title: Māori transitions into tertiary education

authors: Amundsen, Diana Leigh

subjects: Maori

abstract: This thesis critically examines Māori transitions into tertiary education. The research explored the lived transition experiences of 20 Māori tertiary education students in the Bay of Plenty region. Historical and contemporary factors in Aotearoa influencing effective Māori student transitions into tertiary education were investigated. Data were collected and analysed through repeated semistructured interviews and focus groups over the 2016-2018 period with 20 Māori students enrolled in a wānanga, a polytechnic and a university. Participants experienced their transition as a journey, continuously evolving their identities and agency in relation to the tertiary education environments and social structures they encountered.
The findings suggest that transitions to tertiary education for Māori students involve a reciprocal interplay of identity, agency and structure which support or constrain transition experiences. Effective transition experiences were underpinned by processes of continuity enabling identity growth. Support was central to how well participants perceived their transition—racism and lack of support were significant barriers; suitable support was a significant enabler.
An over-riding theme from this research related to the interplay of power relations and Māori identity. How effectively participants developed a sense of belonging (or alienation) and identity growth linked to the tertiary education environments they encountered during their transition. Within wānanga, participants felt their Māori cultural identity was highly valued; within polytechnics, there was a sense that Māori culture is included but more could be done; within universities, a need for more inclusive practices to support Māori learner requirements was identified.
Lastly, this research was conducted by a Pākehā researcher working across kaupapa Māori spaces within interpretive and critical paradigms. Unexpected moments of struggle, discomfort and vulnerability opened up new and deeper understanding of implications for Pākehā educators and researchers engaging across Māori research spaces. This thesis argues for Pākehā to use their privilege to foster more equitable social structures. Equitable social structures would be beneficial for Māori transitions into tertiary education environments.

text: Māori transitions into tertiary education This thesis critically examines Māori transitions into tertiary education. The research explored the lived transition experiences of 20 Māori tertiary education students in the Bay of Plenty region. Historical and contemporary factors in Aotearoa influencing effective Māori student transitions into tertiary education were investigated. Data were collected and analysed through repeated semistructured interviews and focus groups over the 2016-2018 period with 20 Māori students enrolled in a wānanga, a polytechnic and a university. Participants experienced their transition as a journey, continuously evolving their identities and agency in relation to the tertiary education environments and social structures they encountered.
The findings suggest that transitions to tertiary education for Māori students involve a reciprocal interplay of identity, agency and structure which support or constrain transition experiences. Effective transition experiences were underpinned by processes of continuity enabling identity growth. Support was central to how well participants perceived their transition—racism and lack of support were significant barriers; suitable support was a significant enabler.
An over-riding theme from this research related to the interplay of power relations and Māori identity. How effectively participants developed a sense of belonging (or alienation) and identity growth linked to the tertiary education environments they encountered during their transition. Within wānanga, participants felt their Māori cultural identity was highly valued; within polytechnics, there was a sense that Māori culture is included but more could be done; within universities, a need for more inclusive practices to support Māori learner requirements was identified.
Lastly, this research was conducted by a Pākehā researcher working across kaupapa Māori spaces within interpretive and critical paradigms. Unexpected moments of struggle, discomfort and vulnerability opened up new and deeper understanding of implications for Pākehā educators and researchers engaging across Māori research spaces. This thesis argues for Pākehā to use their privilege to foster more equitable social structures. Equitable social structures would be beneficial for Māori transitions into tertiary education environments.

year: 2019

title: The Truth About Stories: A Native Narrative By Thomas King

authors: Douglas, Zanna

abstract: The truth about stories is that that’s all we are.” Koinei ngā kupu e tika ana hei whakamana i te āhua o te pukapuka nei nā Thomas King i tuhi. Ko te pakiwaitara tētehi āhuatanga e pupuri nei e te iwi taketake, he huarahi e mārama ai tātou ki te huringa o te ao. He taonga hoki ēnei kua take mai nō mua rā anō, kia kore e warewaretia wā tātou hītori, kia pupuri tonu hoki ki ngā kōrero ō mua, ngā kōrero e puawai ai te tuakiri o te tangata. Mō King, ka hanga te pakiwaitara i te tangata, nā koianei te pūtakenga mai o tāna aronga i roto i te pukapuka nei. Ko tāna he whakatakoto mai i ngā pakiwaitara kua rangona e ia i roto i ōna tau, me kī ko ngā hītori nō tōna iwi. Ko tētehi o ngā āhuatanga matua ka tū mai i roto i te tuhituhinga nei ko tāna kōrero mō ngā āhuatanga kua pā ki a ia i roto i tōna oranga. He huarahi pai tēnei hei whakamahana atu i te kaituhi ki te kaipānui, mā reira e āhei ana te kaipānui ki te whakawhanaunga atu ki te ngako o ngā kōrero o roto i te pukapuka.

text: The Truth About Stories: A Native Narrative By Thomas King The truth about stories is that that’s all we are.” Koinei ngā kupu e tika ana hei whakamana i te āhua o te pukapuka nei nā Thomas King i tuhi. Ko te pakiwaitara tētehi āhuatanga e pupuri nei e te iwi taketake, he huarahi e mārama ai tātou ki te huringa o te ao. He taonga hoki ēnei kua take mai nō mua rā anō, kia kore e warewaretia wā tātou hītori, kia pupuri tonu hoki ki ngā kōrero ō mua, ngā kōrero e puawai ai te tuakiri o te tangata. Mō King, ka hanga te pakiwaitara i te tangata, nā koianei te pūtakenga mai o tāna aronga i roto i te pukapuka nei. Ko tāna he whakatakoto mai i ngā pakiwaitara kua rangona e ia i roto i ōna tau, me kī ko ngā hītori nō tōna iwi. Ko tētehi o ngā āhuatanga matua ka tū mai i roto i te tuhituhinga nei ko tāna kōrero mō ngā āhuatanga kua pā ki a ia i roto i tōna oranga. He huarahi pai tēnei hei whakamahana atu i te kaituhi ki te kaipānui, mā reira e āhei ana te kaipānui ki te whakawhanaunga atu ki te ngako o ngā kōrero o roto i te pukapuka.

year: 2011-04

title: Targets of Elf5 in Mouse Trophoblast Stem Cells

authors: Deane, Jessica Robyn

subjects: Elf5

abstract: The Placenta is an essential organ for all mammalian embryonic development as it provides the nutritional link between maternal and foetal blood streams. The cells which go on to proliferate and contribute to all the major cell types of the embryo derived placenta have been located to the trophoblast (TE) cells overlying the Inner Cell Mass (ICM) of the embryo. Immortal cell lines have been subsequentially derived from this tissue and called Trophoblast Stem (TS) cells. In parallel with their  in vivo  counterparts they are also reliant on Fibroblast growth factor 4 (FgF4) (Tanaka et al., 1998) and Activin/Nodal signalling (Guzman-Ayala et al., 2004). 

The Ets family transcription factor, Elf5, has been shown to be specifically expressed in the early placental trophoblast and subsequent derived tissues. Mice deficient in Elf5 failed to form a placenta post implantation. Furthermore TS cells were unable to be derived from Elf5 knockout embryos (Donnison et al., 2005). This work suggested that Elf5 plays an essential role in TS cells and their differentiation. The aim of this study was to determine the downstream target genes of Elf5 in mouse TS cells. The target genes of Fgf4 and Activin/Nodal signalling in TS cells were also investigated.  This work is hoped to contribute to an overall greater understanding of the molecular networks underlying TS cell maintenance and to contribute to our knowledge of early placental development. 

Small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeted reduction of Elf5 mRNA expression in mTS cells was achieved using two independent siRNAs; with Elf5 reduction exceeding 80%. The resulting changes in gene expression were measured in order to determine the downstream targets of Elf5. Selected genes known to be important for trophoblast differentiation and maintenance were measured using real-time PCR in a candidate gene approach .Global changes in gene expression as a consequence of Elf5 silencing were measured using an Affymetrix microarray. Global changes in gene expression due to growth factor (Fgf4 and/or Activin) removal were also measured. Expression of 22 genes was changed using either of the Elf5 siRNA oligonucleotides. Of these, 9 were also significantly changed by growth factor removal. Included in this set were Synopl, Hst3st3b1, Cyr61 and Sox2. In the overall analysis, many genes whose expression changed upon loss of Elf5 are known to play important roles in trophectoderm cell specification. Real-time PCR validation agreed closely with the up or down regulation measured using the microarray. This work has thus led to the discovery of sets of Elf5 target genes potentially involved in trophoblast stem cell function and has provided the foundation for future work exploring the molecular pathways of trophoblast development.

text: Targets of Elf5 in Mouse Trophoblast Stem Cells The Placenta is an essential organ for all mammalian embryonic development as it provides the nutritional link between maternal and foetal blood streams. The cells which go on to proliferate and contribute to all the major cell types of the embryo derived placenta have been located to the trophoblast (TE) cells overlying the Inner Cell Mass (ICM) of the embryo. Immortal cell lines have been subsequentially derived from this tissue and called Trophoblast Stem (TS) cells. In parallel with their  in vivo  counterparts they are also reliant on Fibroblast growth factor 4 (FgF4) (Tanaka et al., 1998) and Activin/Nodal signalling (Guzman-Ayala et al., 2004). 

The Ets family transcription factor, Elf5, has been shown to be specifically expressed in the early placental trophoblast and subsequent derived tissues. Mice deficient in Elf5 failed to form a placenta post implantation. Furthermore TS cells were unable to be derived from Elf5 knockout embryos (Donnison et al., 2005). This work suggested that Elf5 plays an essential role in TS cells and their differentiation. The aim of this study was to determine the downstream target genes of Elf5 in mouse TS cells. The target genes of Fgf4 and Activin/Nodal signalling in TS cells were also investigated.  This work is hoped to contribute to an overall greater understanding of the molecular networks underlying TS cell maintenance and to contribute to our knowledge of early placental development. 

Small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeted reduction of Elf5 mRNA expression in mTS cells was achieved using two independent siRNAs; with Elf5 reduction exceeding 80%. The resulting changes in gene expression were measured in order to determine the downstream targets of Elf5. Selected genes known to be important for trophoblast differentiation and maintenance were measured using real-time PCR in a candidate gene approach .Global changes in gene expression as a consequence of Elf5 silencing were measured using an Affymetrix microarray. Global changes in gene expression due to growth factor (Fgf4 and/or Activin) removal were also measured. Expression of 22 genes was changed using either of the Elf5 siRNA oligonucleotides. Of these, 9 were also significantly changed by growth factor removal. Included in this set were Synopl, Hst3st3b1, Cyr61 and Sox2. In the overall analysis, many genes whose expression changed upon loss of Elf5 are known to play important roles in trophectoderm cell specification. Real-time PCR validation agreed closely with the up or down regulation measured using the microarray. This work has thus led to the discovery of sets of Elf5 target genes potentially involved in trophoblast stem cell function and has provided the foundation for future work exploring the molecular pathways of trophoblast development.

year: 2007