences, export price, the number of cows available for dairy production, the number of import origins and export destinations, and destination partner’s GDP, are the most significant factors reducing the hazard rate of export relationships. Most importantly, the results indicate that technical barriers to trade significantly decrease the hazard rate. Only pre-shipment inspection and contingent trade protective measures are significant impediments to New Zealand dairy export relationships. 
	The fourth study examines the short-lived nature of honey trade relationships as a proxy of the competitiveness of 14 globally leading honey exporting countries, including New Zealand. The findings confirm that approximately 62 per cent of the export sequences survived no more than three years across countries. Among the factors examined, longer duration, multiple entries, left-censoring, distance, and the number of suppliers are the most significant determinants decreasing the hazard rate of honey exports. Further, the results provide some evidence that both food safety and security significantly affect countries’ export survival. It concludes that among the selected sample of countries, Hungary, Belgium, Germany, China, and New Zealand are relatively ‘competitive’ as their honey export sequences are associated with lower hazard rates and longer duration. 
	The last study of this thesis aims to identify the potential destinations of New Zealand dairy exports in the context of dynamic trade networks, using a Link Prediction (LP) approach. It observes that among the algorithms of LP, the Weighted Resource Allocation (WRA) index has the highest accuracy in predicting potential dairy trade relationships. It also anticipates future patterns of those potential trade relationships given their prior export duration and survival patterns. The results indicate no significant ‘Weak Ties’ effect on dairy trade networks. Indeed, common trade partners with larger trade volume are more important than those with smaller volume in helping two disconnected countries trade. Besides, new dairy trade relationships that are most likely to emerge involve countries such as New Zealand, Ukraine, Peru, and Malaysia. Finally, trade relationships such as between New Zealand and Turkey, Malaysia and Switzerland, and the Czech Republic and the U.S. are predicted to be extremely active with multiple sequences of trade in the future, if no trade promotion policies will be implemented. 
	Overall, the empirical outcomes of this thesis provide important policy implications for both the New Zealand government and local decision-makers in charge of trade, given the relevant information on the patterns, determinants, and future trade opportunities in multiple sectors.

text: Complexity and fragility: an assessment of New Zealand trade relations In the decade 2010-2019, international trade relationships started to show some new patterns with complex and fragile features. These patterns are attributed to various factors, including globally slower demand, greater participation in Global Value Chains (GVCs), and the application of non-tariff measures (NTMs). These factors considerably increase the difficulty of measuring and predicting future trade relationships at the sectoral and the firm level. 
	In order to provide a practical and empirical contribution to the literature on international trade and policy, especially New Zealand trade policy, this thesis assesses the past performance, identifies the determinants, and predicts the future patterns of New Zealand trade relationships using emerging methodologies. It consists of five separate but interconnected studies, of which one is published, one is under review, and two are about to be submitted to academic journals for publication. 
	The first study provides an overview of New Zealand’s participation in GVCs and identifies the key determinants of all OECD countries’ participation. It finds that New Zealand has limited participation in GVCs. Also, it observes that most underlying drivers considered have a diverse impact on the domestic and international component of GVCs. Specifically, GDP growth, R&D, tariffs, credit availability, corruption perception and port infrastructure are the most significant factors influencing OECD countries’ participation. 
	The second, third and fourth studies assess New Zealand trade relationships by investigating the duration and survival of imports and exports in multiple sectors. Results from these studies can help uncover the past trade performance of New Zealand different agricultural products in details. A common empirical approach employed in these studies includes a decomposition of the observed trade relationships by sequence and an application of the discrete-time hazard model of survival analysis. 
	To be more specific, the second study examines New Zealand horticulture imports from 1989 to 2019. The results indicate that around 58 per cent of the trade relationships had survived only one year, and approximately one-quarter of them attempted to enter the New Zealand market multiple times. As regards the determinants, duration of the sequence, the number of entries, distance, GDP per capita, import prices, domestic production, the number of import origins and export destinations are found to be the significant factors affecting the hazard rate of import survival. Most importantly, the estimated impacts of the sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures required by the New Zealand Import Health Standards (IHS) are mixed, depending on the type of treatment and the exporting countries’ level of development.
	The third study, following the same methodology, focuses on New Zealand dairy exports. It indicates that dairy export relationships are dynamic with numerous entries and exits to and from foreign markets. At the sequence level, around half of the relationships survived for 1-2 years only. As regards the determinants, duration of the sequence, left-censoring, initial export, decomposed sequences, export price, the number of cows available for dairy production, the number of import origins and export destinations, and destination partner’s GDP, are the most significant factors reducing the hazard rate of export relationships. Most importantly, the results indicate that technical barriers to trade significantly decrease the hazard rate. Only pre-shipment inspection and contingent trade protective measures are significant impediments to New Zealand dairy export relationships. 
	The fourth study examines the short-lived nature of honey trade relationships as a proxy of the competitiveness of 14 globally leading honey exporting countries, including New Zealand. The findings confirm that approximately 62 per cent of the export sequences survived no more than three years across countries. Among the factors examined, longer duration, multiple entries, left-censoring, distance, and the number of suppliers are the most significant determinants decreasing the hazard rate of honey exports. Further, the results provide some evidence that both food safety and security significantly affect countries’ export survival. It concludes that among the selected sample of countries, Hungary, Belgium, Germany, China, and New Zealand are relatively ‘competitive’ as their honey export sequences are associated with lower hazard rates and longer duration. 
	The last study of this thesis aims to identify the potential destinations of New Zealand dairy exports in the context of dynamic trade networks, using a Link Prediction (LP) approach. It observes that among the algorithms of LP, the Weighted Resource Allocation (WRA) index has the highest accuracy in predicting potential dairy trade relationships. It also anticipates future patterns of those potential trade relationships given their prior export duration and survival patterns. The results indicate no significant ‘Weak Ties’ effect on dairy trade networks. Indeed, common trade partners with larger trade volume are more important than those with smaller volume in helping two disconnected countries trade. Besides, new dairy trade relationships that are most likely to emerge involve countries such as New Zealand, Ukraine, Peru, and Malaysia. Finally, trade relationships such as between New Zealand and Turkey, Malaysia and Switzerland, and the Czech Republic and the U.S. are predicted to be extremely active with multiple sequences of trade in the future, if no trade promotion policies will be implemented. 
	Overall, the empirical outcomes of this thesis provide important policy implications for both the New Zealand government and local decision-makers in charge of trade, given the relevant information on the patterns, determinants, and future trade opportunities in multiple sectors.

year: 2020