title: Sugar and spice: Wealth accumulation and the labour of Indian women in Fiji, 1879-1930

authors: Shameem, Shaista

subjects: women - Fiji

abstract: This thesis examines the connection between the fact of 'femininity' of Indian women workers and the accumulation of wealth in Fiji over a period of fifty-one years, 1879-1930. This was the period during which sugar became the country's number one revenue earner. It is argued that Indian women's centrality to the (re)production of capital and labour stemmed from the exploitation of their labour on plantations and farms. As coloured indentured workers Indian women produced surplus for white industrial planters, and as unpaid domestic workers, they produced goods and services for Indian men. In turn, the surplus that women produced for free in the domestic arena enabled the white planter and miller to depress the wages paid to Indian men in the sugar sector and to create stability for male workers. Thus Indian women's labour in both public and private spheres created wealth which accumulated in the hands of both a class of non-producers and men. 
Using an array of theoretical debates derived from Marxist Thought, Feminist Theories and Race/Third World Analyses, and fieldwork examples I argue that between 1879 and 1930 the awareness that Indian women possessed certain physiological and social attributes encouraged both white and Indian men in Fiji to exploit these women in such a way that money was made out of exchanging the products of their labour as well as their bodies as merchandise. These exploitative practices were submerged under a multitude of oppressive ideological messages, much of which had originated in other social and spatial contexts. The recipients absorbed messages of dependency that extolled the virtues of heterosexual coupling within which male dominance was seen to be in the interests of women. The private/public split, which relegated men and women to different areas of work, was maintained on the basis of power, violence and control over paid work by men. Despite these obstacles however, Indian women in Fiji continually resisted all attempts to control their bodies and wrest the products of their labour from them. The struggle between men in the Colony and Indian women for the possession of Indian women and the products of their labour forms the substance of this thesis.

text: Sugar and spice: Wealth accumulation and the labour of Indian women in Fiji, 1879-1930 This thesis examines the connection between the fact of 'femininity' of Indian women workers and the accumulation of wealth in Fiji over a period of fifty-one years, 1879-1930. This was the period during which sugar became the country's number one revenue earner. It is argued that Indian women's centrality to the (re)production of capital and labour stemmed from the exploitation of their labour on plantations and farms. As coloured indentured workers Indian women produced surplus for white industrial planters, and as unpaid domestic workers, they produced goods and services for Indian men. In turn, the surplus that women produced for free in the domestic arena enabled the white planter and miller to depress the wages paid to Indian men in the sugar sector and to create stability for male workers. Thus Indian women's labour in both public and private spheres created wealth which accumulated in the hands of both a class of non-producers and men. 
Using an array of theoretical debates derived from Marxist Thought, Feminist Theories and Race/Third World Analyses, and fieldwork examples I argue that between 1879 and 1930 the awareness that Indian women possessed certain physiological and social attributes encouraged both white and Indian men in Fiji to exploit these women in such a way that money was made out of exchanging the products of their labour as well as their bodies as merchandise. These exploitative practices were submerged under a multitude of oppressive ideological messages, much of which had originated in other social and spatial contexts. The recipients absorbed messages of dependency that extolled the virtues of heterosexual coupling within which male dominance was seen to be in the interests of women. The private/public split, which relegated men and women to different areas of work, was maintained on the basis of power, violence and control over paid work by men. Despite these obstacles however, Indian women in Fiji continually resisted all attempts to control their bodies and wrest the products of their labour from them. The struggle between men in the Colony and Indian women for the possession of Indian women and the products of their labour forms the substance of this thesis.

year: 1990

title: Wellbeing and policy in New Zealand: From a wellbeing framework to a government-wide approach

authors: Weijers, Dan M.

abstract: This chapter summarises the modern state of wellbeing and public policy in New Zealand. The evolution of New Zealand’s wellbeing approach to policy is explained, key learnings from the process are discussed, and specific action points to further wellbeing and public policy in New Zealand and around the world are suggested. New Zealand often ranks in or near the top 10 nations on international wellbeing metrics and is often looked to as one of the leaders in wellbeing policy. In 2011, the New Zealand Treasury reinterpreted its goal to that of promoting the wellbeing of New Zealanders - publishing the Living Standards Framework, a new model of wellbeing for policy-making. Progress on this was greatly aided in 2018 when a change in government brought with it an explicit wellbeing approach to the national budget and reporting processes, much of which was codified into new laws. The Living Standards Framework and its associated wellbeing tools have continued to evolve. Key innovations include an interactive dashboard of wellbeing data and a wellbeing Cost Benefit Analysis tool that covers many domains and indicators of wellbeing. This has resulted in greater collaboration between government agencies and more transparent reporting on the inner workings and results of public policies. But more could be done, including taking environmental concerns more seriously, fixing data gaps, reporting on wellbeing data more frequently, further training and teamwork for policy-makers, and setting up a citizens assembly on wellbeing and public policy.

text: Wellbeing and policy in New Zealand: From a wellbeing framework to a government-wide approach This chapter summarises the modern state of wellbeing and public policy in New Zealand. The evolution of New Zealand’s wellbeing approach to policy is explained, key learnings from the process are discussed, and specific action points to further wellbeing and public policy in New Zealand and around the world are suggested. New Zealand often ranks in or near the top 10 nations on international wellbeing metrics and is often looked to as one of the leaders in wellbeing policy. In 2011, the New Zealand Treasury reinterpreted its goal to that of promoting the wellbeing of New Zealanders - publishing the Living Standards Framework, a new model of wellbeing for policy-making. Progress on this was greatly aided in 2018 when a change in government brought with it an explicit wellbeing approach to the national budget and reporting processes, much of which was codified into new laws. The Living Standards Framework and its associated wellbeing tools have continued to evolve. Key innovations include an interactive dashboard of wellbeing data and a wellbeing Cost Benefit Analysis tool that covers many domains and indicators of wellbeing. This has resulted in greater collaboration between government agencies and more transparent reporting on the inner workings and results of public policies. But more could be done, including taking environmental concerns more seriously, fixing data gaps, reporting on wellbeing data more frequently, further training and teamwork for policy-makers, and setting up a citizens assembly on wellbeing and public policy.

year: 2025

title: Maori sustainable development in the 21st Century: The importance of Maori values, strategic planning and information systems

authors: Harmsworth, Garth

subjects: Development studies

abstract: The term ‘sustainable development’ has been widely used since the latter part of the 20th century. The concept implies economic and social development, economic growth, and environmental responsibility in order to sustain improved standards of living based on economic growth, to achieve some form of social equity, and to manage the environment in a sustainable way. Sustainable development should generally be at a rate that allows future generations to meet their needs without causing degradation of the natural environment, and should avoid economic or social decay. The concept has been debated and criticised by many as being ambiguous, untenable, and difficult to achieve, and frequently labelled part of global capitalism. But the concept provides a challenge to all of us, on how to balance economic, social, and cultural goals, while at the same time safeguarding and responsibly managing the environment for future generations. Attempts by indigenous peoples internationally to achieve sustainable development have been based on holistic approaches and frameworks that seek to balance economic, social, cultural and environmental objectives, and these provide effective models for viable sustainable development approaches. Māori Sustainable Development in Aotearoa-New Zealand is a term often used to describe a pathway to Māori autonomy, self-determination, the building of human and social capacity, as part of a strategic direction to capitalise on opportunities in the 21st century. This paper outlines research undertaken between 1998 and 2002 and funded by the Foundation for Research, Science, and Technology (FRST) in the programme “Māori Sustainable Development in Te Puku o Te Ika”, contract UOWX0005, simply referred to as the MSD programme. It focuses on the importance of determining Māori values, a vision, strategic planning and development of information systems as a holistic framework and process method to achieve Māori sustainable development.

text: Maori sustainable development in the 21st Century: The importance of Maori values, strategic planning and information systems The term ‘sustainable development’ has been widely used since the latter part of the 20th century. The concept implies economic and social development, economic growth, and environmental responsibility in order to sustain improved standards of living based on economic growth, to achieve some form of social equity, and to manage the environment in a sustainable way. Sustainable development should generally be at a rate that allows future generations to meet their needs without causing degradation of the natural environment, and should avoid economic or social decay. The concept has been debated and criticised by many as being ambiguous, untenable, and difficult to achieve, and frequently labelled part of global capitalism. But the concept provides a challenge to all of us, on how to balance economic, social, and cultural goals, while at the same time safeguarding and responsibly managing the environment for future generations. Attempts by indigenous peoples internationally to achieve sustainable development have been based on holistic approaches and frameworks that seek to balance economic, social, cultural and environmental objectives, and these provide effective models for viable sustainable development approaches. Māori Sustainable Development in Aotearoa-New Zealand is a term often used to describe a pathway to Māori autonomy, self-determination, the building of human and social capacity, as part of a strategic direction to capitalise on opportunities in the 21st century. This paper outlines research undertaken between 1998 and 2002 and funded by the Foundation for Research, Science, and Technology (FRST) in the programme “Māori Sustainable Development in Te Puku o Te Ika”, contract UOWX0005, simply referred to as the MSD programme. It focuses on the importance of determining Māori values, a vision, strategic planning and development of information systems as a holistic framework and process method to achieve Māori sustainable development.

year: 2002