title: Ārai Whakamōmori: An Exploration of Te Whakaruruhau’s Suicide Prevention Strategy

authors: Jones, Waikorihiata Georgina-Ann Marama

subjects: Te Whakaruruhau, suicide, suicide prevention, indigenous suicide prevention, women’s refuge.

abstract: Te Whakaruruhau, Waikato Women’s Refuge, have been able to achieve a suicide free environment for their clients for over 31 years. This research sought to understand how Te Whakaruruhau have been successful in preventing suicide for women and their partners. Intimate partner violence is closely associated with suicide risk, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and helplessness and hopelessness. Interviews were held with 11 staff using kaupapa Māori (principles/philosophies) methodologies of: kānohi kitea (greeting, meeting face to face), ako Māori (learning, teaching, reciprocity, cultural pedagogy) and manaaki ki te tangata (caring, hosting people). A thematic analysis provided four main themes: identifying safety and risk issues, prevention methods, following tīkanga, and training and supervision. Sub themes that supported and expanded on each main theme showed that staff interacted and cared for their clients using distinctly Māori worldviews and practices of tīkanga: manner of approach, mā te whakarongo and kōrero (listening and talking), awhi (support), redirecting the focus, and whakamana (to empower), to prevent suicide with their clients. As Te Whakaruruhau is founded on principles of kaupapa Māori, it was evident that staff responded to their clients using manaakitanga (to care for, show respect), aroha (show love, empathy and sympathy), awhi, both physical and emotional support, and whakawhanaungatanga (relationship). A concern for staff was the lack of resourcing to access appropriate training and supervision which they felt impacted on their ability to do their job well. The implications of this study are that more training, specifically around suicide awareness, and mentoring and guidance is needed for staff to continue to provide a suicide free space. Also, this research serves to guide the formation of an indigenous national suicide prevention strategy for clients who access refuges. Ultimately, the research is for families who experience disruptions to their lives through violence offering a pathway and place for them to recover and rebuild their lives.

text: Ārai Whakamōmori: An Exploration of Te Whakaruruhau’s Suicide Prevention Strategy Te Whakaruruhau, Waikato Women’s Refuge, have been able to achieve a suicide free environment for their clients for over 31 years. This research sought to understand how Te Whakaruruhau have been successful in preventing suicide for women and their partners. Intimate partner violence is closely associated with suicide risk, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and helplessness and hopelessness. Interviews were held with 11 staff using kaupapa Māori (principles/philosophies) methodologies of: kānohi kitea (greeting, meeting face to face), ako Māori (learning, teaching, reciprocity, cultural pedagogy) and manaaki ki te tangata (caring, hosting people). A thematic analysis provided four main themes: identifying safety and risk issues, prevention methods, following tīkanga, and training and supervision. Sub themes that supported and expanded on each main theme showed that staff interacted and cared for their clients using distinctly Māori worldviews and practices of tīkanga: manner of approach, mā te whakarongo and kōrero (listening and talking), awhi (support), redirecting the focus, and whakamana (to empower), to prevent suicide with their clients. As Te Whakaruruhau is founded on principles of kaupapa Māori, it was evident that staff responded to their clients using manaakitanga (to care for, show respect), aroha (show love, empathy and sympathy), awhi, both physical and emotional support, and whakawhanaungatanga (relationship). A concern for staff was the lack of resourcing to access appropriate training and supervision which they felt impacted on their ability to do their job well. The implications of this study are that more training, specifically around suicide awareness, and mentoring and guidance is needed for staff to continue to provide a suicide free space. Also, this research serves to guide the formation of an indigenous national suicide prevention strategy for clients who access refuges. Ultimately, the research is for families who experience disruptions to their lives through violence offering a pathway and place for them to recover and rebuild their lives.

year: 2017

title: He pūrongo whakahokinga kōrero a te akomanga rūmaki o Te Tohu Paetahi

authors: Nock, Sophie

subjects: Reo Māori

abstract: Ko te whāinga matua o tēnei rangahau he whakakaokao, he wetewete āno hoki i ngā whakahokinga kōrero a te hunga uiui i kake atu ai ki runga i te waka o Te Tohu Paetahi i te tau 2008, i raro i te kōawa o Rehutai, i raro anō hoki i te maru o Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato. Ka aro atu ki ngā urupare a te hunga tekau mā ono mō te kaupapa nei o Te Tohu Paetahi, ka mutu, ka matapakihia ngā kōrero me ngā whakaaro o taua hunga kia āta kitea ai, āe rānei e tika ana te whakahaere, te mahi whakaako i te reo, te tautoko mai hoki a ngā kaiwhakaako me te kura. I te mutunga iho tautoko katoa te hunga uiui ki aua mea katoa.

text: He pūrongo whakahokinga kōrero a te akomanga rūmaki o Te Tohu Paetahi Ko te whāinga matua o tēnei rangahau he whakakaokao, he wetewete āno hoki i ngā whakahokinga kōrero a te hunga uiui i kake atu ai ki runga i te waka o Te Tohu Paetahi i te tau 2008, i raro i te kōawa o Rehutai, i raro anō hoki i te maru o Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato. Ka aro atu ki ngā urupare a te hunga tekau mā ono mō te kaupapa nei o Te Tohu Paetahi, ka mutu, ka matapakihia ngā kōrero me ngā whakaaro o taua hunga kia āta kitea ai, āe rānei e tika ana te whakahaere, te mahi whakaako i te reo, te tautoko mai hoki a ngā kaiwhakaako me te kura. I te mutunga iho tautoko katoa te hunga uiui ki aua mea katoa.

year: 2012-05

title: Genetic diversity and potential responses of New Zealand Rotifera and Antarctic Collembola to environmental changes

authors: Collins, Gemma Elyse

subjects: Mitochondrial DNA

abstract: Environmental changes can impact the diversity and abundance of biotic communities as well as their dispersal among geographic regions. The availability of sensitive molecular techniques has enabled assessments of diversity at levels previously unattainable and allowed investigation of how biota are influenced by their environment. This thesis examines the use of mitochondrial DNA sequence variation in New Zealand freshwater rotifers (Rotifera) and Antarctic springtails (Collembola) to assess diversity and determine responses to environmental changes.
 
Using mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) DNA sequences, I examined the diversity of New Zealand rotifers. The rotifer phylum is comprised of a variety of species and individuals are often abundant in freshwater systems globally. Species are associated with specific trophic states and in New Zealand are routinely monitored as biological indicators of ecosystem health. At present, species’ identification relies on morphological characters which is time consuming and requires appropriate taxonomic expertise. Here, I assessed the use of COI sequences as an alternative for the routine identification of New Zealand rotifers. A total of 177 individuals were sequenced from 45 morphologically-recognised taxa. High intraspecific variation was found among 14 species (3.4 - 39.0% divergence) and based on comparisons with sequences available on GenBank, 18 species were genetically distinct from their global conspecifics (>6.6% divergence). I conclude that these distinct haplotypes are potentially endemic among putatively cosmopolitan species. A better understanding of rotifer diversity in New Zealand will allow the detection and potential control of future non-indigenous species’ incursions. 

In order to assess the effects of environmental temperature changes on the genetic structure of populations, I examined the diversity of COI sequences of Antarctic springtails relative to the environmental conditions during which they were active. The target species, Gomphiocephalus hodgsoni, is known to harbour high genetic (COI) diversity as well as having considerable variation in their ability to tolerate sub-zero temperature – specifically, there appear to be “warm” and “cold” adapted individuals. I sequenced 151 individuals collected in pitfall traps near Spaulding Pond, Taylor Valley and found 19 unique COI haplotypes that separated into two distinct groups (1.6% divergence), with one haplotype group comprising 80% of the sequenced population. During two-hourly sampling, air temperature was the strongest predictor of activity between the two haplotype groups (R2 = 0.56) and when combined with subsurface soil temperature, relative humidity and photosynthetically active radiation, explanatory power increased to R2 = 0.71. Air temperatures are predicted to continue increasing across most of Antarctica which is expected to impact springtails by a detectable amount. Monitoring programmes focussed on the temporal and spatial changes in COI haplotype diversity may provide a sensitive measure of population responses to climate change. 

Collectively, these two studies contribute baseline data of the current genetic diversity and population structure among New Zealand rotifers and Antarctic springtails and provide a platform by which to monitor future environmental changes.

text: Genetic diversity and potential responses of New Zealand Rotifera and Antarctic Collembola to environmental changes Environmental changes can impact the diversity and abundance of biotic communities as well as their dispersal among geographic regions. The availability of sensitive molecular techniques has enabled assessments of diversity at levels previously unattainable and allowed investigation of how biota are influenced by their environment. This thesis examines the use of mitochondrial DNA sequence variation in New Zealand freshwater rotifers (Rotifera) and Antarctic springtails (Collembola) to assess diversity and determine responses to environmental changes.
 
Using mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) DNA sequences, I examined the diversity of New Zealand rotifers. The rotifer phylum is comprised of a variety of species and individuals are often abundant in freshwater systems globally. Species are associated with specific trophic states and in New Zealand are routinely monitored as biological indicators of ecosystem health. At present, species’ identification relies on morphological characters which is time consuming and requires appropriate taxonomic expertise. Here, I assessed the use of COI sequences as an alternative for the routine identification of New Zealand rotifers. A total of 177 individuals were sequenced from 45 morphologically-recognised taxa. High intraspecific variation was found among 14 species (3.4 - 39.0% divergence) and based on comparisons with sequences available on GenBank, 18 species were genetically distinct from their global conspecifics (>6.6% divergence). I conclude that these distinct haplotypes are potentially endemic among putatively cosmopolitan species. A better understanding of rotifer diversity in New Zealand will allow the detection and potential control of future non-indigenous species’ incursions. 

In order to assess the effects of environmental temperature changes on the genetic structure of populations, I examined the diversity of COI sequences of Antarctic springtails relative to the environmental conditions during which they were active. The target species, Gomphiocephalus hodgsoni, is known to harbour high genetic (COI) diversity as well as having considerable variation in their ability to tolerate sub-zero temperature – specifically, there appear to be “warm” and “cold” adapted individuals. I sequenced 151 individuals collected in pitfall traps near Spaulding Pond, Taylor Valley and found 19 unique COI haplotypes that separated into two distinct groups (1.6% divergence), with one haplotype group comprising 80% of the sequenced population. During two-hourly sampling, air temperature was the strongest predictor of activity between the two haplotype groups (R2 = 0.56) and when combined with subsurface soil temperature, relative humidity and photosynthetically active radiation, explanatory power increased to R2 = 0.71. Air temperatures are predicted to continue increasing across most of Antarctica which is expected to impact springtails by a detectable amount. Monitoring programmes focussed on the temporal and spatial changes in COI haplotype diversity may provide a sensitive measure of population responses to climate change. 

Collectively, these two studies contribute baseline data of the current genetic diversity and population structure among New Zealand rotifers and Antarctic springtails and provide a platform by which to monitor future environmental changes.

year: 2015