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: Is there a potassium-based solution to sensitive soil slipping within the Bay of Plenty?

authors: Robertson, Thomas Paul

subjects: halloysite

abstract: Landslides are common in sensitive, weathered pyroclastic soils in the Bay of Plenty (BOP). The clay mineralogy of these soils is dominated by halloysite, an inactive 1:1 clay mineral. Manipulation of cation content within the pore water of sensitive soils has been shown to improve in situ soil strength in illite-dominated soils in Norway. We present results of laboratory tests on the impact of altering cation status of a sensitive soil from the base of a large landslide at Omokoroa near Tauranga, BOP. Addition of KCl and KOH both reduced the liquid limit of the soil, a negative effect. In contrast, addition of K₂CO₃ caused an increase in the plasticity index of soil pastes. Soaking intact samples in K₂CO₃ for three weeks resulted in a considerable increase in peak stress in effective stress triaxial testing. These early results suggest that mitigation of sensitive soil landslides through increasing peak strength by addition of appropriate salts to the soil profile may be an option for mitigation of landslides in sensitive BOP soils.

text: Is there a potassium-based solution to sensitive soil slipping within the Bay of Plenty? Landslides are common in sensitive, weathered pyroclastic soils in the Bay of Plenty (BOP). The clay mineralogy of these soils is dominated by halloysite, an inactive 1:1 clay mineral. Manipulation of cation content within the pore water of sensitive soils has been shown to improve in situ soil strength in illite-dominated soils in Norway. We present results of laboratory tests on the impact of altering cation status of a sensitive soil from the base of a large landslide at Omokoroa near Tauranga, BOP. Addition of KCl and KOH both reduced the liquid limit of the soil, a negative effect. In contrast, addition of K₂CO₃ caused an increase in the plasticity index of soil pastes. Soaking intact samples in K₂CO₃ for three weeks resulted in a considerable increase in peak stress in effective stress triaxial testing. These early results suggest that mitigation of sensitive soil landslides through increasing peak strength by addition of appropriate salts to the soil profile may be an option for mitigation of landslides in sensitive BOP soils.

year: 2017

title: Exploring patient experiences and power dynamics in an acute general surgical ward: A mixed methods study exploring patient and staff
perceptions of the inpatient experience at Waikato Hospital

authors: Drake, Emma Rose

subjects: Nursing

abstract: Background: Alongside health outcomes, patient experiences are considered crucial in identifying the quality of a health care setting. General surgery comprise the largest range of pathologies and accounts for the highest number of patient discharges of any surgical specialty. As a way to address the power imbalance between healthcare staff and patients, patient-centred models of care are increasingly being adopted and implemented within hospitals including surgery. This study aims to investigate the current experiences of acutely admitted patients in a general surgical ward at Waikato Hospital, including opportunities for and challenges to improvement initiatives. Furthermore, the study examines relevant staff members perspectives of the inpatient experience and seeks to determine the efficacy of a proposed intervention focusing on empowering patients and their families.
Methods: The study was a mixed method design involving two phases. Phase I obtained qualitative data from semi-structured interviews with six patients and twelve staff members. Themes which emerged from the qualitative data in phase I were used to inform the development of phase II, as well as to inform a proposed patient self- assessment intervention. Phase II obtained quantitative data through Likert scale response surveys provided to acute patients on, or near to, their day of discharge from the surgical ward over a two month period.
Results: A total of six patients and 12 healthcare staff (senior registered nurses, n=3; surgical registered nurse managers, n=2; surgical fellows, n=2; surgical registrar, n=1; dietitian, n=1; social worker, n=1; occupational therapist, n=1; and physiotherapist n=1) were involved in phase I. A total of 53 surveys were returned from patients in Phase II (63.1% response rate). Qualitative data from phase I was analysed using a general inductive approach. This revealed three themes including power and control concerns for patients, the hierarchy of the health care team and the surrounding stressors of the organisation and environment. Analysis of the quantitative data collected descriptive statistics and calculated chi-squares. Of note were the statistically significant differences particularly between patients of Māori ethnicity comparatively to non-Māori, and according to gender and reason in hospital. There were no statistically significant differences for patients according to age group.
Conclusion: This study identified both the experiences of patients and staff in an acute general surgical context. The study found that the proposed patient self- assessment intervention was not immediately recommended. This was due to the current recommendations from patients who identified their strong preference was for face-to-face communication with staff. It was also due to staff members identification of a perceived inability to consistently provide person-centred care which corresponded with the patient self-assessment data. Acute general surgical care needs of patients were perceived by staff as taking precedent and current workplace stressors, including staffing and skill mix deficits and perceived lack of staff wellbeing supports, were strong inhibitors for staff to provide their preferred capacity of patient-centred care.

text: Exploring patient experiences and power dynamics in an acute general surgical ward: A mixed methods study exploring patient and staff
perceptions of the inpatient experience at Waikato Hospital Background: Alongside health outcomes, patient experiences are considered crucial in identifying the quality of a health care setting. General surgery comprise the largest range of pathologies and accounts for the highest number of patient discharges of any surgical specialty. As a way to address the power imbalance between healthcare staff and patients, patient-centred models of care are increasingly being adopted and implemented within hospitals including surgery. This study aims to investigate the current experiences of acutely admitted patients in a general surgical ward at Waikato Hospital, including opportunities for and challenges to improvement initiatives. Furthermore, the study examines relevant staff members perspectives of the inpatient experience and seeks to determine the efficacy of a proposed intervention focusing on empowering patients and their families.
Methods: The study was a mixed method design involving two phases. Phase I obtained qualitative data from semi-structured interviews with six patients and twelve staff members. Themes which emerged from the qualitative data in phase I were used to inform the development of phase II, as well as to inform a proposed patient self- assessment intervention. Phase II obtained quantitative data through Likert scale response surveys provided to acute patients on, or near to, their day of discharge from the surgical ward over a two month period.
Results: A total of six patients and 12 healthcare staff (senior registered nurses, n=3; surgical registered nurse managers, n=2; surgical fellows, n=2; surgical registrar, n=1; dietitian, n=1; social worker, n=1; occupational therapist, n=1; and physiotherapist n=1) were involved in phase I. A total of 53 surveys were returned from patients in Phase II (63.1% response rate). Qualitative data from phase I was analysed using a general inductive approach. This revealed three themes including power and control concerns for patients, the hierarchy of the health care team and the surrounding stressors of the organisation and environment. Analysis of the quantitative data collected descriptive statistics and calculated chi-squares. Of note were the statistically significant differences particularly between patients of Māori ethnicity comparatively to non-Māori, and according to gender and reason in hospital. There were no statistically significant differences for patients according to age group.
Conclusion: This study identified both the experiences of patients and staff in an acute general surgical context. The study found that the proposed patient self- assessment intervention was not immediately recommended. This was due to the current recommendations from patients who identified their strong preference was for face-to-face communication with staff. It was also due to staff members identification of a perceived inability to consistently provide person-centred care which corresponded with the patient self-assessment data. Acute general surgical care needs of patients were perceived by staff as taking precedent and current workplace stressors, including staffing and skill mix deficits and perceived lack of staff wellbeing supports, were strong inhibitors for staff to provide their preferred capacity of patient-centred care.

year: 2022