title: The postcolonial university

authors: Peters, Michael A.

abstract: Derrida is, perhaps, the foremost philosopher of the humanities and of its place in the university. Over the long period of his career he has been concerned with the fate, status, place and contribution of the humanities. Through his deconstructive readings and writings he has done much not only to reinvent the Western tradition by attending closely to those texts which constitute it but also he has redefined its procedures and protocols, questioning and commenting upon the relationship between commentary and interpretation, the practice of quotation, the delimitation of a work and its singularity, its signature, and its context – the whole form of life of literary culture, together with textual practices and conventions that shape it. From his very early work he has occupied a marginal in-between space –simultaneously, textual, literary, philosophical, and political – a space that permitted him a freedom to question, to speculate and to draw new limits to humanitas. Derrida has demonstrated his power to reconceptualize and to reimagine the humanities in the space of the contemporary university. This paper discusses Derrida’s tasks for the new humanities (Trifonas & Peters, 2005).

text: The postcolonial university Derrida is, perhaps, the foremost philosopher of the humanities and of its place in the university. Over the long period of his career he has been concerned with the fate, status, place and contribution of the humanities. Through his deconstructive readings and writings he has done much not only to reinvent the Western tradition by attending closely to those texts which constitute it but also he has redefined its procedures and protocols, questioning and commenting upon the relationship between commentary and interpretation, the practice of quotation, the delimitation of a work and its singularity, its signature, and its context – the whole form of life of literary culture, together with textual practices and conventions that shape it. From his very early work he has occupied a marginal in-between space –simultaneously, textual, literary, philosophical, and political – a space that permitted him a freedom to question, to speculate and to draw new limits to humanitas. Derrida has demonstrated his power to reconceptualize and to reimagine the humanities in the space of the contemporary university. This paper discusses Derrida’s tasks for the new humanities (Trifonas & Peters, 2005).

year: 2016

title: Characterisation and paleoclimatic signals within tephric loess deposits aged between c. 33 to 9.5 cal ka in the Rotorua area, northern New Zealand

authors: Lanigan, Kerri Miriam

subjects: tephrochronology

abstract: I studied tephric loess deposits aged between c. 33 and 9.5 cal ka in the Rotorua region, north-east central North Island. I produced a stratigraphic framework for the loess deposits and characterised them using a range of field and laboratory methods to develop a multi-proxy paleoclimatic reconstruction for the region. A number of key tephra marker layers, including Kawakawa (c. 25.4 cal ka), Te Rere (c. 25.2 cal ka), Okareka (c. 21.9 cal ka), Rerewhakaaitu (c. 17.5 cal ka), Rotorua (c. 15.6 cal ka), Waiohau (c. 13.6 cal ka) and Rotoma (c. 9.5 cal ka) tephras, were used as isochronous tie-points within the loess deposits and to provide ages within the loess. In contrast to those of previous studies, the findings from my study suggest that loess deposition continued at some sites in the Rotorua region until c. 9.5 cal ka. The average rate of loess accumulation was about 2.3 cm per century. The thickest loess sequence deposited between c. 33 and 9.5 cal ka was about 4.3 metres (tephra-free thickness) at Dansey Rd. In general, the tephric loess deposits are largely massive, silty and often yellowish brown, dull yellowish brown or dull yellow orange in colour (Munsell colour codes 10YR 5/4, 5/6, 5/8 or 6/4). Paleoclimate proxy analyses of the loess included grain size, accumulation rates, phytolith analysis, magnetic susceptibility, total carbon content, carbon isotopes and potassium content. 

The results from my study suggest that the Rotorua region underwent a change from relatively warm, wet and less windy interstadial conditions to relatively cold, dry and more windy stadial conditions (indicative of the beginning of the extended-last glacial maximum) at c. 25.4 cal ka (about the time of deposition of the Kawakawa Tephra). Between c. 25.4 and 18.4 cal ka, stadial conditions likely dominated, although climate was also variable, and results suggest that two short-lived interstadials, centred around c. 23 cal ka and c. 21 cal ka, may have occurred. Stadial conditions appear to have ended at c. 18.4 cal ka when conditions became relatively warmer, wetter and less windy (likely indicative of last glacial – interglacial transition conditions). However, during these warming conditions, between c. 13.8—12.8 cal ka, results suggest that conditions became temporarily relatively cooler and drier (indicative of the late glacial reversal). In general, there is good support from the New Zealand climate event stratigraphy (CES) (D.J. Barrell and others in preparation. “The sequence of climatic events in New Zealand over the past 30 000 years – a composite stratotype for regional correlation and comparison.” Quaternary Science Reviews [Australasian INTIMATE issue]) and other North Island paleoclimate records for these three broad changes in climate from interstadial to stadial and back to interstadial (and possibly interglacial) conditions during this time. However, the exact timing of these broad changes as well as that of the shorter-lived climatic variations are not perfectly synchronised with the timing of similar changes in the CES and other North Island records.

text: Characterisation and paleoclimatic signals within tephric loess deposits aged between c. 33 to 9.5 cal ka in the Rotorua area, northern New Zealand I studied tephric loess deposits aged between c. 33 and 9.5 cal ka in the Rotorua region, north-east central North Island. I produced a stratigraphic framework for the loess deposits and characterised them using a range of field and laboratory methods to develop a multi-proxy paleoclimatic reconstruction for the region. A number of key tephra marker layers, including Kawakawa (c. 25.4 cal ka), Te Rere (c. 25.2 cal ka), Okareka (c. 21.9 cal ka), Rerewhakaaitu (c. 17.5 cal ka), Rotorua (c. 15.6 cal ka), Waiohau (c. 13.6 cal ka) and Rotoma (c. 9.5 cal ka) tephras, were used as isochronous tie-points within the loess deposits and to provide ages within the loess. In contrast to those of previous studies, the findings from my study suggest that loess deposition continued at some sites in the Rotorua region until c. 9.5 cal ka. The average rate of loess accumulation was about 2.3 cm per century. The thickest loess sequence deposited between c. 33 and 9.5 cal ka was about 4.3 metres (tephra-free thickness) at Dansey Rd. In general, the tephric loess deposits are largely massive, silty and often yellowish brown, dull yellowish brown or dull yellow orange in colour (Munsell colour codes 10YR 5/4, 5/6, 5/8 or 6/4). Paleoclimate proxy analyses of the loess included grain size, accumulation rates, phytolith analysis, magnetic susceptibility, total carbon content, carbon isotopes and potassium content. 

The results from my study suggest that the Rotorua region underwent a change from relatively warm, wet and less windy interstadial conditions to relatively cold, dry and more windy stadial conditions (indicative of the beginning of the extended-last glacial maximum) at c. 25.4 cal ka (about the time of deposition of the Kawakawa Tephra). Between c. 25.4 and 18.4 cal ka, stadial conditions likely dominated, although climate was also variable, and results suggest that two short-lived interstadials, centred around c. 23 cal ka and c. 21 cal ka, may have occurred. Stadial conditions appear to have ended at c. 18.4 cal ka when conditions became relatively warmer, wetter and less windy (likely indicative of last glacial – interglacial transition conditions). However, during these warming conditions, between c. 13.8—12.8 cal ka, results suggest that conditions became temporarily relatively cooler and drier (indicative of the late glacial reversal). In general, there is good support from the New Zealand climate event stratigraphy (CES) (D.J. Barrell and others in preparation. “The sequence of climatic events in New Zealand over the past 30 000 years – a composite stratotype for regional correlation and comparison.” Quaternary Science Reviews [Australasian INTIMATE issue]) and other North Island paleoclimate records for these three broad changes in climate from interstadial to stadial and back to interstadial (and possibly interglacial) conditions during this time. However, the exact timing of these broad changes as well as that of the shorter-lived climatic variations are not perfectly synchronised with the timing of similar changes in the CES and other North Island records.

year: 2012

title: Real world initiation of newly funded empagliflozin and dulaglutide under special authority for patients with type 2 diabetes in New Zealand

authors: Chepulis, Lynne Merran

subjects: GLP1RA

abstract: Background: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is sub-optimally managed for many in Aotearoa New Zealand, and disproportionately affects Māori and Pacific peoples. In February 2021, SGLT2i/GLP1RA agents were funded for use for the first time with prioritisation for Māori, Pacific and those with cardiovascular and/or renal disease or risk (CVRD). This study evaluates the impact of health system factors on initiation of SGLT2i/GLP1RA therapy. 

Methods: Primary care data was collected for patients with T2D aged 18–75 years from four primary care organisations (302 general practices) in the Auckland / Waikato region of New Zealand (Feb 2021 – July 2022). Initiation of SGLT2i/GLP1RA therapy was reviewed by patient (age, gender, ethnicity, CVRD status) and health system variables (funding, provider type, staffing, patient numbers, rurality, after-hours access). Logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratio of a patient being dispensed SGLT2i/GLP1RA. 

Results: Of 57,743 patients with T2D, 22,331 were eligible for funded SGLT2i/GLP1RA access and 10,272 of those (46.0%) were prescribed. Initiation of therapy was highest in Māori (50.8%) and Pacific (48.8%) patients (vs. 36·2–40·7% of other ethnic groups; P < 0.001), but was comparable in those with and without CVRD (47·1% vs. 48·9%; P = 0.2). Prescribing was highest in practices with higher doctor/patient numbers, low-cost fees, Māori health providers and clinics without after-hours access.

Conclusion: Prioritised access for SGLT2i/GLP1RA appears to be associated with a reduced health equity gap for Māori and Pacific patients with T2D in NZ, but work is required to improve prescribing for patients with CVRD.

text: Real world initiation of newly funded empagliflozin and dulaglutide under special authority for patients with type 2 diabetes in New Zealand Background: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is sub-optimally managed for many in Aotearoa New Zealand, and disproportionately affects Māori and Pacific peoples. In February 2021, SGLT2i/GLP1RA agents were funded for use for the first time with prioritisation for Māori, Pacific and those with cardiovascular and/or renal disease or risk (CVRD). This study evaluates the impact of health system factors on initiation of SGLT2i/GLP1RA therapy. 

Methods: Primary care data was collected for patients with T2D aged 18–75 years from four primary care organisations (302 general practices) in the Auckland / Waikato region of New Zealand (Feb 2021 – July 2022). Initiation of SGLT2i/GLP1RA therapy was reviewed by patient (age, gender, ethnicity, CVRD status) and health system variables (funding, provider type, staffing, patient numbers, rurality, after-hours access). Logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratio of a patient being dispensed SGLT2i/GLP1RA. 

Results: Of 57,743 patients with T2D, 22,331 were eligible for funded SGLT2i/GLP1RA access and 10,272 of those (46.0%) were prescribed. Initiation of therapy was highest in Māori (50.8%) and Pacific (48.8%) patients (vs. 36·2–40·7% of other ethnic groups; P < 0.001), but was comparable in those with and without CVRD (47·1% vs. 48·9%; P = 0.2). Prescribing was highest in practices with higher doctor/patient numbers, low-cost fees, Māori health providers and clinics without after-hours access.

Conclusion: Prioritised access for SGLT2i/GLP1RA appears to be associated with a reduced health equity gap for Māori and Pacific patients with T2D in NZ, but work is required to improve prescribing for patients with CVRD.

year: 2025