title: Hikoitanga tapuwae o te hunga ke To take a walk in another's shoes: Using process drama to teach the underlying principles of restorative practice

authors: Bleaken, Susan

subjects: process drama

abstract: Hikoitanga tapuwae o te hunga ke To take a walk in another’s shoes
Using process drama to teach the underlying principles of restorative practice.

An increasing number of schools in New Zealand are changing the way they work with at risk students by adopting a restorative approach to anti- social behaviour. Challenges are on-going for schools and educational leaders who wish to implement restorative practice in their schools, since this requires on –going education for students, teachers and parents in this more democratic way of working.
This study looks at the impact on student understandings of restorative principles during five weeks of teaching process drama in a New Zealand Middle school. The teaching described in this short term intervention occurred within this school’s on –going programme of professional development and teaching in restorative practice. Prior to the study, whole staff professional development in restorative practice had occurred and a restorative drama programme had been piloted with a group of year 8 students. For this study, the programme was repeated with a class that reflected the cultural socio-economic and ability levels of the school as a whole. The purpose of this small scale study was to produce findings to inform the on-going development and enhancement of the programme, which is to be implemented school wide in 2012.
The teacher researcher in this study worked closely with the classroom teacher who acted as a critical friend and mentee. Data was collected through mixed methods and a critical ethnographic lens was applied. After the five week drama intervention findings indicated that levels of anti-social behaviour had decreased especially around swearing and name calling. Students and teachers reported shifts in their understandings of what it must be like to be another. As relationships developed within the drama, data indicated high levels of student engagement, inclusion of marginalised students and academic achievement via quality writing developed.

It was noted that students wrote for longer and their writing demonstrated depth of quality particularly those students who were often reluctant or disengaged during formal writing sessions.
 Further and perhaps most significant of all, findings showed that both the classroom teacher and teacher researcher were prompted to reflect on their own restorative and pedagogical practices.

text: Hikoitanga tapuwae o te hunga ke To take a walk in another's shoes: Using process drama to teach the underlying principles of restorative practice Hikoitanga tapuwae o te hunga ke To take a walk in another’s shoes
Using process drama to teach the underlying principles of restorative practice.

An increasing number of schools in New Zealand are changing the way they work with at risk students by adopting a restorative approach to anti- social behaviour. Challenges are on-going for schools and educational leaders who wish to implement restorative practice in their schools, since this requires on –going education for students, teachers and parents in this more democratic way of working.
This study looks at the impact on student understandings of restorative principles during five weeks of teaching process drama in a New Zealand Middle school. The teaching described in this short term intervention occurred within this school’s on –going programme of professional development and teaching in restorative practice. Prior to the study, whole staff professional development in restorative practice had occurred and a restorative drama programme had been piloted with a group of year 8 students. For this study, the programme was repeated with a class that reflected the cultural socio-economic and ability levels of the school as a whole. The purpose of this small scale study was to produce findings to inform the on-going development and enhancement of the programme, which is to be implemented school wide in 2012.
The teacher researcher in this study worked closely with the classroom teacher who acted as a critical friend and mentee. Data was collected through mixed methods and a critical ethnographic lens was applied. After the five week drama intervention findings indicated that levels of anti-social behaviour had decreased especially around swearing and name calling. Students and teachers reported shifts in their understandings of what it must be like to be another. As relationships developed within the drama, data indicated high levels of student engagement, inclusion of marginalised students and academic achievement via quality writing developed.

It was noted that students wrote for longer and their writing demonstrated depth of quality particularly those students who were often reluctant or disengaged during formal writing sessions.
 Further and perhaps most significant of all, findings showed that both the classroom teacher and teacher researcher were prompted to reflect on their own restorative and pedagogical practices.

year: 2012

title: Dune restoration as a mitigation strategy for the management of coastal hazards

authors: de Lange, Willem P.

abstract: This is a slideshow presented at the conference Conserv-Vision: the next 50 years, held at Hamilton, New Zealand, 2007.

text: Dune restoration as a mitigation strategy for the management of coastal hazards This is a slideshow presented at the conference Conserv-Vision: the next 50 years, held at Hamilton, New Zealand, 2007.

year: 2007-07-04

title: Health reform and the impact on Mäori 1983-1997

authors: Ferguson, Lisa Arleen.

abstract: This study investigates the New Zealand health sector reforms from 1983 to 1997and examines whether the reform process has been consistent with the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi. It evaluates the impact of the reforms on Mäori from that perspective. 

The study introduces the health sector reforms generally and then their specific effects on Mäori. It draws on two research exercises undertaken by the author, being research for the Wai 692 Napier Hospital and Health Services claim to the Waitangi Tribunal and on improving Mäori Health outcomes for the National Health Committee. The methodologies used are those from the discipline of history.

The study outlines the argument for Crown responsibilities under the Treaty and draws out the distinctions between Article 2 and Article 3 of the Treaty. It provides a historical background to the place of the Treaty in the health sector, and forms the basis for a Treaty based analysis of the health reforms and their impact. 

The New Zealand health sector has undergone massive government initiated structural change throughout the period under study. During this time the neo-liberal reforms have had a key role in reshaping health service structures. The process of change, the international influences on the changes, and the resulting entities are described. An example from Tainui Iwi of the effect of structural health reform illustrates the changes in Mäori health service provision by Mäori.
Since 1983 successive governments have produced copious Mäori health policy. The key policy documents, and their recommendations, are identified, as is the degree to which they were implemented. The cyclical nature of such policy making suggests that it is not always followed by policy implementation. While Mäori are identified as a health gain priority, the evidence reviewed shows that the responsibility to implement and monitor the policy is diffuse and ineffective.

The Wai 692 claim provides a detailed look at the impact of the 1990s health reform for Mäori. The claim was precipitated by the threatened closure of Napier Hospital, but was broadened to include a wide-ranging look at the impact of health reform on Mäori. As a case study it provides a specific example of one Iwi’s experience of the reality of policy implementation at that time versus policy making.

Crown evaluation of the effectiveness of its own policies, and the extent to which its own agencies breach those policies is explored. The lack of control and accountability measures, plus the inability of the Crown to monitor (let alone sanction) success or failure, is highlighted. A contrast is drawn between the health and local government sectors, using the operation of the Resource Management Act (1991). 

The latest health sector reforms consequent on the 1999 Labour/Alliance coalition government are briefly considered, together with an overview of the Crown’s effectiveness in delivering improved Mäori health outcomes. The study suggests that the use of the Treaty as a cornerstone for Maori health policy formation and delivery may lead to more effective engagement between the Crown and Mäori in addressing Mäori health issues. The study concludes by asking the question, has the health sector reform process of the 1980s and 1990s itself been a Treaty breach?

A brief postscript considers the further reform of the health sector beyond the period of study.

text: Health reform and the impact on Mäori 1983-1997 This study investigates the New Zealand health sector reforms from 1983 to 1997and examines whether the reform process has been consistent with the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi. It evaluates the impact of the reforms on Mäori from that perspective. 

The study introduces the health sector reforms generally and then their specific effects on Mäori. It draws on two research exercises undertaken by the author, being research for the Wai 692 Napier Hospital and Health Services claim to the Waitangi Tribunal and on improving Mäori Health outcomes for the National Health Committee. The methodologies used are those from the discipline of history.

The study outlines the argument for Crown responsibilities under the Treaty and draws out the distinctions between Article 2 and Article 3 of the Treaty. It provides a historical background to the place of the Treaty in the health sector, and forms the basis for a Treaty based analysis of the health reforms and their impact. 

The New Zealand health sector has undergone massive government initiated structural change throughout the period under study. During this time the neo-liberal reforms have had a key role in reshaping health service structures. The process of change, the international influences on the changes, and the resulting entities are described. An example from Tainui Iwi of the effect of structural health reform illustrates the changes in Mäori health service provision by Mäori.
Since 1983 successive governments have produced copious Mäori health policy. The key policy documents, and their recommendations, are identified, as is the degree to which they were implemented. The cyclical nature of such policy making suggests that it is not always followed by policy implementation. While Mäori are identified as a health gain priority, the evidence reviewed shows that the responsibility to implement and monitor the policy is diffuse and ineffective.

The Wai 692 claim provides a detailed look at the impact of the 1990s health reform for Mäori. The claim was precipitated by the threatened closure of Napier Hospital, but was broadened to include a wide-ranging look at the impact of health reform on Mäori. As a case study it provides a specific example of one Iwi’s experience of the reality of policy implementation at that time versus policy making.

Crown evaluation of the effectiveness of its own policies, and the extent to which its own agencies breach those policies is explored. The lack of control and accountability measures, plus the inability of the Crown to monitor (let alone sanction) success or failure, is highlighted. A contrast is drawn between the health and local government sectors, using the operation of the Resource Management Act (1991). 

The latest health sector reforms consequent on the 1999 Labour/Alliance coalition government are briefly considered, together with an overview of the Crown’s effectiveness in delivering improved Mäori health outcomes. The study suggests that the use of the Treaty as a cornerstone for Maori health policy formation and delivery may lead to more effective engagement between the Crown and Mäori in addressing Mäori health issues. The study concludes by asking the question, has the health sector reform process of the 1980s and 1990s itself been a Treaty breach?

A brief postscript considers the further reform of the health sector beyond the period of study.

year: 2002