title: Biosecurity management overview

authors: Champion, Paul

abstract: Today’s symposium topic is the issue of water weeds in the Rotorua Lakes and their management. I will discuss how and where these weeds came from and how they got into New Zealand. The weeds discussed are only a small sample of potential weeds that could
have additional or even greater impacts on Rotorua and New Zealand as a whole. I will discuss our legislation and how management at the border protects us from future weeds yet to enter this country. Unfortunately, it appears that our legislation has been too
effective at keeping out new plants, with no new aquatic plants legally introduced since the mid 1990’s but over 25% of aquatic plants in the aquarium/pond plant trade appear to have got here illegally. Several prosecutions have resulted from interception of smuggled
plants.
Once inside our border, there are several biosecurity measures initiated that have kept a number of our worst weeds at bay. These include banning the propagation, sale and distribution of 30 aquatic weed species, national and regionally run eradication
programmes for high-risk weeds, with the successful eradication of five species and great progress towards the eradication of around twelve other weeds. However, some of these plants, such as water hyacinth, are still illegally kept by some individuals and several new
infestations have originated from such sources. Despite this, the programmes have successfully kept the volume of deliberate spread for a wide number of aquatic weeds to a trickle.
As previous speakers will have discussed, humans are the major cause of spread of aquatic weeds, with contaminated watercraft and trailers, fishing nets, diggers etc. all contributing to this spread. Bay of Plenty Regional Council have been proactively managing their lakes, identifying which lakes are threatened by which weeds, and then carrying out surveillance in order to detect and manage any new weed incursions. To assist with surveillance, they have designed and constructed weed cordons that effectively net off access points such as boat ramps (the main sites of new weed introduction) and have successfully detected and prevented establishment of new incursions of the weeds hornwort and egeria in Lake Rotoma. Each summer holidays an awareness programme run under the national ‘Check, Clean, Dry’ banner promotes inspection for weeds at boat ramps around the region. Additionally, surveillance of ornamental ponds near to high-value lakes has led to the detection of a number of
potential weeds.

text: Biosecurity management overview Today’s symposium topic is the issue of water weeds in the Rotorua Lakes and their management. I will discuss how and where these weeds came from and how they got into New Zealand. The weeds discussed are only a small sample of potential weeds that could
have additional or even greater impacts on Rotorua and New Zealand as a whole. I will discuss our legislation and how management at the border protects us from future weeds yet to enter this country. Unfortunately, it appears that our legislation has been too
effective at keeping out new plants, with no new aquatic plants legally introduced since the mid 1990’s but over 25% of aquatic plants in the aquarium/pond plant trade appear to have got here illegally. Several prosecutions have resulted from interception of smuggled
plants.
Once inside our border, there are several biosecurity measures initiated that have kept a number of our worst weeds at bay. These include banning the propagation, sale and distribution of 30 aquatic weed species, national and regionally run eradication
programmes for high-risk weeds, with the successful eradication of five species and great progress towards the eradication of around twelve other weeds. However, some of these plants, such as water hyacinth, are still illegally kept by some individuals and several new
infestations have originated from such sources. Despite this, the programmes have successfully kept the volume of deliberate spread for a wide number of aquatic weeds to a trickle.
As previous speakers will have discussed, humans are the major cause of spread of aquatic weeds, with contaminated watercraft and trailers, fishing nets, diggers etc. all contributing to this spread. Bay of Plenty Regional Council have been proactively managing their lakes, identifying which lakes are threatened by which weeds, and then carrying out surveillance in order to detect and manage any new weed incursions. To assist with surveillance, they have designed and constructed weed cordons that effectively net off access points such as boat ramps (the main sites of new weed introduction) and have successfully detected and prevented establishment of new incursions of the weeds hornwort and egeria in Lake Rotoma. Each summer holidays an awareness programme run under the national ‘Check, Clean, Dry’ banner promotes inspection for weeds at boat ramps around the region. Additionally, surveillance of ornamental ponds near to high-value lakes has led to the detection of a number of
potential weeds.

year: 2015

title: To medicate or not to medicate? Exchange, identity and care in everyday household medication practices

authors: Hayward, Brooke Particia

subjects: Medication

abstract: In contemporary societies, medications are one of the most commonly used resources for the prevention, treatment, or cure of illness and disease (Shoemaker & de Oliveira, 2008). Despite this, there is a lack of understanding about how medications are used and understood by lay persons in private domestic dwellings. This research explores the medication experiences, understandings, and practices enacted by mothers caring for their chronically ill children. Four households containing children with chronic illness were involved in this qualitative interpretive research. Semi-structured interviews, mapping, diary keeping, and photo-production exercises were utilised to explore the ways in which medications are implicated in caring practices enacted by the mothers. Giddens’ (1984) structuration theory and the concept of ‘gift exchange’ provide the theoretical foundation for this thesis. This research indicates that the medication understandings and beliefs held by the participants are central to the construction of everyday caring medication practices. These beliefs and practices are not fixed or homogeneous, but complex and changeable; reflecting differing contexts, experiences, and forms of knowledge. The agency of parents as they conceptualise ‘care’ and choose to embrace or resist medication use, challenges the notion of ‘passive’ medication consumers. As the use of medication impacts many relationships within and outside of the confines of the household, this thesis highlights the social and symbolic nature of medications. The relationship between a parent and child is central to medication use, but medical decisions made by parents also implicate various other individuals, including health professionals and lay persons. The findings point to the need for health policy which acknowledges and is responsive to, the shifting health needs and understandings of the lay population.

text: To medicate or not to medicate? Exchange, identity and care in everyday household medication practices In contemporary societies, medications are one of the most commonly used resources for the prevention, treatment, or cure of illness and disease (Shoemaker & de Oliveira, 2008). Despite this, there is a lack of understanding about how medications are used and understood by lay persons in private domestic dwellings. This research explores the medication experiences, understandings, and practices enacted by mothers caring for their chronically ill children. Four households containing children with chronic illness were involved in this qualitative interpretive research. Semi-structured interviews, mapping, diary keeping, and photo-production exercises were utilised to explore the ways in which medications are implicated in caring practices enacted by the mothers. Giddens’ (1984) structuration theory and the concept of ‘gift exchange’ provide the theoretical foundation for this thesis. This research indicates that the medication understandings and beliefs held by the participants are central to the construction of everyday caring medication practices. These beliefs and practices are not fixed or homogeneous, but complex and changeable; reflecting differing contexts, experiences, and forms of knowledge. The agency of parents as they conceptualise ‘care’ and choose to embrace or resist medication use, challenges the notion of ‘passive’ medication consumers. As the use of medication impacts many relationships within and outside of the confines of the household, this thesis highlights the social and symbolic nature of medications. The relationship between a parent and child is central to medication use, but medical decisions made by parents also implicate various other individuals, including health professionals and lay persons. The findings point to the need for health policy which acknowledges and is responsive to, the shifting health needs and understandings of the lay population.

year: 2011

title: Constructing strategies for sustainable development the communitarian way

authors: Arunachalam, Murugesh

subjects: communities

abstract: Purpose – The paper aims to draw on recommendations of Agenda 21 and communitarian theory to examine collaboration between local district community and local authorities to formulate strategies for the sustainable development of the Taupo district. 
Design/methodology/approach – The paper adopts an interpretative methodology based on philosophical hermeneutic to understand collaboration between local community and local authorities in the Taupo district. Empirical data for this interpretive study comprise public documents, interview transcripts and minutes of meetings attended by the researchers. The paper begins interpretation of empirical data with pre-understanding of communitarian theory and Agenda 21. 
Findings – The findings indicate that historical and political factors and diversity of interests in the community affect processes and outcomes of collaboration. Local authorities play a crucial role in bringing together various groups in the Taupo community which are segregated by diversity of interests, especially between Maori and non-Maori community groups. Without local authority facilitation, the Taupo community may remain segregated; inhibited by lack of information; and not having the opportunity to participate in sustainable development. Community participation in the Taupo district is at an infancy stage and collaboration intended to empower communities may result in local authorities recentralising their positions. 
Originality/value – The paper integrates theory and practice and provides valuable insights for statutory agencies seeking to implement the recommendations of Agenda 21 regarding community participation in sustainable development.

text: Constructing strategies for sustainable development the communitarian way Purpose – The paper aims to draw on recommendations of Agenda 21 and communitarian theory to examine collaboration between local district community and local authorities to formulate strategies for the sustainable development of the Taupo district. 
Design/methodology/approach – The paper adopts an interpretative methodology based on philosophical hermeneutic to understand collaboration between local community and local authorities in the Taupo district. Empirical data for this interpretive study comprise public documents, interview transcripts and minutes of meetings attended by the researchers. The paper begins interpretation of empirical data with pre-understanding of communitarian theory and Agenda 21. 
Findings – The findings indicate that historical and political factors and diversity of interests in the community affect processes and outcomes of collaboration. Local authorities play a crucial role in bringing together various groups in the Taupo community which are segregated by diversity of interests, especially between Maori and non-Maori community groups. Without local authority facilitation, the Taupo community may remain segregated; inhibited by lack of information; and not having the opportunity to participate in sustainable development. Community participation in the Taupo district is at an infancy stage and collaboration intended to empower communities may result in local authorities recentralising their positions. 
Originality/value – The paper integrates theory and practice and provides valuable insights for statutory agencies seeking to implement the recommendations of Agenda 21 regarding community participation in sustainable development.

year: 2010