title: Cultural tourism product: Pacific Island migrant perspectives in New Zealand

authors: Cave, Jennifer Barbara Jane

subjects: cultural tourism

abstract: The development of tourism cultural product in the case of minority peoples has become a mechanism for affirming traditional values, a restatement of identity, and an assertion of political and social aspirations. This is true for Pacific Island communities in Auckland, New Zealand, that are economically, socially, and politically marginalized. These peoples account for approximately 14% of Auckland's population, have retained several traditional features and connections with home islands through extended family networks, and have been well established in the city for over 60 years. The article reports research findings based on a mixed method of participation in discussions and political processes and results derived from a questionnaire. The study reveals differences between migrant and host communities toward the perceived attractiveness of the proposed tourism development and also indicates issues relating to management and product placement summarized in a model based on dimensions of cultural content and modes of management.

text: Cultural tourism product: Pacific Island migrant perspectives in New Zealand The development of tourism cultural product in the case of minority peoples has become a mechanism for affirming traditional values, a restatement of identity, and an assertion of political and social aspirations. This is true for Pacific Island communities in Auckland, New Zealand, that are economically, socially, and politically marginalized. These peoples account for approximately 14% of Auckland's population, have retained several traditional features and connections with home islands through extended family networks, and have been well established in the city for over 60 years. The article reports research findings based on a mixed method of participation in discussions and political processes and results derived from a questionnaire. The study reveals differences between migrant and host communities toward the perceived attractiveness of the proposed tourism development and also indicates issues relating to management and product placement summarized in a model based on dimensions of cultural content and modes of management.

year: 2007

title: The Effects of Delayed Positive Reinforcement on Learning in Dogs

authors: Browne, Clare Melody

abstract: Domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) have lived closely with humans for thousands of years. Successful dog training is important for dogs to fulfil the many roles that they play within human societies, and to aid good human-dog relationships and thus the welfare of both parties. The overall aim of this thesis was to investigate the interactions that take place between humans and dogs during training, with a particular focus on the timing of positive reinforcement delivery.
The first two studies examined sources of dog training information. Dog owners and trainers rated their own personal experiences as being the most valuable source of dog training information, followed closely by free or low-cost resources such as books, discussions with other owners or trainers, and the Internet. The second study examined the content of five popular dog training books, and found that some of the information on aspects of learning theory and human-given cues presented in these books was supported by academic literature; however, inconsistencies were found across the books. Not all of the books contained enough information to enable readers to replicate their training advice.
The third study in this thesis used video observations of owners and their dogs at dog training clubs to investigate the timing of positive reinforcement during training. Dogs failed to respond to 44.20% of their owners’ commands. Typically, conditioned reinforcement (e.g., verbal praise) was delivered first (average delay was 0.62 s), followed by unconditioned reinforcement (average delay was 0.98 s). This suggests that delayed reinforcement is commonplace in real-life dog training.
Study four examined the effects of delays on dogs’ learning in a laboratory setting. When unconditioned positive reinforcement was delayed by 1 s, only 25.00% of dogs learned the task, whereas 60.00% of dogs who received immediate unconditioned reinforcement learned. Forty percent of dogs who received immediate conditioned reinforcement and unconditioned reinforcement delayed by 1 s, learned the task. These findings show that dogs’ learning is affected negatively by delayed positive reinforcement.
The final study aimed to determine how dogs are able to learn in everyday dog training situations if delayed positive reinforcement is both a common occurrence and detrimental to dogs’ learning. Observations of owners training their dogs revealed that owners gave signals in the form of body movements such as hand gestures prior to providing any intentional feedback (e.g., verbal praise) to their dogs in 75.26% of trials (average delay was 0.31 s), which may bridge the temporal gap between dogs’ responses and delayed reinforcement, thus aiding dogs’ learning.
Overall findings from this thesis suggest that delays to positive reinforcement are detrimental to dogs’ learning. Advice to dog owners and trainers should emphasise speed and consistency when delivering feedback to dogs.

text: The Effects of Delayed Positive Reinforcement on Learning in Dogs Domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) have lived closely with humans for thousands of years. Successful dog training is important for dogs to fulfil the many roles that they play within human societies, and to aid good human-dog relationships and thus the welfare of both parties. The overall aim of this thesis was to investigate the interactions that take place between humans and dogs during training, with a particular focus on the timing of positive reinforcement delivery.
The first two studies examined sources of dog training information. Dog owners and trainers rated their own personal experiences as being the most valuable source of dog training information, followed closely by free or low-cost resources such as books, discussions with other owners or trainers, and the Internet. The second study examined the content of five popular dog training books, and found that some of the information on aspects of learning theory and human-given cues presented in these books was supported by academic literature; however, inconsistencies were found across the books. Not all of the books contained enough information to enable readers to replicate their training advice.
The third study in this thesis used video observations of owners and their dogs at dog training clubs to investigate the timing of positive reinforcement during training. Dogs failed to respond to 44.20% of their owners’ commands. Typically, conditioned reinforcement (e.g., verbal praise) was delivered first (average delay was 0.62 s), followed by unconditioned reinforcement (average delay was 0.98 s). This suggests that delayed reinforcement is commonplace in real-life dog training.
Study four examined the effects of delays on dogs’ learning in a laboratory setting. When unconditioned positive reinforcement was delayed by 1 s, only 25.00% of dogs learned the task, whereas 60.00% of dogs who received immediate unconditioned reinforcement learned. Forty percent of dogs who received immediate conditioned reinforcement and unconditioned reinforcement delayed by 1 s, learned the task. These findings show that dogs’ learning is affected negatively by delayed positive reinforcement.
The final study aimed to determine how dogs are able to learn in everyday dog training situations if delayed positive reinforcement is both a common occurrence and detrimental to dogs’ learning. Observations of owners training their dogs revealed that owners gave signals in the form of body movements such as hand gestures prior to providing any intentional feedback (e.g., verbal praise) to their dogs in 75.26% of trials (average delay was 0.31 s), which may bridge the temporal gap between dogs’ responses and delayed reinforcement, thus aiding dogs’ learning.
Overall findings from this thesis suggest that delays to positive reinforcement are detrimental to dogs’ learning. Advice to dog owners and trainers should emphasise speed and consistency when delivering feedback to dogs.

year: 2015

title: The moral terrains of Māori tourism

authors: Ringham, Sandra Lee

subjects: Māori tourism geographies

abstract: The objective of this project is to understand how Māori values are integrated into Māori tourism geographies. The research asks three questions. First, how do values shape the moral terrains of Māori tourism? Second, how is Māori tourism constructed through state sponsored branding and policies? Finally, how and in what ways do Māori tourism providers (re)construct their places and identities through practicing Māori values in Aotearoa? 
The critical social geographies of tourism in this thesis are informed by Kaupapa Māori, mana wahine, feminist geography, moral terrains and diverse economies literatures. Methodologies are woven together using: semi-structured interviews; participant sensing; autoethnography; and, discourse analysis. A research whānau (extended family), including kuia and kaumātua (women and men elders), guide the ethical components of research design and practices. Participant sensing took place in northern, coastal and central areas of Aotearoa. As kaitāpoi (Māori domestic tourist) I took part in activities that included animal tourism, local cuisine, camping, high end accommodation, tramping, souvenir shopping, museums, a harbour cruise and visited information sites. Eleven semi-interviews were conducted with Māori tourism providers in northern and coastal spaces. I interacted with approximately 70 people during the course of this research.
The findings of are divided into three substantive chapters. The first is an examination of two Aotearoa’s government tourism agencies’ policies and state sponsored branding. Tourism New Zealand (TNZ) uses language such as ‘best partner’ to attempt to form relationships and policy with Māori. New Zealand Māori Tourism (NZMT) prescribe Māori leadership and adopt a ‘people first’ approach. I untangled concepts of leadership, partnerships and the way strategic priorities are prescribed within the two institutions’ documents to reveal the way power relations are inscribed onto Aotearoa’s tourism terrains. The second chapter analyses state sponsored branding. Here I highlight the inconsistencies in the way Māori identities are represented. TNZ maintains a colonial imagining of traditional performance while NZMT present Māori men as contemporary leaders of diverse tourism experiences. Both organisations, however, continue to represent women as the ‘exotic other’. The three and last substantive chapter considers the lived realities of Māori tourism providers. Participants feel proud of the way their identities are represented on the global stage but concerned with the lack of representations of their contemporary lives and diverse tourism opportunities. Women are leading Māori tourism in a multitude of spaces and Māori tourism providers are practicing diverse economies. I argue that Māori identities, and Māori values, are defining elements of the Māori tourism experience. 
In closing this thesis I argue that the representation and lived realities of Māori tourism needs to be controlled by the tangata whenua who exist and inhabit precious places within Aotearoa’s landscapes.

text: The moral terrains of Māori tourism The objective of this project is to understand how Māori values are integrated into Māori tourism geographies. The research asks three questions. First, how do values shape the moral terrains of Māori tourism? Second, how is Māori tourism constructed through state sponsored branding and policies? Finally, how and in what ways do Māori tourism providers (re)construct their places and identities through practicing Māori values in Aotearoa? 
The critical social geographies of tourism in this thesis are informed by Kaupapa Māori, mana wahine, feminist geography, moral terrains and diverse economies literatures. Methodologies are woven together using: semi-structured interviews; participant sensing; autoethnography; and, discourse analysis. A research whānau (extended family), including kuia and kaumātua (women and men elders), guide the ethical components of research design and practices. Participant sensing took place in northern, coastal and central areas of Aotearoa. As kaitāpoi (Māori domestic tourist) I took part in activities that included animal tourism, local cuisine, camping, high end accommodation, tramping, souvenir shopping, museums, a harbour cruise and visited information sites. Eleven semi-interviews were conducted with Māori tourism providers in northern and coastal spaces. I interacted with approximately 70 people during the course of this research.
The findings of are divided into three substantive chapters. The first is an examination of two Aotearoa’s government tourism agencies’ policies and state sponsored branding. Tourism New Zealand (TNZ) uses language such as ‘best partner’ to attempt to form relationships and policy with Māori. New Zealand Māori Tourism (NZMT) prescribe Māori leadership and adopt a ‘people first’ approach. I untangled concepts of leadership, partnerships and the way strategic priorities are prescribed within the two institutions’ documents to reveal the way power relations are inscribed onto Aotearoa’s tourism terrains. The second chapter analyses state sponsored branding. Here I highlight the inconsistencies in the way Māori identities are represented. TNZ maintains a colonial imagining of traditional performance while NZMT present Māori men as contemporary leaders of diverse tourism experiences. Both organisations, however, continue to represent women as the ‘exotic other’. The three and last substantive chapter considers the lived realities of Māori tourism providers. Participants feel proud of the way their identities are represented on the global stage but concerned with the lack of representations of their contemporary lives and diverse tourism opportunities. Women are leading Māori tourism in a multitude of spaces and Māori tourism providers are practicing diverse economies. I argue that Māori identities, and Māori values, are defining elements of the Māori tourism experience. 
In closing this thesis I argue that the representation and lived realities of Māori tourism needs to be controlled by the tangata whenua who exist and inhabit precious places within Aotearoa’s landscapes.

year: 2015