title: Culture, Courage and Change: The experiences of a Te Kotahitanga facilitation team

authors: Lamont, Robyn Elizabeth

subjects: culturally responsive pedagogy of relations

abstract: This thesis explores the experiences of the Te Kotahitanga facilitation team in one of the 12 Phase 3 Te Kotahitanga schools between 2003 and 2006. The collaborative story through which those experiences are shared includes the voices of the Lead facilitator, the two co-principals, and an RTLB/facilitator. This thesis begins by seeking to understand the historical impact of culturally located discourses of colonisation on the lives of the indigenous Māori people in New Zealand. From within a platform of Māori theorising it also considers Kaupapa Māori research methodologies and explores Māori people’s aspirations for self determination (tino rangatiratanga). It then considers the principles and practices of engaging as a bicultural partnership to improve educational outcomes for Māori students. Through a discussion of the facilitation team's experiences of learning about a culturally responsive pedagogy of relations through the development and support of culturally responsive contexts for learning, three important themes emerge: culture, courage and change. The impact of deficit theorising and pathologising practices on the culture of Maori students and their teachers is examined. The courage required of the Te Kotahitanga principals and facilitators to challenge and disrupt the assumptions that underpinned the historical status quo in this school and the importance of remaining steadfast in response to the dissonance and resistance that these change processes created is then discussed. Finally, this thesis highlights both the interdependent nature of the change required and the power of the collective in creating change; change within ourselves, within our classrooms and within our schools and communities for the benefit of Māori students, and of all students.

text: Culture, Courage and Change: The experiences of a Te Kotahitanga facilitation team This thesis explores the experiences of the Te Kotahitanga facilitation team in one of the 12 Phase 3 Te Kotahitanga schools between 2003 and 2006. The collaborative story through which those experiences are shared includes the voices of the Lead facilitator, the two co-principals, and an RTLB/facilitator. This thesis begins by seeking to understand the historical impact of culturally located discourses of colonisation on the lives of the indigenous Māori people in New Zealand. From within a platform of Māori theorising it also considers Kaupapa Māori research methodologies and explores Māori people’s aspirations for self determination (tino rangatiratanga). It then considers the principles and practices of engaging as a bicultural partnership to improve educational outcomes for Māori students. Through a discussion of the facilitation team's experiences of learning about a culturally responsive pedagogy of relations through the development and support of culturally responsive contexts for learning, three important themes emerge: culture, courage and change. The impact of deficit theorising and pathologising practices on the culture of Maori students and their teachers is examined. The courage required of the Te Kotahitanga principals and facilitators to challenge and disrupt the assumptions that underpinned the historical status quo in this school and the importance of remaining steadfast in response to the dissonance and resistance that these change processes created is then discussed. Finally, this thesis highlights both the interdependent nature of the change required and the power of the collective in creating change; change within ourselves, within our classrooms and within our schools and communities for the benefit of Māori students, and of all students.

year: 2011

title: Mental health of people of diverse genders and sexualities in Aotearoa/New Zealand: Findings from the New Zealand Mental Health Monitor

authors: Tan, Kyle K. H.

subjects: Science & Technology

abstract: Issues addressed: To examine mental health inequities, and social exclusion and isolation and protective factor differences between people of diverse genders and sexualities (lesbian/gay, bisexual, gender diverse, and takatāpui) and cisgender and heterosexual people in Aotearoa/New Zealand.  Methods: We employed data from the pooled probability sample of 2016 and 2018 New Zealand Mental Health Monitor. The sample comprised of 2,938 people at least 15 years old, of which 93 had diverse gender and sexuality identities. Generalised linear models were used to test for differences in mental health (current and lifetime mental distress, depression, anxiety, self-harm and suicide), social exclusion and isolation, and friend and family support for people of diverse genders and sexualities. We also conducted exploratory linear regression analyses to examine whether mental health difficulties were associated with social exclusion and isolation and friend/family support.  Results: People of diverse genders and sexualities had high rates of mental health difficulties across all variables we examined. For example, people identifying as diverse genders and sexualities had three times the risk of considering self-harm and suicide than their cisgender and heterosexual counterparts (22% vs 5%; RR = 3.12). People of diverse genders and sexualities also scored an average of 6.08 points higher on the 27-point PHQ-9 depression scale when they had experienced social isolation, and 4.01 points higher when they experienced social exclusion. Conclusion: Our results are consistent with current literature on the large mental health inequities faced by people of diverse genders and sexualities.  So what?: Policy makers and healthcare providers in Aotearoa/New Zealand should consider the negative mental health consequences of social exclusion and isolation for people of diverse genders and sexualities.

text: Mental health of people of diverse genders and sexualities in Aotearoa/New Zealand: Findings from the New Zealand Mental Health Monitor Issues addressed: To examine mental health inequities, and social exclusion and isolation and protective factor differences between people of diverse genders and sexualities (lesbian/gay, bisexual, gender diverse, and takatāpui) and cisgender and heterosexual people in Aotearoa/New Zealand.  Methods: We employed data from the pooled probability sample of 2016 and 2018 New Zealand Mental Health Monitor. The sample comprised of 2,938 people at least 15 years old, of which 93 had diverse gender and sexuality identities. Generalised linear models were used to test for differences in mental health (current and lifetime mental distress, depression, anxiety, self-harm and suicide), social exclusion and isolation, and friend and family support for people of diverse genders and sexualities. We also conducted exploratory linear regression analyses to examine whether mental health difficulties were associated with social exclusion and isolation and friend/family support.  Results: People of diverse genders and sexualities had high rates of mental health difficulties across all variables we examined. For example, people identifying as diverse genders and sexualities had three times the risk of considering self-harm and suicide than their cisgender and heterosexual counterparts (22% vs 5%; RR = 3.12). People of diverse genders and sexualities also scored an average of 6.08 points higher on the 27-point PHQ-9 depression scale when they had experienced social isolation, and 4.01 points higher when they experienced social exclusion. Conclusion: Our results are consistent with current literature on the large mental health inequities faced by people of diverse genders and sexualities.  So what?: Policy makers and healthcare providers in Aotearoa/New Zealand should consider the negative mental health consequences of social exclusion and isolation for people of diverse genders and sexualities.

year: 2021-10-03

title: Debris dispersal modeling for the great Sumatra Tsunamis on Banda Aceh and surrounding waters

authors: Prasetya, Gegar Sapta

subjects: Tsunami

abstract: The Great Sumatra Tsunami on 26 December 2004 generated large amounts of debris and waste throughout the affected coastal region in the Indian Ocean. In Banda Aceh—Indonesia, the tsunami flows were observed carrying a thick muddy sludge that mixed with all kinds of debris from the destroyed buildings, bridges and culverts, vehicles, fallen trees, and other flotsam. This waste and debris was mostly deposited inland, but traveled both onshore and offshore. Numerical dispersal modeling is carried out to simulate the transport of debris and waste produced by the tsunamis during the event. The model solves the Lagrangian form of the transport/dispersion equations using novel particle tracking techniques. Model results show that understanding the pathway and distribution of the suspended materials and flotsam caused by tsunamis is important for a proper hazards mitigation plan and waste management action, and to minimize serious long-term adverse environmental and natural resources consequences.

text: Debris dispersal modeling for the great Sumatra Tsunamis on Banda Aceh and surrounding waters The Great Sumatra Tsunami on 26 December 2004 generated large amounts of debris and waste throughout the affected coastal region in the Indian Ocean. In Banda Aceh—Indonesia, the tsunami flows were observed carrying a thick muddy sludge that mixed with all kinds of debris from the destroyed buildings, bridges and culverts, vehicles, fallen trees, and other flotsam. This waste and debris was mostly deposited inland, but traveled both onshore and offshore. Numerical dispersal modeling is carried out to simulate the transport of debris and waste produced by the tsunamis during the event. The model solves the Lagrangian form of the transport/dispersion equations using novel particle tracking techniques. Model results show that understanding the pathway and distribution of the suspended materials and flotsam caused by tsunamis is important for a proper hazards mitigation plan and waste management action, and to minimize serious long-term adverse environmental and natural resources consequences.

year: 2011