title: Janetta McStay: A pianist and teacher's legacy

authors: Mo, Heewon Maria

subjects: Janetta McStay

abstract: This thesis investigates the life and legacy of pianist and teacher Janetta Mary McStay (20 May 1917–14 June 2012) as one of the foremost musicians of the twentieth century in New Zealand, exceptional in her achievements and skill. McStay was the country’s first full-time lecturer in piano at the University of Auckland where she taught from 1963 to 1982. The majority of the data was gathered through primary research in a series of interviews with McStay’s former students in order to find out her pedagogical methods, their impressions of McStay as a performer, how her diverse interests and life experiences informed her musicianship, and her enduring legacy on themselves as well as the author.

The first two chapters supply McStay’s biographical information, from her early childhood, to studies in London, followed by years of touring for the Allied troops in the Second World War as part of the Entertainments National Service Association, post-war life, and her return to New Zealand. Interviews with McStay conducted by Catherine Mayo were a great help in constructing this narrative.

Chapter three investigates McStay’s pedagogy in depth, informed by the personal stories told by her former pupils. McStay’s initial years of teaching at the University of Auckland, the general atmosphere and pastoral care, and her methods of cultivating musicianship and technique, and criticisms from the students are discussed.

The last chapter details McStay’s last years and reflections from the students on the legacy she left behind. The thesis culminates with a story of my own experience while getting to know McStay through the stories of others, and the legacy she imparted unto me.

text: Janetta McStay: A pianist and teacher's legacy This thesis investigates the life and legacy of pianist and teacher Janetta Mary McStay (20 May 1917–14 June 2012) as one of the foremost musicians of the twentieth century in New Zealand, exceptional in her achievements and skill. McStay was the country’s first full-time lecturer in piano at the University of Auckland where she taught from 1963 to 1982. The majority of the data was gathered through primary research in a series of interviews with McStay’s former students in order to find out her pedagogical methods, their impressions of McStay as a performer, how her diverse interests and life experiences informed her musicianship, and her enduring legacy on themselves as well as the author.

The first two chapters supply McStay’s biographical information, from her early childhood, to studies in London, followed by years of touring for the Allied troops in the Second World War as part of the Entertainments National Service Association, post-war life, and her return to New Zealand. Interviews with McStay conducted by Catherine Mayo were a great help in constructing this narrative.

Chapter three investigates McStay’s pedagogy in depth, informed by the personal stories told by her former pupils. McStay’s initial years of teaching at the University of Auckland, the general atmosphere and pastoral care, and her methods of cultivating musicianship and technique, and criticisms from the students are discussed.

The last chapter details McStay’s last years and reflections from the students on the legacy she left behind. The thesis culminates with a story of my own experience while getting to know McStay through the stories of others, and the legacy she imparted unto me.

year: 2021

title: Identifying Problems Associated with Focus and Context Awareness in 3D Modelling Tasks

authors: Masoodian, Masood

subjects: empirical studies in visualization

abstract: Creating complex 3D models is a challenging process. One of the main reasons for this is that 3D models are usually created using software developed for conventional 2D displays which lack true depth perspective, and therefore do not support correct perception of spatial placement and depth-ordering of displayed content. As a result, modellers often have to deal with many overlapping components of 3D models (e.g. vertices, edges, faces, etc.) on a 2D display surface. This in turn causes them to have difficulties in distinguishing distances, maintaining position and orientation awareness, etc. To better understand the nature of these problems, which can collectively be defined as ‘focus and context awareness’ problems, we have conducted a pilot study with a group of novice 3D modellers, and a series of interviews with a group of professional 3D modellers. This article presents these two studies, and their findings, which have resulted in identifying a set of focus and context awareness problems that modellers face in creating 3D models using conventional modelling software. The article also provides a review of potential solutions to these problems in the related literature.

text: Identifying Problems Associated with Focus and Context Awareness in 3D Modelling Tasks Creating complex 3D models is a challenging process. One of the main reasons for this is that 3D models are usually created using software developed for conventional 2D displays which lack true depth perspective, and therefore do not support correct perception of spatial placement and depth-ordering of displayed content. As a result, modellers often have to deal with many overlapping components of 3D models (e.g. vertices, edges, faces, etc.) on a 2D display surface. This in turn causes them to have difficulties in distinguishing distances, maintaining position and orientation awareness, etc. To better understand the nature of these problems, which can collectively be defined as ‘focus and context awareness’ problems, we have conducted a pilot study with a group of novice 3D modellers, and a series of interviews with a group of professional 3D modellers. This article presents these two studies, and their findings, which have resulted in identifying a set of focus and context awareness problems that modellers face in creating 3D models using conventional modelling software. The article also provides a review of potential solutions to these problems in the related literature.

year: 2016

title: 'Freedom’s Ramparts on The Sea': The postcolonial New Zealand landscape and the quest for sustainability

authors: Morad, Munir

subjects: postcolonialism

abstract: New Zealand’s colonial legacy has had a major impact on the shape of its landscape. The European settlement of New Zealand transformed both the land itself as well as the tenure arrangements that had hitherto followed traditional Maori practices. The increasing political influence of the modem conservation movement in New Zealand has been mirrored by a parallel rise in Maori engagement with environmental issues. Land tenure claims brought by the Maori under the 1970’s Treaty of Waitangi Act have enabled an alliance of Maori and environmental interests to be forged. This linkage however is very recent, and if the current unsustainable land use practices are to be mitigated in New Zealand, a synthesis of the essential elements in both cultural traditions is necessary.
Culture shapes how people identify and evaluate elements of their environment, and influences their behaviour and experiences. At a more pragmatic level, culture provides the social infrastructure and institutions that determine how renewable land resources are used and managed. The authors highlight the links between postcolonial culture and landscape management in New Zealand, contrasting Pakeha-Maori points of view and attempting to mediate between these conflicting positions. These links are examined in the context of new social, economic and ecological forces that are shaping the country’s postcolonial landscape.

text: 'Freedom’s Ramparts on The Sea': The postcolonial New Zealand landscape and the quest for sustainability New Zealand’s colonial legacy has had a major impact on the shape of its landscape. The European settlement of New Zealand transformed both the land itself as well as the tenure arrangements that had hitherto followed traditional Maori practices. The increasing political influence of the modem conservation movement in New Zealand has been mirrored by a parallel rise in Maori engagement with environmental issues. Land tenure claims brought by the Maori under the 1970’s Treaty of Waitangi Act have enabled an alliance of Maori and environmental interests to be forged. This linkage however is very recent, and if the current unsustainable land use practices are to be mitigated in New Zealand, a synthesis of the essential elements in both cultural traditions is necessary.
Culture shapes how people identify and evaluate elements of their environment, and influences their behaviour and experiences. At a more pragmatic level, culture provides the social infrastructure and institutions that determine how renewable land resources are used and managed. The authors highlight the links between postcolonial culture and landscape management in New Zealand, contrasting Pakeha-Maori points of view and attempting to mediate between these conflicting positions. These links are examined in the context of new social, economic and ecological forces that are shaping the country’s postcolonial landscape.

year: 2003