title: Teacher understanding and management of students with anxiety in New Zealand primary schools

authors: Margon, Carla Lee

subjects: Psychology

abstract: New Zealand has increasing rates of anxiety with 1 in 5 young people meeting the diagnostic criteria for an anxiety disorder by the age of 19 (Ministry of Health, 2018). As of June 2023, over 666,000 children aged between 5 and 14 years old were diagnosed with anxiety, equating to 12.8% of the total population of New Zealand (Stats NZ, 2022). As these children are likely to be engaged in formal education, this study investigated teachers understanding and management of students with anxiety in New Zealand primary schools. Twenty-three teachers from three primary schools completed a questionnaire exploring their definitions of anxiety, the training and support they received, and their identification of the manifestations of anxiety in primary school students. Teachers were also asked about their perceptions of the impacts of COVID-19 on student anxiety. Results revealed that while teachers had a general understanding of anxiety and could identify mild and severe anxiety symptoms, they reported a lack of training and confidence in the area and could not consistently distinguish normal anxiety from excessive anxiety, often defining all anxiety to be a generally negative experience. This study provides a first look into teachers understanding of anxiety in New Zealand primary school students.

text: Teacher understanding and management of students with anxiety in New Zealand primary schools New Zealand has increasing rates of anxiety with 1 in 5 young people meeting the diagnostic criteria for an anxiety disorder by the age of 19 (Ministry of Health, 2018). As of June 2023, over 666,000 children aged between 5 and 14 years old were diagnosed with anxiety, equating to 12.8% of the total population of New Zealand (Stats NZ, 2022). As these children are likely to be engaged in formal education, this study investigated teachers understanding and management of students with anxiety in New Zealand primary schools. Twenty-three teachers from three primary schools completed a questionnaire exploring their definitions of anxiety, the training and support they received, and their identification of the manifestations of anxiety in primary school students. Teachers were also asked about their perceptions of the impacts of COVID-19 on student anxiety. Results revealed that while teachers had a general understanding of anxiety and could identify mild and severe anxiety symptoms, they reported a lack of training and confidence in the area and could not consistently distinguish normal anxiety from excessive anxiety, often defining all anxiety to be a generally negative experience. This study provides a first look into teachers understanding of anxiety in New Zealand primary school students.

year: 2023

title: Switching toxin production on and off: intermittent microcystin synthesis in a Microcystis bloom

authors: Wood, Susanna A.

subjects: biology

abstract: Toxic cyanobacterial blooms are increasing in prevalence. Microcystins are the most commonly produced cyanotoxin. Despite extensive research the variables regulating microcystin production remain unclear. Using a RT-QPCR assay that allowed the precise measurement of mcyE transcriptional gene expression and an ELISA that enabled small changes in total microcystin concentrations to be monitored, we demonstrate for the first time that microcystin production is not always constitutive and that significant up- and downregulation in microcystin synthesis can occur on time scales of 2–6 h. Samples were collected over 3 days from a small eutrophic lake during a dense microcystin-producing Microcystis bloom. McyE gene transcripts were detected in only four out of 14 samples. Vicissitudes in both microcystin quotas and extracellular microcystin levels corresponded with changes in mcyE expression. During the period of exalted microcystin synthesis Microcystis sp. cell concentrations increased from 70 000 cells ml−1 to 4 000 000 cells ml−1. These data provide compelling evidence that changes in Microcystis cell concentrations influence microcystin production.

text: Switching toxin production on and off: intermittent microcystin synthesis in a Microcystis bloom Toxic cyanobacterial blooms are increasing in prevalence. Microcystins are the most commonly produced cyanotoxin. Despite extensive research the variables regulating microcystin production remain unclear. Using a RT-QPCR assay that allowed the precise measurement of mcyE transcriptional gene expression and an ELISA that enabled small changes in total microcystin concentrations to be monitored, we demonstrate for the first time that microcystin production is not always constitutive and that significant up- and downregulation in microcystin synthesis can occur on time scales of 2–6 h. Samples were collected over 3 days from a small eutrophic lake during a dense microcystin-producing Microcystis bloom. McyE gene transcripts were detected in only four out of 14 samples. Vicissitudes in both microcystin quotas and extracellular microcystin levels corresponded with changes in mcyE expression. During the period of exalted microcystin synthesis Microcystis sp. cell concentrations increased from 70 000 cells ml−1 to 4 000 000 cells ml−1. These data provide compelling evidence that changes in Microcystis cell concentrations influence microcystin production.

year: 2010

title: The Aroha block from 1880 onwards

authors: Hart, Philip

abstract: With the discovery of gold in 1880 and the pressure to open the land for mining, there was a need to determine the boundaries of the Ngati Rahiri reserves and to subdivide these amongst the owners. As well, terms for paying goldfields revenue had to be negotiated before the goldfield could be opened, and after its opening the claims of Maori with little or no basis for their claims of ownership had to be investigated. Wairakau reserve, outside the goldfield, was not subdivided until mid-1882, and arguments over the ownership of Tui Pa continued well into the twentieth century. 
At first, sales of Crown land found few takers, especially because the farm sections required draining before they could be developed. Ngati Rahiri reserves were designated as being inalienable, but they could be leased for 21 years, as some portions were, at low rates. Very quickly, officials, who feared Maori would become landless, had to fend off requests to remove restrictions on sale made by owners who in some instances lived far from Te Aroha and who all wanted to obtain money from selling land of little use to them. The indebtedness of some owners led to continued pressure to sell, though often the money they received was wasted. With the fading of the goldfield, miners sought land for farms, and were frustrated at the Crown not purchasing the Ngati Rahiri reserves. 
Land was acquired by the Crown to extend the hot springs domain, and after negotiating improved leases in the Te Aroha township the freehold of this settlement was acquired. Some Maori retained their land, which Pakeha accused them of not improving; Maori requests that the government provide training in farming methods were ignored. By the twentieth century most Ngati Rahiri had become landless, but as many examples illustrate, this was commonly because cash-strapped owners insisted on selling their interests for an immediate financial return.

text: The Aroha block from 1880 onwards With the discovery of gold in 1880 and the pressure to open the land for mining, there was a need to determine the boundaries of the Ngati Rahiri reserves and to subdivide these amongst the owners. As well, terms for paying goldfields revenue had to be negotiated before the goldfield could be opened, and after its opening the claims of Maori with little or no basis for their claims of ownership had to be investigated. Wairakau reserve, outside the goldfield, was not subdivided until mid-1882, and arguments over the ownership of Tui Pa continued well into the twentieth century. 
At first, sales of Crown land found few takers, especially because the farm sections required draining before they could be developed. Ngati Rahiri reserves were designated as being inalienable, but they could be leased for 21 years, as some portions were, at low rates. Very quickly, officials, who feared Maori would become landless, had to fend off requests to remove restrictions on sale made by owners who in some instances lived far from Te Aroha and who all wanted to obtain money from selling land of little use to them. The indebtedness of some owners led to continued pressure to sell, though often the money they received was wasted. With the fading of the goldfield, miners sought land for farms, and were frustrated at the Crown not purchasing the Ngati Rahiri reserves. 
Land was acquired by the Crown to extend the hot springs domain, and after negotiating improved leases in the Te Aroha township the freehold of this settlement was acquired. Some Maori retained their land, which Pakeha accused them of not improving; Maori requests that the government provide training in farming methods were ignored. By the twentieth century most Ngati Rahiri had become landless, but as many examples illustrate, this was commonly because cash-strapped owners insisted on selling their interests for an immediate financial return.

year: 2016