title: “Mate Ni Vula”, “Masina”, “Vaʻine Fakahēʻaho”, “Eikura” Pacific sports women’s knowledge and experiences of menstruation

authors: Gibbons, Agatha

abstract: Pacific women's interest and participation in sports have increased rapidly throughout the decades. Recently, many have become competitive across a range of sports at regional, national, and international levels. Yet very little research is focused on Pacific sportswomen’s experiences, or how their cultural identities shape their performance, health, and well-being needs. This thesis focuses on Pacific sportswomen’s experiences of menstruation, and in so doing, makes an important contribution to both literature on Pacific sportswomen, and research on menstruation in sport. Research on sportswomen’s experiences of menstruation has grown significantly over recent years, but most of this research is conducted by white women on white sportswomen, with findings then generalized to all sportswomen. This thesis identifies a gap in literature, and the risks of excluding sportswomen’s cultural identities, practices, and values from research, policy, and practices focused on menstruation in sport. 
Adopting a Masi methodology, this project included three methods: a survey of 206 Pacific sportswomen; Talanoa sessions with 21 Fijian sportswomen, and interviews with 16 Pacific sportswomen living in Aotearoa New Zealand.  This project aimed to listen to, learn from, and amplify sportswomen's experiences and their understandings of menstruation, cultural beliefs, and the taboos that influence their menstrual experiences. This is a thesis with publication; some chapters are published articles, and others are manuscripts undergoing review. First, the thesis systematically identifies the gap in the literature with a scoping review of research focused on menstruation in sport, that shows that % of research ignores women’s cultural or ethnic identities. This chapter identifies the need for more culturally responsive research methods and culturally safe practices from sports and health professionals working with sportswomen from diverse backgrounds. Following this, results from the survey are presented, highlighting the diversity of cultural knowledge and practices associated with menstruation across the Pacific the survey also reveals the different cultural stigmas, beliefs, taboos, traditions, menstrual health, and sports performance of elite Pacific sportswomen. The following two chapters focus on findings from Fijian sportswomen, and then Pacific sportswomen living in Aotearoa New Zealand, with both amplifying the voices and experiences of Pacific sportswomen and their challenges of gaining culturally informed menstrual health information and support in sporting environments. These chapters describe how culture intersects with gender and other key variables (i.e., socio-economic considerations), and how these influence sportswomen’s experiences of menstruation.  
Ultimately, this research makes an important contribution to research on menstruation in sport, highlighting the need for culturally responsive methodologies and approaches in research and practice. It provides new and current cultural knowledge that can be used to improve the health, performance, and social support structures for Pacific sportswomen. This knowledge can expand sports and health providers' understanding of Pacific sportswomen's culturally specific needs, knowledge, and values concerning menstruation. Finally, this research supports the development of sport in the Pacific by providing cultural knowledge on how to engage Pacific sportswomen in safe, respectful, and constructive conversations around menstruation in sport.

text: “Mate Ni Vula”, “Masina”, “Vaʻine Fakahēʻaho”, “Eikura” Pacific sports women’s knowledge and experiences of menstruation Pacific women's interest and participation in sports have increased rapidly throughout the decades. Recently, many have become competitive across a range of sports at regional, national, and international levels. Yet very little research is focused on Pacific sportswomen’s experiences, or how their cultural identities shape their performance, health, and well-being needs. This thesis focuses on Pacific sportswomen’s experiences of menstruation, and in so doing, makes an important contribution to both literature on Pacific sportswomen, and research on menstruation in sport. Research on sportswomen’s experiences of menstruation has grown significantly over recent years, but most of this research is conducted by white women on white sportswomen, with findings then generalized to all sportswomen. This thesis identifies a gap in literature, and the risks of excluding sportswomen’s cultural identities, practices, and values from research, policy, and practices focused on menstruation in sport. 
Adopting a Masi methodology, this project included three methods: a survey of 206 Pacific sportswomen; Talanoa sessions with 21 Fijian sportswomen, and interviews with 16 Pacific sportswomen living in Aotearoa New Zealand.  This project aimed to listen to, learn from, and amplify sportswomen's experiences and their understandings of menstruation, cultural beliefs, and the taboos that influence their menstrual experiences. This is a thesis with publication; some chapters are published articles, and others are manuscripts undergoing review. First, the thesis systematically identifies the gap in the literature with a scoping review of research focused on menstruation in sport, that shows that % of research ignores women’s cultural or ethnic identities. This chapter identifies the need for more culturally responsive research methods and culturally safe practices from sports and health professionals working with sportswomen from diverse backgrounds. Following this, results from the survey are presented, highlighting the diversity of cultural knowledge and practices associated with menstruation across the Pacific the survey also reveals the different cultural stigmas, beliefs, taboos, traditions, menstrual health, and sports performance of elite Pacific sportswomen. The following two chapters focus on findings from Fijian sportswomen, and then Pacific sportswomen living in Aotearoa New Zealand, with both amplifying the voices and experiences of Pacific sportswomen and their challenges of gaining culturally informed menstrual health information and support in sporting environments. These chapters describe how culture intersects with gender and other key variables (i.e., socio-economic considerations), and how these influence sportswomen’s experiences of menstruation.  
Ultimately, this research makes an important contribution to research on menstruation in sport, highlighting the need for culturally responsive methodologies and approaches in research and practice. It provides new and current cultural knowledge that can be used to improve the health, performance, and social support structures for Pacific sportswomen. This knowledge can expand sports and health providers' understanding of Pacific sportswomen's culturally specific needs, knowledge, and values concerning menstruation. Finally, this research supports the development of sport in the Pacific by providing cultural knowledge on how to engage Pacific sportswomen in safe, respectful, and constructive conversations around menstruation in sport.

year: 2025-08

title: The Epidemiology of Streptococcus equi subspecies equi in New Zealand in Relation to Vaccine Efficacy

authors: Zhang, Heng

subjects: S. equi

abstract: Strangles is caused by host restricted pathogen Streptococcus equi subspecies equi (S. equi) and is the most frequently diagnosed equine disease. This highly contiguous disease accounts for approximate 30% of recorded incidents of equine disease annually (Harrington, Sutcliffe, & Chanter, 2002). Strangles is characterized by abscessation of the lymph nodes of the head and neck. The severity of this disease varies largely depending on the immune status of the affected animal (Sweeney et al., 2005). Diagnosis of strangles can be complicated by the presence of other beta haemolytic streptococci, especially the closely related S. zooepidemicus. Moreover, the current method used to detect S. equi in the carriage state – via samples from the guttural pouches of apparently healthy horses after recovery from strangles - is not always practical. 

Currently there are two vaccines for strangles available in NZ. One is a non-encapsulated and attenuated strain of S. equi, Pinnacle® IN (Ford Dodge, USA), which is administered intranasally. Another is an inactivated bacterin, Equivac® S (Pfizer, NZ), used intramuscularly. However, the efficacy of these two vaccines to the three NZ S. equi strains is not clear. Also the level of induced antibodies with the sera of inoculated animals is unkown. 

In this study, an enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA) and an indirect fluorescent-antibody assay (IFA) were developed to detect specific antibodies in sera from horses either infected with S. equi, or vaccinated with Pinnacle or Equivac S, or unvaccinated. Four peptides synthesized by GenScript (GenScript, USA) were used for the ELISA study. Of these, three peptides targeted the N-terminal variable regions of S. equi strains 99, 100 and the vaccine strain. The other was a PEPK repeats peptide, corresponding to a region present in the N-terminal region of the S. equi protein SzPSe. Both ELISA and IFA results showed that relatively high levels of antibodies were induced following vaccination or infection. Also, the induced antibodies demonstrated cross-reactivity to all three S. equi strains tested. ELISA for the PEPK peptide produced higher ODs than seen with the three SeM peptides, suggesting that there were more antibodies against PEPK peptide within the sera. The IFA results showed a difference in titre between pre-vaccinated horses and post-vaccinated horses; whilst the ELISA results did not. This may be due to serological reactivity between those four peptides and ‘natural antibodies’ induced by exposure to the closely related S. zooepidemicus. Further evidence in support of this result was seen in western blotting, which showed that ‘natural antibodies’ in serum from pre-vaccinated horses reacted serologically with proteins from S. equi. IFA was shown to be the better method for the diagnosis of strangles and for the study of the antibody responses after vaccination or infection.

ELISA and IFA results also showed that the observed antibody levels induced by Pinnacle and Equivac S were similar, indicating the comparable efficacy of these two vaccines. All of the vaccinated horses had high levels of pre-existing antibodies within their sera, even one year after vaccination. This may suggest that an increase in the interval of booster time could be acceptable. However, it is acknowledged that antibody titres do not necessarily equal protection from infection. Western blotting results indicated that a stronger immunity was formed after natural infection than seen in horses after. This is because after infection the entire immune system (both humoral and cell-mediated) will be stimulated.

text: The Epidemiology of Streptococcus equi subspecies equi in New Zealand in Relation to Vaccine Efficacy Strangles is caused by host restricted pathogen Streptococcus equi subspecies equi (S. equi) and is the most frequently diagnosed equine disease. This highly contiguous disease accounts for approximate 30% of recorded incidents of equine disease annually (Harrington, Sutcliffe, & Chanter, 2002). Strangles is characterized by abscessation of the lymph nodes of the head and neck. The severity of this disease varies largely depending on the immune status of the affected animal (Sweeney et al., 2005). Diagnosis of strangles can be complicated by the presence of other beta haemolytic streptococci, especially the closely related S. zooepidemicus. Moreover, the current method used to detect S. equi in the carriage state – via samples from the guttural pouches of apparently healthy horses after recovery from strangles - is not always practical. 

Currently there are two vaccines for strangles available in NZ. One is a non-encapsulated and attenuated strain of S. equi, Pinnacle® IN (Ford Dodge, USA), which is administered intranasally. Another is an inactivated bacterin, Equivac® S (Pfizer, NZ), used intramuscularly. However, the efficacy of these two vaccines to the three NZ S. equi strains is not clear. Also the level of induced antibodies with the sera of inoculated animals is unkown. 

In this study, an enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA) and an indirect fluorescent-antibody assay (IFA) were developed to detect specific antibodies in sera from horses either infected with S. equi, or vaccinated with Pinnacle or Equivac S, or unvaccinated. Four peptides synthesized by GenScript (GenScript, USA) were used for the ELISA study. Of these, three peptides targeted the N-terminal variable regions of S. equi strains 99, 100 and the vaccine strain. The other was a PEPK repeats peptide, corresponding to a region present in the N-terminal region of the S. equi protein SzPSe. Both ELISA and IFA results showed that relatively high levels of antibodies were induced following vaccination or infection. Also, the induced antibodies demonstrated cross-reactivity to all three S. equi strains tested. ELISA for the PEPK peptide produced higher ODs than seen with the three SeM peptides, suggesting that there were more antibodies against PEPK peptide within the sera. The IFA results showed a difference in titre between pre-vaccinated horses and post-vaccinated horses; whilst the ELISA results did not. This may be due to serological reactivity between those four peptides and ‘natural antibodies’ induced by exposure to the closely related S. zooepidemicus. Further evidence in support of this result was seen in western blotting, which showed that ‘natural antibodies’ in serum from pre-vaccinated horses reacted serologically with proteins from S. equi. IFA was shown to be the better method for the diagnosis of strangles and for the study of the antibody responses after vaccination or infection.

ELISA and IFA results also showed that the observed antibody levels induced by Pinnacle and Equivac S were similar, indicating the comparable efficacy of these two vaccines. All of the vaccinated horses had high levels of pre-existing antibodies within their sera, even one year after vaccination. This may suggest that an increase in the interval of booster time could be acceptable. However, it is acknowledged that antibody titres do not necessarily equal protection from infection. Western blotting results indicated that a stronger immunity was formed after natural infection than seen in horses after. This is because after infection the entire immune system (both humoral and cell-mediated) will be stimulated.

year: 2013

title: Risk assessment for family violence aggressors in Aotearoa New Zealand

authors: Jolliffe Simpson, Apriel D.

subjects: Family violence

abstract: In recent decades Family Violence (FV) researchers have developed risk assessment instruments to enable practitioners to identify the people who are most likely to commit FV in the future, and the families who are most likely to experience ongoing harm. Indeed, risk assessments have become a standard procedure for FV practitioners who are frequently required to make decisions with potential ramifications for families’ safety and wellbeing. Yet, despite considerable developments in risk assessment research and practice, risk assessment instruments have limitations that curb their value to FV practice. In addition, such instruments should be empirically validated, but there is limited evidence for the validity of risk assessment instruments used by agencies that respond to FV in Aotearoa New Zealand. Therefore, in this thesis, we examined the risk assessment procedures that New Zealand Police and the Integrated Safety Response (ISR) used for FV, with the purpose of contributing to the evidence base about risk assessment for FV in New Zealand and identifying strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement.
This thesis contains three manuscripts either published in or submitted to peer-reviewed academic journals; as well as supplementary chapters that support, extend, and integrate the research findings. In the first manuscript, we examined the predictive validity of risk categories from the Dynamic Risk Assessment for family violence (DYRA) and Static Assessment of Family Violence Recidivism (SAFVR)—the two risk assessment instruments that New Zealand Police use when responding to FV cases—for a sample of 2,115 cases with FV episodes reported to police in Waikato and parts of Canterbury between 1 November – 9 December 2018 (1,817 of which had complete risk categories). We examined the instruments’ ability to predict recurrence (i.e., a further FV-related call for police service) at three intervals (3 days, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks), and found both instruments had a poor ability to discriminate between aggressors who had a recurrence and those who did not, with the SAFVR outperforming the DYRA, and the DYRA performing especially poorly for non-intimate partner cases, and aggressors who were Māori or women. 
In the second manuscript, we explored the risk assessments that Integrated Safety Response (ISR) triage team members conducted for a sub-sample of 842 cases with FV episodes reported to police between 1 – 14 November 2018. We examined the relationship between the factors triage teams recorded during their risk assessments and the risk categories the teams assigned, then tested the association of both the factors and categories with recurrence and physical recurrence within 24 weeks. The predictive validity of ISR triage teams’ risk categories was comparable to the results produced for the DYRA and SAFVR in manuscript one. The ISR risk categories again performed poorly for aggressors who were women, Māori, and for non-intimate partner cases; and overall, fewer than half of the factors triage teams recorded were associated with recurrence or physical recurrence. Then, in an additional chapter, we explored the triage teams’ factors’ utility for case management and found the factors could be used to create three sub-groups of cases with potential implications for their treatment and management. 
Finally, in the third manuscript, we modeled the behavioral patterns of 2,115 aggressors with a FV episode reported to police in Waikato and parts of Canterbury between 1 November – 9 December 2018, by collecting reports for further FV episodes involving those aggressors during the two years after the index episode. We used this information to describe three latent states behind the information reported to police and identified four common pathways through the latent states over time. We concluded this manuscript by discussing changes that could contribute to improvements in how risk for FV aggressors is conceptualized, assessed, and communicated in practice.
In each chapter, we discussed the theoretical and practical implications of the findings, before integrating those findings and implications in a general discussion chapter. Taken together, the results presented herein indicate that the risk assessment instruments used in New Zealand can predict risk for FV recurrence better than chance, but that those assessments should be further developed to improve their value to FV practice and ensure they adequately capture risk for different types of FV cases and groups of people. This thesis advanced our understanding of the limitations of—and opportunities in—risk assessment research and contributed to the evidence base for risk assessment for FV in New Zealand.

text: Risk assessment for family violence aggressors in Aotearoa New Zealand In recent decades Family Violence (FV) researchers have developed risk assessment instruments to enable practitioners to identify the people who are most likely to commit FV in the future, and the families who are most likely to experience ongoing harm. Indeed, risk assessments have become a standard procedure for FV practitioners who are frequently required to make decisions with potential ramifications for families’ safety and wellbeing. Yet, despite considerable developments in risk assessment research and practice, risk assessment instruments have limitations that curb their value to FV practice. In addition, such instruments should be empirically validated, but there is limited evidence for the validity of risk assessment instruments used by agencies that respond to FV in Aotearoa New Zealand. Therefore, in this thesis, we examined the risk assessment procedures that New Zealand Police and the Integrated Safety Response (ISR) used for FV, with the purpose of contributing to the evidence base about risk assessment for FV in New Zealand and identifying strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement.
This thesis contains three manuscripts either published in or submitted to peer-reviewed academic journals; as well as supplementary chapters that support, extend, and integrate the research findings. In the first manuscript, we examined the predictive validity of risk categories from the Dynamic Risk Assessment for family violence (DYRA) and Static Assessment of Family Violence Recidivism (SAFVR)—the two risk assessment instruments that New Zealand Police use when responding to FV cases—for a sample of 2,115 cases with FV episodes reported to police in Waikato and parts of Canterbury between 1 November – 9 December 2018 (1,817 of which had complete risk categories). We examined the instruments’ ability to predict recurrence (i.e., a further FV-related call for police service) at three intervals (3 days, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks), and found both instruments had a poor ability to discriminate between aggressors who had a recurrence and those who did not, with the SAFVR outperforming the DYRA, and the DYRA performing especially poorly for non-intimate partner cases, and aggressors who were Māori or women. 
In the second manuscript, we explored the risk assessments that Integrated Safety Response (ISR) triage team members conducted for a sub-sample of 842 cases with FV episodes reported to police between 1 – 14 November 2018. We examined the relationship between the factors triage teams recorded during their risk assessments and the risk categories the teams assigned, then tested the association of both the factors and categories with recurrence and physical recurrence within 24 weeks. The predictive validity of ISR triage teams’ risk categories was comparable to the results produced for the DYRA and SAFVR in manuscript one. The ISR risk categories again performed poorly for aggressors who were women, Māori, and for non-intimate partner cases; and overall, fewer than half of the factors triage teams recorded were associated with recurrence or physical recurrence. Then, in an additional chapter, we explored the triage teams’ factors’ utility for case management and found the factors could be used to create three sub-groups of cases with potential implications for their treatment and management. 
Finally, in the third manuscript, we modeled the behavioral patterns of 2,115 aggressors with a FV episode reported to police in Waikato and parts of Canterbury between 1 November – 9 December 2018, by collecting reports for further FV episodes involving those aggressors during the two years after the index episode. We used this information to describe three latent states behind the information reported to police and identified four common pathways through the latent states over time. We concluded this manuscript by discussing changes that could contribute to improvements in how risk for FV aggressors is conceptualized, assessed, and communicated in practice.
In each chapter, we discussed the theoretical and practical implications of the findings, before integrating those findings and implications in a general discussion chapter. Taken together, the results presented herein indicate that the risk assessment instruments used in New Zealand can predict risk for FV recurrence better than chance, but that those assessments should be further developed to improve their value to FV practice and ensure they adequately capture risk for different types of FV cases and groups of people. This thesis advanced our understanding of the limitations of—and opportunities in—risk assessment research and contributed to the evidence base for risk assessment for FV in New Zealand.

year: 2023