title: “Not another patient through the revolving door”: A case study analysis of six women’s experiences with pregnancy terminations in New Zealand.

authors: Lee, Katherine Louise

subjects: Pregnancy termination

abstract: This thesis investigates an under-researched and largely ignored area in New Zealand, specifically six young women’s experiences of pregnancy termination in a New Zealand context. The aim of this research is twofold: to investigate the interconnection between intimate relationships and pregnancy terminations, and to describe and analyse the experiences of quality of care provided in New Zealand pregnancy termination settings. 

This research is conducted using a narrative methodology that allows each participant to have their own unique ‘voice’ and to offer valuable and rich insights into their personal experiences of pregnancy termination. Six participants were selected who met the criteria of being under 25 years of age at the time of their terminations. These participants were interviewed individually on three separate occasions using a qualitative semi-structured interview schedule with themes that included life before falling pregnant, culture and religion, intimate relationship pre- and post-termination, intimate relationship education (if any) provided at school, interaction with health professionals, accessibility, experiences on the day of the procedure, and participants’ advice for young women contemplating a termination. 

The findings from this thesis demonstrate a plethora of consequences for intimate relationships and the delivery of quality of care throughout the termination process. In terms of intimate relationships, the dissolution of the ‘honeymoon period’ exacerbated issues for women undergoing terminations. The quality of the relationship was found to be an important contributor to decision-making, particularly when the intimate partner was invited to share this responsibility. Problems arose in those relationships where there were incongruent experiences concerning the termination — for example, when one individual in the relationship was coping but the other was not. Irrespective of the quality of the relationship one key finding is that terminations appear to have a significant negative impact on future relationships. Interestingly, some participants chose to conceal their terminations from future intimate partners when then knew their partners were opposed to pregnancy terminations on ethical grounds. 

This thesis also highlights the considerable barriers to accessing termination clinics because they are located in the main centres and required most participants to travel to these clinics. Many participants struggled to ‘get a foot in the door’ and this often resulted in delayed entry to the service. Participants were aware of the role of the health professionals as the legal gatekeepers to the termination process and this led some to conceal their emotions, further heightening their stress on the day of the termination. The participants’ experiences of simply being a ‘number’ and part of the ‘revolving door’ process contributed towards their negative perceptions about, and experiences of, quality of care. The combination of their desire for but absence of tangibility, coupled with the non-alignment of participants’ expectations with the quality of care service they received, led some participants to have negative experiences of the termination process. 

The narratives that have been offered by the six young women who have had a termination provide valuable insights into, and reflections about, their personal experiences with a legal process that for many New Zealanders still remains ‘behind closed doors’.

text: “Not another patient through the revolving door”: A case study analysis of six women’s experiences with pregnancy terminations in New Zealand. This thesis investigates an under-researched and largely ignored area in New Zealand, specifically six young women’s experiences of pregnancy termination in a New Zealand context. The aim of this research is twofold: to investigate the interconnection between intimate relationships and pregnancy terminations, and to describe and analyse the experiences of quality of care provided in New Zealand pregnancy termination settings. 

This research is conducted using a narrative methodology that allows each participant to have their own unique ‘voice’ and to offer valuable and rich insights into their personal experiences of pregnancy termination. Six participants were selected who met the criteria of being under 25 years of age at the time of their terminations. These participants were interviewed individually on three separate occasions using a qualitative semi-structured interview schedule with themes that included life before falling pregnant, culture and religion, intimate relationship pre- and post-termination, intimate relationship education (if any) provided at school, interaction with health professionals, accessibility, experiences on the day of the procedure, and participants’ advice for young women contemplating a termination. 

The findings from this thesis demonstrate a plethora of consequences for intimate relationships and the delivery of quality of care throughout the termination process. In terms of intimate relationships, the dissolution of the ‘honeymoon period’ exacerbated issues for women undergoing terminations. The quality of the relationship was found to be an important contributor to decision-making, particularly when the intimate partner was invited to share this responsibility. Problems arose in those relationships where there were incongruent experiences concerning the termination — for example, when one individual in the relationship was coping but the other was not. Irrespective of the quality of the relationship one key finding is that terminations appear to have a significant negative impact on future relationships. Interestingly, some participants chose to conceal their terminations from future intimate partners when then knew their partners were opposed to pregnancy terminations on ethical grounds. 

This thesis also highlights the considerable barriers to accessing termination clinics because they are located in the main centres and required most participants to travel to these clinics. Many participants struggled to ‘get a foot in the door’ and this often resulted in delayed entry to the service. Participants were aware of the role of the health professionals as the legal gatekeepers to the termination process and this led some to conceal their emotions, further heightening their stress on the day of the termination. The participants’ experiences of simply being a ‘number’ and part of the ‘revolving door’ process contributed towards their negative perceptions about, and experiences of, quality of care. The combination of their desire for but absence of tangibility, coupled with the non-alignment of participants’ expectations with the quality of care service they received, led some participants to have negative experiences of the termination process. 

The narratives that have been offered by the six young women who have had a termination provide valuable insights into, and reflections about, their personal experiences with a legal process that for many New Zealanders still remains ‘behind closed doors’.

year: 2016

title: BioFish survey of Lake Taupo, 2006

authors: McBride, Chris G.

subjects: New Zealand

abstract: This report provides details of a “BioFish” survey of Lake Taupo conducted in 2006. This first BioFish survey of Lake Taupo was initiated in late 2004 and continued until autumn (May) of 2005 (Hamilton et al. 2005). The 2004-5 survey involved deployment of the BioFish along a transect that commenced near the outlet of Lake Taupo, progressed south-west to ‘Station A’, a deep central site near the middle of the lake, and then north-west to include shallower lake bays; Whangamate Bay and Whakaipo Bay. This transect was repeated five times in 2004-5.

text: BioFish survey of Lake Taupo, 2006 This report provides details of a “BioFish” survey of Lake Taupo conducted in 2006. This first BioFish survey of Lake Taupo was initiated in late 2004 and continued until autumn (May) of 2005 (Hamilton et al. 2005). The 2004-5 survey involved deployment of the BioFish along a transect that commenced near the outlet of Lake Taupo, progressed south-west to ‘Station A’, a deep central site near the middle of the lake, and then north-west to include shallower lake bays; Whangamate Bay and Whakaipo Bay. This transect was repeated five times in 2004-5.

year: 2008

title: Enabling conditions for professional development of te reo Māori teachers

authors: Franken, Margaret

subjects: Māori language teachers

abstract: The paper outlines a professional development programme for secondary school teachers of te reo Māori (under the auspices of Te Hiringa i te Mahara) conducted by a language teacher educator and an expert in Māori bilingualism and biliteracy. While the principles underpinning the programme reflect a strong task-based
orientation, the programme approached development needs for the teachers from the point of view of understanding “enabling conditions” (Franken, Rau, Ngata & Parata, n.d.) for effective language learning and teaching (see also Ellis, 2005),
rather than understanding task based learning and teaching per se. The programme drew on the current practices of the teachers and made use of epistemology of Māori language and Māori language learning. The paper presents observations from monitoring data collected during the programme supporting the claim that such an approach to the professional development of language teachers promotes a strong knowledge base and pedagogical reasoning skills (Richards, 1998), and in particular for te reo Māori teachers, fosters a sense of their own professional identity.

text: Enabling conditions for professional development of te reo Māori teachers The paper outlines a professional development programme for secondary school teachers of te reo Māori (under the auspices of Te Hiringa i te Mahara) conducted by a language teacher educator and an expert in Māori bilingualism and biliteracy. While the principles underpinning the programme reflect a strong task-based
orientation, the programme approached development needs for the teachers from the point of view of understanding “enabling conditions” (Franken, Rau, Ngata & Parata, n.d.) for effective language learning and teaching (see also Ellis, 2005),
rather than understanding task based learning and teaching per se. The programme drew on the current practices of the teachers and made use of epistemology of Māori language and Māori language learning. The paper presents observations from monitoring data collected during the programme supporting the claim that such an approach to the professional development of language teachers promotes a strong knowledge base and pedagogical reasoning skills (Richards, 1998), and in particular for te reo Māori teachers, fosters a sense of their own professional identity.

year: 2009