title: Geraldine In her own words

authors: Middleton, Sue

abstract: I was born on May 31st 1926 in Wellington, the only child of Gerald and Alma Player (née Fuller). Except for spells overseas, I’ve lived in Wellington all my life. My father was just 17 when he volunteered for the First World War. He went off, fought in the trenches, and came back. Like many men of that time, he never talked about what the war was like. It was just too horrifying. He worked in the Public Trust Office. My mother was a small-town girl from the Wairarapa. I was brought up in the time of the Depression. It was many years before we owned a radio. We never had a telephone or a car and didn’t ever own a house. We always had library books and there were a lot of magazines and comics, which all parents disapproved of, but we read them anyway

text: Geraldine In her own words I was born on May 31st 1926 in Wellington, the only child of Gerald and Alma Player (née Fuller). Except for spells overseas, I’ve lived in Wellington all my life. My father was just 17 when he volunteered for the First World War. He went off, fought in the trenches, and came back. Like many men of that time, he never talked about what the war was like. It was just too horrifying. He worked in the Public Trust Office. My mother was a small-town girl from the Wairarapa. I was brought up in the time of the Depression. It was many years before we owned a radio. We never had a telephone or a car and didn’t ever own a house. We always had library books and there were a lot of magazines and comics, which all parents disapproved of, but we read them anyway

year: 2019

title: Exploring the nature of psychological wellness of renal patients on dialysis under the care of the Waikato Regional Renal Centre

authors: Pepperell, Cherie Susan

subjects: renal

abstract: In New Zealand, there has been limited enquiry into the experiences of dialysis patients and the health professionals who work with these patients. The number of people requiring dialysis is increasing every year and the support they require to manage end stage kidney disease is complex. It involves the invasive physical intervention of dialysis, as well as psychological support to cope with the significant life changes and social support to help patients to manage this disease.
The purpose of this research is to explore the nature of psychological well-being of patients under the care of the Waikato Regional Renal Unit. The level of psychological support that the patients have access to is investigated and suggested improvements rationalised against prior research findings are presented. The intent of this research is to create an awareness of the psychological needs of dialysis patients. It aims to give insight into the participants’ lived experience as they openly describe their lives as dialysis patients, and endeavours to open up discussion for change.
Two data gathering approaches were used to engage with patients and health professional. I completed interviews with 11 renal patients and 14 health professionals, and administered a mail out questionnaire to 197 patient respondents. Thematic analysis of the interview data identified the following themes; the impacts of end stage kidney disease on the psychological well-being of renal patients, the need for psychological support for patients with end stage kidney disease, and the need for improved communication between and across all parties; the support people, the health professionals and the renal patient.

text: Exploring the nature of psychological wellness of renal patients on dialysis under the care of the Waikato Regional Renal Centre In New Zealand, there has been limited enquiry into the experiences of dialysis patients and the health professionals who work with these patients. The number of people requiring dialysis is increasing every year and the support they require to manage end stage kidney disease is complex. It involves the invasive physical intervention of dialysis, as well as psychological support to cope with the significant life changes and social support to help patients to manage this disease.
The purpose of this research is to explore the nature of psychological well-being of patients under the care of the Waikato Regional Renal Unit. The level of psychological support that the patients have access to is investigated and suggested improvements rationalised against prior research findings are presented. The intent of this research is to create an awareness of the psychological needs of dialysis patients. It aims to give insight into the participants’ lived experience as they openly describe their lives as dialysis patients, and endeavours to open up discussion for change.
Two data gathering approaches were used to engage with patients and health professional. I completed interviews with 11 renal patients and 14 health professionals, and administered a mail out questionnaire to 197 patient respondents. Thematic analysis of the interview data identified the following themes; the impacts of end stage kidney disease on the psychological well-being of renal patients, the need for psychological support for patients with end stage kidney disease, and the need for improved communication between and across all parties; the support people, the health professionals and the renal patient.

year: 2017

title: The southern initiative: How indigenous values inspire social innovation and impact

authors: Niu, Xiaoliang

abstract: Indigenous values are increasingly recognised in helping organisations contribute to wellbeing within and beyond the workplace. Adopting the theoretical lens of Māori economies of wellbeing, this case study examines how The Southern Initiative (TSI), a unit within Auckland Council, incorporates Māori values to co-create place-based solutions and foster whānau (family) wellbeing. Through kōrero (conversations) with three people, a wānanga (collaborative discussion) with TSI members, and analysis of organisational literature, we identified how TSI's organising approach synthesises social innovation and bureaucracy. We found that indigeneity-embedded intrapreneurship, distributed leadership, and whānau-centred design support TSI's innovations. Mana (prestige) emerged as a primary organising principle, sustaining TSI's approach to achieving systemic change. By bridging Indigenous paradigms and conventional managerial practice, this case study demonstrates how Māori values can transform public sector management, elevate social justice, and encourage community resilience. These findings highlight culturally grounded frameworks for delivering social impact and shaping equitable outcomes.

text: The southern initiative: How indigenous values inspire social innovation and impact Indigenous values are increasingly recognised in helping organisations contribute to wellbeing within and beyond the workplace. Adopting the theoretical lens of Māori economies of wellbeing, this case study examines how The Southern Initiative (TSI), a unit within Auckland Council, incorporates Māori values to co-create place-based solutions and foster whānau (family) wellbeing. Through kōrero (conversations) with three people, a wānanga (collaborative discussion) with TSI members, and analysis of organisational literature, we identified how TSI's organising approach synthesises social innovation and bureaucracy. We found that indigeneity-embedded intrapreneurship, distributed leadership, and whānau-centred design support TSI's innovations. Mana (prestige) emerged as a primary organising principle, sustaining TSI's approach to achieving systemic change. By bridging Indigenous paradigms and conventional managerial practice, this case study demonstrates how Māori values can transform public sector management, elevate social justice, and encourage community resilience. These findings highlight culturally grounded frameworks for delivering social impact and shaping equitable outcomes.

year: 2025