title: Health, Culture, and Lifestyle in Contemporary Tonga:  With Particular Reference to Diabetes and Diet

authors: Forde, Jacinta Maria

subjects: Tonga

abstract: Over recent decades there has emerged a significant literature regarding the effects of development and globalisation on the culture of Pacific Islanders. It often has emphasised the alarming rate at which non-communicable diseases and related health complications have increased, presumably due to changes in lifestyles. The aim of this thesis is to report on a research project that investigated the contradictory effects that globalisation and development have had on the people of Tonga, particularly in respect to their way of life and how they negotiate the relationship between tradition and modernity. It is informed by a period of ethnographic fieldwork undertaken by the researcher with three families in Tonga, as well as unstructured interviews with members of the Tongan community in Tonga and New Zealand. The study especially explores the link between the shift away from traditional lifeways and increasing ill health, with a focus on the link between diabetes and diet, and more generally Tongan understandings of ‘health’ and non-communicable diseases and their treatments.

text: Health, Culture, and Lifestyle in Contemporary Tonga:  With Particular Reference to Diabetes and Diet Over recent decades there has emerged a significant literature regarding the effects of development and globalisation on the culture of Pacific Islanders. It often has emphasised the alarming rate at which non-communicable diseases and related health complications have increased, presumably due to changes in lifestyles. The aim of this thesis is to report on a research project that investigated the contradictory effects that globalisation and development have had on the people of Tonga, particularly in respect to their way of life and how they negotiate the relationship between tradition and modernity. It is informed by a period of ethnographic fieldwork undertaken by the researcher with three families in Tonga, as well as unstructured interviews with members of the Tongan community in Tonga and New Zealand. The study especially explores the link between the shift away from traditional lifeways and increasing ill health, with a focus on the link between diabetes and diet, and more generally Tongan understandings of ‘health’ and non-communicable diseases and their treatments.

year: 2015

title: Inclusive education for children with disabilities in Fiji: Teacher perspectives and attitudes

authors: Daveta, Mereoni Laveti

subjects: inclusive education

abstract: The purpose of this research was to examine teacher perspectives and
attitudes on inclusive education for children with disabilities in Fiji. Teachers'
perspectives and attitudes are crucial in providing insights that could
help improve education and services for children with disabilities in regular
schools in Fiji.
A qualitative approach using semi structured interviews was selected as
the methodology for this research. Nine teachers from nine different
schools in Suva, the capital city of Fiji, participated in this research. The
nine participants were selected from three different school settings. Three
of the participants were from special schools, three were from primary
schools and three were from secondary schools.
Data collected showed that teachers support inclusive education, however,
they had reservations on the inclusion of students with severe disabilities.
Several factors were identified to influence teachers' attitudes towards inclusion.
The most common factors were severity of disability that the students
had, inadequate training of teachers on teaching students with disabilities,
inadequate government funding, lack of specialised resource personnel
and lack of appropriate equipment and resources to support students
and teachers in the teaching learning process. Limited commitment
from the Ministry of Education and limited participation and consultation of
teachers on policy and curriculum design were also identified as contributing
factors for non inclusion of students with disabilities in regular schools.
Teachers need to change their perspectives and attitudes and schools
need to be welcoming and prepared to accept all students with disabilities
into the general education system in Fiji.

text: Inclusive education for children with disabilities in Fiji: Teacher perspectives and attitudes The purpose of this research was to examine teacher perspectives and
attitudes on inclusive education for children with disabilities in Fiji. Teachers'
perspectives and attitudes are crucial in providing insights that could
help improve education and services for children with disabilities in regular
schools in Fiji.
A qualitative approach using semi structured interviews was selected as
the methodology for this research. Nine teachers from nine different
schools in Suva, the capital city of Fiji, participated in this research. The
nine participants were selected from three different school settings. Three
of the participants were from special schools, three were from primary
schools and three were from secondary schools.
Data collected showed that teachers support inclusive education, however,
they had reservations on the inclusion of students with severe disabilities.
Several factors were identified to influence teachers' attitudes towards inclusion.
The most common factors were severity of disability that the students
had, inadequate training of teachers on teaching students with disabilities,
inadequate government funding, lack of specialised resource personnel
and lack of appropriate equipment and resources to support students
and teachers in the teaching learning process. Limited commitment
from the Ministry of Education and limited participation and consultation of
teachers on policy and curriculum design were also identified as contributing
factors for non inclusion of students with disabilities in regular schools.
Teachers need to change their perspectives and attitudes and schools
need to be welcoming and prepared to accept all students with disabilities
into the general education system in Fiji.

year: 2009

title: An evaluation of Te Rau Puawai workforce 100: Addressing the recruitment and retention of Maori students in tertiary education institutions: A literature review

authors: Nikora, Linda Waimarie

subjects: Maori students

abstract: To evaluate the Te Rau Puawai programme, the Ministry of Health commissioned the
Maori and Psychology Research Unit of the University of Waikato in July 2001. The
overall aim of the evaluation was to provide the Ministry with a clearer understanding
of the programme including: the perceived critical success factors, the barriers if any
regarding Te Rau Puawai, the impact of the programme, the extent to which the
programme may be transferable, gaps in the programme, and suggested
improvements.
To achieve this end, a review of relevant literature was undertaken to provide a
framework to understand the patterns that arose from the information that we
collected as part of this evaluation.
The review of literature is presented in this technical report.

text: An evaluation of Te Rau Puawai workforce 100: Addressing the recruitment and retention of Maori students in tertiary education institutions: A literature review To evaluate the Te Rau Puawai programme, the Ministry of Health commissioned the
Maori and Psychology Research Unit of the University of Waikato in July 2001. The
overall aim of the evaluation was to provide the Ministry with a clearer understanding
of the programme including: the perceived critical success factors, the barriers if any
regarding Te Rau Puawai, the impact of the programme, the extent to which the
programme may be transferable, gaps in the programme, and suggested
improvements.
To achieve this end, a review of relevant literature was undertaken to provide a
framework to understand the patterns that arose from the information that we
collected as part of this evaluation.
The review of literature is presented in this technical report.

year: 2002-05-01