title: Threats to the New Zealand Serious Fraud Office: an institutional perspective

authors: Van Peursem, Karen A.

subjects: auditors

abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to evaluate threats to dissolve the New Zealand Serious Fraud Office (SFO) as interpreted through the public press. 
Design/methodology/approach – An institutional approach is adopted in this case, and the analysis is driven by Oliver's understandings of antecedents to deinstitutionalization. Relevant press articles are reviewed, and SFO history and New Zealand socio-political context inform the analysis. 
Findings – The paper identifies over 1,800 articles (September 2003 to October 2008) and analyses the content of those 157 that contain views on the SFO itself. This analysis reveals that while there is a strong political antecedent to the proposed change, the media is dominated by weakly evidenced but emotive functional and social arguments. The susceptibility of the SFO to political influence, and a less-than-fully engaged media, is shown to provide a risk of deinstitutionalization to this politically dependent office. 
Research limitations/implications – Conclusions suggest how a relatively new and possibly politically naïve organisation may be, by necessity, starting to come to terms with its own external dependencies. 
Social implications – The SFO may be evolving new relational norms in response to its own vulnerabilities in a political environment. There may be lessons for others in this analysis of a norming process, and further research into such processes would be a rich area for further study. 
Originality/value – The contribution is in forming an understanding of the media patterns and in analysing what they convey as to the threatened deinstituitonalization of the SFO.

text: Threats to the New Zealand Serious Fraud Office: an institutional perspective Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to evaluate threats to dissolve the New Zealand Serious Fraud Office (SFO) as interpreted through the public press. 
Design/methodology/approach – An institutional approach is adopted in this case, and the analysis is driven by Oliver's understandings of antecedents to deinstitutionalization. Relevant press articles are reviewed, and SFO history and New Zealand socio-political context inform the analysis. 
Findings – The paper identifies over 1,800 articles (September 2003 to October 2008) and analyses the content of those 157 that contain views on the SFO itself. This analysis reveals that while there is a strong political antecedent to the proposed change, the media is dominated by weakly evidenced but emotive functional and social arguments. The susceptibility of the SFO to political influence, and a less-than-fully engaged media, is shown to provide a risk of deinstitutionalization to this politically dependent office. 
Research limitations/implications – Conclusions suggest how a relatively new and possibly politically naïve organisation may be, by necessity, starting to come to terms with its own external dependencies. 
Social implications – The SFO may be evolving new relational norms in response to its own vulnerabilities in a political environment. There may be lessons for others in this analysis of a norming process, and further research into such processes would be a rich area for further study. 
Originality/value – The contribution is in forming an understanding of the media patterns and in analysing what they convey as to the threatened deinstituitonalization of the SFO.

year: 2010

title: Texts written in English and Chinese by expert writers: A genre-based comparative study from the Pacific Rim

authors: Wu, Huang

subjects: Pacific Area

abstract: On the basis of the analysis of the structure of text segments occurring in a range of journals, Bruce (2003) proposes four prototypes for the overall rhetorical structure and internal discourse structure of academic texts in English that focus on explanation, argument, recount and classification. This paper reports on a study involving 20 texts written in Chinese by native speakers of Chinese resident in Taiwan who were judged to be highly competent writers of Chinese. Five of these texts focused on explanation; five on argument, five on recount and five on classification. Analysis of these texts in terms of overall rhetorical structuring and internal discourse structuring suggests that texts written in Chinese by competent writers of Chinese may be closer to texts written in English by competent writers of English than is sometimes supposed, something that may have significant implications for the teaching of writing in English to native speakers of Chinese. However, the participants in this study were residents of Taiwan, a country that has had long-term academic and trading links with the USA and one in which most residents have some competence in English. It may be that a similar study involving native speakers of Chinese from other areas would yield different results.

text: Texts written in English and Chinese by expert writers: A genre-based comparative study from the Pacific Rim On the basis of the analysis of the structure of text segments occurring in a range of journals, Bruce (2003) proposes four prototypes for the overall rhetorical structure and internal discourse structure of academic texts in English that focus on explanation, argument, recount and classification. This paper reports on a study involving 20 texts written in Chinese by native speakers of Chinese resident in Taiwan who were judged to be highly competent writers of Chinese. Five of these texts focused on explanation; five on argument, five on recount and five on classification. Analysis of these texts in terms of overall rhetorical structuring and internal discourse structuring suggests that texts written in Chinese by competent writers of Chinese may be closer to texts written in English by competent writers of English than is sometimes supposed, something that may have significant implications for the teaching of writing in English to native speakers of Chinese. However, the participants in this study were residents of Taiwan, a country that has had long-term academic and trading links with the USA and one in which most residents have some competence in English. It may be that a similar study involving native speakers of Chinese from other areas would yield different results.

year: 2009-09

title: Kia whakatōmuri te haere whakamua – A Māori framework for coastal climate change adaptation

authors: Bailey-Winiata, Akuhata

subjects: Climate Change Adaptation

abstract: Current climate change adaptation frameworks do not sufficiently represent or acknowledge the intricacies and complex nature of climate adaptation for all communities. This thesis contributes a Māori (Indigenous peoples of Aotearoa New Zealand (A-NZ)) climate adaptation framework that is informed by Te Ao Māori world views, mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge), Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Treaty of Waitangi) and research at the interface of Western knowledge and mātauranga Māori. This is needed to promote a more equitable and culturally sensitive approach to the current climate change adaptation process for hapū (sub-tribes) and iwi (tribes). To achieve this, this thesis is rooted in the whakataukī (proverb) “Kia whakatōmuri te haere whakamua – I walk backwards into the future with my eyes fixed on my past”, which exemplifies the power of acknowledging Māori history and intergenerational knowledge, while moving forward to a prosperous future. This thesis had four key aims. First, I looked to the past to understand ways Māori ancestors adapted and relocated in response to natural hazards to inform a future climate adaptation or relocation process. Second, I took stock of the contemporary risk to coastal marae (Māori meeting grounds) from sea level rise. Third, I looked internationally at other Indigenous communities' adaptation challenges and how they have overcome them as a mutual learning opportunity. And finally, I developed a conceptual Māori climate adaptation framework based on existing models and informed by a wānanga (workshop) with over 100 Māori participants. This two-part framework emphasises the importance of fostering Te Tiriti-centric relationships and partnerships that are essential for climate adaptation with hapū and iwi. In addition, it serves as a guide to support adaptation decision-making for hapū and iwi Māori. This thesis took a multidisciplinary approach to achieve these aims, incorporating historical and archival analyses, semi-structured interviews, a systematic review, coastal flooding and exposure analyses using spatial information, and wānanga. The findings highlighted that relocation due to natural hazards is not uncommon for Māori, as this thesis identified 51 examples of where relocation was completed or discussed in response to natural hazards. Furthermore, in a case study with Tūhourangi and Ngāti Rangitihi, this thesis identified vital aspects that enabled their relocation following the 1886 Tarawera eruption, the most influential being tuku whenua – the gifting of land to relocate to. This thesis also identified that by 2150, under shared socio-economic pathway (SSP) 5-8.5, 27% and 28% of coastal marae (total of 186 nationally) are exposed to a 100–year and 1000–year annual recurrence interval (ARI) extreme sea level events, respectively. Overall, this thesis contributes to our understanding of the requirements to support hapū and iwi Māori in climate adaptation, with parallels to other Indigenous communities. Requirements include resourcing, partnerships, autonomy, intergenerational planning, recognition, respect and redress. In Chapter 8 – the discussion of this thesis, we focus on four overall contributions this thesis has made, which are: 1) Hapū and iwi Māori are at risk of climate change, 2) We’ve done it before we can do it again, 3) Adaptation approach cannot be one-size-fits-all, and 4) Adaptation in Aotearoa needs a Te Tiriti-centric approach. Ultimately, this thesis underscores the urgent need for inclusive climate adaptation strategies that honour Indigenous knowledge systems, ensuring that hapū and iwi Māori are not only heard but are actively supported in navigating the impacts of climate change.

text: Kia whakatōmuri te haere whakamua – A Māori framework for coastal climate change adaptation Current climate change adaptation frameworks do not sufficiently represent or acknowledge the intricacies and complex nature of climate adaptation for all communities. This thesis contributes a Māori (Indigenous peoples of Aotearoa New Zealand (A-NZ)) climate adaptation framework that is informed by Te Ao Māori world views, mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge), Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Treaty of Waitangi) and research at the interface of Western knowledge and mātauranga Māori. This is needed to promote a more equitable and culturally sensitive approach to the current climate change adaptation process for hapū (sub-tribes) and iwi (tribes). To achieve this, this thesis is rooted in the whakataukī (proverb) “Kia whakatōmuri te haere whakamua – I walk backwards into the future with my eyes fixed on my past”, which exemplifies the power of acknowledging Māori history and intergenerational knowledge, while moving forward to a prosperous future. This thesis had four key aims. First, I looked to the past to understand ways Māori ancestors adapted and relocated in response to natural hazards to inform a future climate adaptation or relocation process. Second, I took stock of the contemporary risk to coastal marae (Māori meeting grounds) from sea level rise. Third, I looked internationally at other Indigenous communities' adaptation challenges and how they have overcome them as a mutual learning opportunity. And finally, I developed a conceptual Māori climate adaptation framework based on existing models and informed by a wānanga (workshop) with over 100 Māori participants. This two-part framework emphasises the importance of fostering Te Tiriti-centric relationships and partnerships that are essential for climate adaptation with hapū and iwi. In addition, it serves as a guide to support adaptation decision-making for hapū and iwi Māori. This thesis took a multidisciplinary approach to achieve these aims, incorporating historical and archival analyses, semi-structured interviews, a systematic review, coastal flooding and exposure analyses using spatial information, and wānanga. The findings highlighted that relocation due to natural hazards is not uncommon for Māori, as this thesis identified 51 examples of where relocation was completed or discussed in response to natural hazards. Furthermore, in a case study with Tūhourangi and Ngāti Rangitihi, this thesis identified vital aspects that enabled their relocation following the 1886 Tarawera eruption, the most influential being tuku whenua – the gifting of land to relocate to. This thesis also identified that by 2150, under shared socio-economic pathway (SSP) 5-8.5, 27% and 28% of coastal marae (total of 186 nationally) are exposed to a 100–year and 1000–year annual recurrence interval (ARI) extreme sea level events, respectively. Overall, this thesis contributes to our understanding of the requirements to support hapū and iwi Māori in climate adaptation, with parallels to other Indigenous communities. Requirements include resourcing, partnerships, autonomy, intergenerational planning, recognition, respect and redress. In Chapter 8 – the discussion of this thesis, we focus on four overall contributions this thesis has made, which are: 1) Hapū and iwi Māori are at risk of climate change, 2) We’ve done it before we can do it again, 3) Adaptation approach cannot be one-size-fits-all, and 4) Adaptation in Aotearoa needs a Te Tiriti-centric approach. Ultimately, this thesis underscores the urgent need for inclusive climate adaptation strategies that honour Indigenous knowledge systems, ensuring that hapū and iwi Māori are not only heard but are actively supported in navigating the impacts of climate change.

year: 2024-05-28