title: The Reinvention of Tirau: Landscape as a record of changing economy and culture

authors: Panelli, Ruth

subjects: New Zealand

abstract: Recent attention to rural revivals and place-specific economic activity has supported studies of 'culture economies' and local identity formation in different western settings. This paper builds on these analyses of rural change to extend debate and present a New Zealand case. While recent works within rural studies have been important for exploring the intersection between economic and cultural values and processes, we argue that additional attention to landscape provides an added level of analysis. Landscape studies can trace and analyse both the material and symbolic ways in which social, cultural and economic processes (and tensions) evolve in a changing rural location. In addition, landscape analysis reiterates the importance of the specificity of place and the embeddedness of economic and cultural discourses and practices. Using the case of Tirau, a small centre in the North Island of New Zealand, we read the townscape as a portrayal of how a traditional service centre has reinvented itself around a consumption culture and a tourism-related identity.

text: The Reinvention of Tirau: Landscape as a record of changing economy and culture Recent attention to rural revivals and place-specific economic activity has supported studies of 'culture economies' and local identity formation in different western settings. This paper builds on these analyses of rural change to extend debate and present a New Zealand case. While recent works within rural studies have been important for exploring the intersection between economic and cultural values and processes, we argue that additional attention to landscape provides an added level of analysis. Landscape studies can trace and analyse both the material and symbolic ways in which social, cultural and economic processes (and tensions) evolve in a changing rural location. In addition, landscape analysis reiterates the importance of the specificity of place and the embeddedness of economic and cultural discourses and practices. Using the case of Tirau, a small centre in the North Island of New Zealand, we read the townscape as a portrayal of how a traditional service centre has reinvented itself around a consumption culture and a tourism-related identity.

year: 2003

title: Talanoa vā: indigenous masculinities and the intersections of indigeneity, race, and gender within higher education

authors: Fa'avae, David Taufui Mkiato

subjects: Social Sciences

abstract: Indigenous scholars constantly contend with deficit tendencies associated with the value and place of their cultural knowledge and practices within higher education. When gender is imbued through a racialised view of indigeneity or the indigenous scholar, the proposition of ‘other’ and ‘othering’ becomes a struggle of power relations which necessarily shapes the critical encounters in higher education spaces. This article utilises ‘talanoa vā’, a Pacific indigenous critical analytical framework for understanding how academics comprehend indigenous masculinities through negotiating and interrogating the intersections of indigeneity, race, and gender. Captured through talanoa, we story our lived experiences as Pacific and indigenous scholars within New Zealand universities. We argue that, although ‘indigenous or indigeneity’ discourses have inspired and empowered minority scholars, utilising Pacific concepts enables a closer interrogation and negotiation of indigenous masculinities centred on spirituality and good relations, which is often overlooked when considering race, gender, colourism, and power within university settings.

text: Talanoa vā: indigenous masculinities and the intersections of indigeneity, race, and gender within higher education Indigenous scholars constantly contend with deficit tendencies associated with the value and place of their cultural knowledge and practices within higher education. When gender is imbued through a racialised view of indigeneity or the indigenous scholar, the proposition of ‘other’ and ‘othering’ becomes a struggle of power relations which necessarily shapes the critical encounters in higher education spaces. This article utilises ‘talanoa vā’, a Pacific indigenous critical analytical framework for understanding how academics comprehend indigenous masculinities through negotiating and interrogating the intersections of indigeneity, race, and gender. Captured through talanoa, we story our lived experiences as Pacific and indigenous scholars within New Zealand universities. We argue that, although ‘indigenous or indigeneity’ discourses have inspired and empowered minority scholars, utilising Pacific concepts enables a closer interrogation and negotiation of indigenous masculinities centred on spirituality and good relations, which is often overlooked when considering race, gender, colourism, and power within university settings.

year: 2021

title: Whakarongo mai!: Transformative teaching to support Māori identity and success in a mainstream school

authors: Gilgen, Renée

subjects: Māori and mainstream education

abstract: This thesis topic emerged following a year’s teaching experience in a mainstream classroom during 2009. My cultural assumptions of being a Māori teacher in a mainstream class were challenged predominantly by a group of Māori students in the classroom. The level of despondency I felt as a result of disruptive student behaviours forced me to reassess my own socio-cultural constructs which had influenced the formation of my identity as Māori and as a mainstream teacher. The purpose of this study was to understand and explore a transformational behavioural shift which occurred within a group of Māori students during 2009 and the level of support they felt they received as Māori within a mainstream classroom context. National and international literature demonstrates that transformative praxis is both reflective and active. Successful inclusive teaching requires a personal and professional commitment to firstly understand individual cultural constructs to then better understand how learners are perceived and positioned. Culturally responsive pedagogy ensures that all students’ cultural practices and values are acknowledged and included into classroom teaching and learning programmes. In a New Zealand mainstream context, the Treaty of Waitangi principles of ‘partnership’, ‘participation’ and ‘protection’ serve as a bi-cultural ‘power-sharing’ metaphor from which all mainstream teachers of Māori students can successfully encourage student voice and foster reciprocal teaching and learning relationships. My use of qualitative research methods and kaupapa Māori principles to guide the research process ensured that Māori cultural protocols and practices were honoured. My role as a Māori insider researcher meant that my relationship with the participants was already established. Our reflections as Māori students and a Māori teacher in a mainstream classroom context were based from shared teaching and learning experiences during 2009. Researcher reflexivity has ensured that the research integrity, validity and reliability have remained high. The research findings present the reflections of both the participants and researcher as Māori students and as a Māori teacher during 2009. Participants believed that teaching and learning programmes which incorporated te reo Māori served to honour their identity as Māori. However, their awareness of participating with tikanga Māori principles of whānaungatanga (relationships), manaakitanga (caring), ako (reciprocity) and aroha (respect) embedded within classroom activities that were exclusively in English, were not identified as being relevant to them as Māori. Similarly, the Treaty of Waitangi principles lacked transparency within my teaching pedagogy. Two key implications for teaching and learning in mainstream schools and classrooms were identified. Firstly, there is an urgency for mainstream school managers, leaders and teachers to develop an understanding of the Treaty of Waitangi and its significance for the 21st Century mainstream teacher and learner. A bi-cultural understanding of ourselves as treaty partners support Māori cultural values and practices within increasingly diverse mainstream school and classroom contexts. Māori students‟ success becomes the responsibility of all mainstream managers, leaders and teachers as treaty partners. Secondly, inclusive and culturally responsive pedagogy demonstrates that Māori and non-Māori mainstream teachers are capable of effectively engaging Māori students with learning while acknowledging and reaffirming their cultural identity and language as tangata whenua. Overall, my commitment for Māori students to be supported as Māori within mainstream school and classroom context has been enriched and strengthened as a result of this research study. The cultural and professional tensions I have experienced in mainstream contexts have challenged the socio-cultural constructs that I had accepted as being my cultural ‘norm.’

text: Whakarongo mai!: Transformative teaching to support Māori identity and success in a mainstream school This thesis topic emerged following a year’s teaching experience in a mainstream classroom during 2009. My cultural assumptions of being a Māori teacher in a mainstream class were challenged predominantly by a group of Māori students in the classroom. The level of despondency I felt as a result of disruptive student behaviours forced me to reassess my own socio-cultural constructs which had influenced the formation of my identity as Māori and as a mainstream teacher. The purpose of this study was to understand and explore a transformational behavioural shift which occurred within a group of Māori students during 2009 and the level of support they felt they received as Māori within a mainstream classroom context. National and international literature demonstrates that transformative praxis is both reflective and active. Successful inclusive teaching requires a personal and professional commitment to firstly understand individual cultural constructs to then better understand how learners are perceived and positioned. Culturally responsive pedagogy ensures that all students’ cultural practices and values are acknowledged and included into classroom teaching and learning programmes. In a New Zealand mainstream context, the Treaty of Waitangi principles of ‘partnership’, ‘participation’ and ‘protection’ serve as a bi-cultural ‘power-sharing’ metaphor from which all mainstream teachers of Māori students can successfully encourage student voice and foster reciprocal teaching and learning relationships. My use of qualitative research methods and kaupapa Māori principles to guide the research process ensured that Māori cultural protocols and practices were honoured. My role as a Māori insider researcher meant that my relationship with the participants was already established. Our reflections as Māori students and a Māori teacher in a mainstream classroom context were based from shared teaching and learning experiences during 2009. Researcher reflexivity has ensured that the research integrity, validity and reliability have remained high. The research findings present the reflections of both the participants and researcher as Māori students and as a Māori teacher during 2009. Participants believed that teaching and learning programmes which incorporated te reo Māori served to honour their identity as Māori. However, their awareness of participating with tikanga Māori principles of whānaungatanga (relationships), manaakitanga (caring), ako (reciprocity) and aroha (respect) embedded within classroom activities that were exclusively in English, were not identified as being relevant to them as Māori. Similarly, the Treaty of Waitangi principles lacked transparency within my teaching pedagogy. Two key implications for teaching and learning in mainstream schools and classrooms were identified. Firstly, there is an urgency for mainstream school managers, leaders and teachers to develop an understanding of the Treaty of Waitangi and its significance for the 21st Century mainstream teacher and learner. A bi-cultural understanding of ourselves as treaty partners support Māori cultural values and practices within increasingly diverse mainstream school and classroom contexts. Māori students‟ success becomes the responsibility of all mainstream managers, leaders and teachers as treaty partners. Secondly, inclusive and culturally responsive pedagogy demonstrates that Māori and non-Māori mainstream teachers are capable of effectively engaging Māori students with learning while acknowledging and reaffirming their cultural identity and language as tangata whenua. Overall, my commitment for Māori students to be supported as Māori within mainstream school and classroom context has been enriched and strengthened as a result of this research study. The cultural and professional tensions I have experienced in mainstream contexts have challenged the socio-cultural constructs that I had accepted as being my cultural ‘norm.’

year: 2010