title: Individualism and the public good: a case study in childhood immunisation

authors: Gower, Suzanne Elizabeth

abstract: The election of the Fourth Labour Government in July 1984 marked a turning point in New Zealand’s political economic history, ushering in the rise of the individualism which was fundamental to the prevailing philosophy of neo-liberal rationalism. In addition, however, to the widely recognised individualism in the political economy there was also a rising attitude of individualism within New Zealand's civil society. 

This thesis examines the development of New Zealand’s childhood immunisation policy, the National Immunisation Strategy, as a case study in determining the impact both neo-liberal and civil individualism had on the development of a policy with implications for the public good.
 
The thesis describes the public policy environment m which the National Immunisation Strategy was developed, examining the changes individualism wrought in both New Zealand’s political economy and in civil society. It traces the impact this had in turn on health sector reform, and later on the development of National Immunisation Strategy. 
The research uses qualitative methods in the examination of the policy-making process. It examines the literature surrounding childhood immunisation policy in New Zealand, key documents related to the policy-making process and findings of interviews with key informants involved in the policy-making process variously as officials, expert participants, and interested observers. 

The thesis concludes that both neo-liberal and civil individualism had a role in shaping not just the National Immunisation Strategy, but also the environment in which it was implemented. Furthermore, the failure of the strategy to improve childhood immunisation coverage rates and prevent epidemics of vaccine preventable diseases can be linked to the impact individualism had on both the policy development process and the National Immunisation Strategy.

text: Individualism and the public good: a case study in childhood immunisation The election of the Fourth Labour Government in July 1984 marked a turning point in New Zealand’s political economic history, ushering in the rise of the individualism which was fundamental to the prevailing philosophy of neo-liberal rationalism. In addition, however, to the widely recognised individualism in the political economy there was also a rising attitude of individualism within New Zealand's civil society. 

This thesis examines the development of New Zealand’s childhood immunisation policy, the National Immunisation Strategy, as a case study in determining the impact both neo-liberal and civil individualism had on the development of a policy with implications for the public good.
 
The thesis describes the public policy environment m which the National Immunisation Strategy was developed, examining the changes individualism wrought in both New Zealand’s political economy and in civil society. It traces the impact this had in turn on health sector reform, and later on the development of National Immunisation Strategy. 
The research uses qualitative methods in the examination of the policy-making process. It examines the literature surrounding childhood immunisation policy in New Zealand, key documents related to the policy-making process and findings of interviews with key informants involved in the policy-making process variously as officials, expert participants, and interested observers. 

The thesis concludes that both neo-liberal and civil individualism had a role in shaping not just the National Immunisation Strategy, but also the environment in which it was implemented. Furthermore, the failure of the strategy to improve childhood immunisation coverage rates and prevent epidemics of vaccine preventable diseases can be linked to the impact individualism had on both the policy development process and the National Immunisation Strategy.

year: 2000

title: Here, and Not Yet Here: A Dialogue at the Intersection of Queer, Trans, and Culture

authors: Aiello, Giorgia

subjects: postcoloniality

abstract: To start this dialogue, guest editor Karma R. Chávez posed a series of general and unbinding questions to participants about the meanings of queer theory and its relationship with questions of culture. The dialogue unfolded over the course of three weeks in an online forum and covered several important themes. First, participants engaged questions surrounding the meaning of queer, and its relationship to different cultural and linguistic contexts, especially with regard to diaspora, settler colonialism, and postcoloniality. Second, participants considered the interplay between queer and trans theories, which led to considerations of the body, memory, and homonormativity. Third, after the “coming out” of the U.S. actress Jodie Foster, participants had a lively discussion about the politics of visibility, responsibility, and accountability for different LGBTQ subjects. The dialogue concluded with final meditations.

text: Here, and Not Yet Here: A Dialogue at the Intersection of Queer, Trans, and Culture To start this dialogue, guest editor Karma R. Chávez posed a series of general and unbinding questions to participants about the meanings of queer theory and its relationship with questions of culture. The dialogue unfolded over the course of three weeks in an online forum and covered several important themes. First, participants engaged questions surrounding the meaning of queer, and its relationship to different cultural and linguistic contexts, especially with regard to diaspora, settler colonialism, and postcoloniality. Second, participants considered the interplay between queer and trans theories, which led to considerations of the body, memory, and homonormativity. Third, after the “coming out” of the U.S. actress Jodie Foster, participants had a lively discussion about the politics of visibility, responsibility, and accountability for different LGBTQ subjects. The dialogue concluded with final meditations.

year: 2013

title: Indigenous Psychology in Aotearoa: Realising Māori Aspirations

authors: Levy, Michelle Patricia

subjects: Maori

abstract: Indigenous psychology in Aotearoa positions the aspirations of Māori as central.  The aim of this thesis is to describe and contribute to the development of a psychological discipline which is relevant and of benefit for Māori communities.  Part One sets the scene in Aotearoa, examining the relationship between Māori development and psychology.  Part Two explores the indigenous psychology literature base, identifying strategies which may be relevant to Aotearoa.  The key themes of context, critical mass, and mechanisms to support indigenous psychology development are identified as being relevant to Aotearoa.  Part Three explores indigenous psychology development in Aotearoa.  Data from a range of sources is qualitatively analysed to develop five themes which describe the current status of Māori development in psychology, the importance of the critical mass and the notion of collective responsibility.  Part Four, drawing from the analysis in Parts One, Two and Three, identifies 'reaching the point of irreversible change' as the next phase of indigenous psychology development in Aotearoa.  This is the point at which indigenous psychology development becomes self-sustaining.  

The point at which irreversible change occurs is when: Māori knowledge bases are a legitimate part of psychology in Aotearoa; resistance to the legitimacy of Māori knowledge bases in psychology is not a characteristic of our landscape; environments supportive of indigenous psychology development are commonplace; and responsibility for contributing to indigenous psychology development is shared among and sustained by the collective capacity of the Leaders and Producers.  Consolidation, the process by which multiple and interrelated pathways are connected to form a unified whole, is fundamental to reaching the point of irreversible change.  An original interactional framework for consolidation is proposed.  This framework is based on two key consolidating mechanisms: a working description of Kaupapa Māori Psychologies; and a Kaupapa Māori Psychologies Research and Training Centre.  Psychologies relevant and of benefit to Māori communities which contribute to the realisation of Māori aspirations are the cornerstones, with all elements of the framework leading back into this fundamental foundation.

text: Indigenous Psychology in Aotearoa: Realising Māori Aspirations Indigenous psychology in Aotearoa positions the aspirations of Māori as central.  The aim of this thesis is to describe and contribute to the development of a psychological discipline which is relevant and of benefit for Māori communities.  Part One sets the scene in Aotearoa, examining the relationship between Māori development and psychology.  Part Two explores the indigenous psychology literature base, identifying strategies which may be relevant to Aotearoa.  The key themes of context, critical mass, and mechanisms to support indigenous psychology development are identified as being relevant to Aotearoa.  Part Three explores indigenous psychology development in Aotearoa.  Data from a range of sources is qualitatively analysed to develop five themes which describe the current status of Māori development in psychology, the importance of the critical mass and the notion of collective responsibility.  Part Four, drawing from the analysis in Parts One, Two and Three, identifies 'reaching the point of irreversible change' as the next phase of indigenous psychology development in Aotearoa.  This is the point at which indigenous psychology development becomes self-sustaining.  

The point at which irreversible change occurs is when: Māori knowledge bases are a legitimate part of psychology in Aotearoa; resistance to the legitimacy of Māori knowledge bases in psychology is not a characteristic of our landscape; environments supportive of indigenous psychology development are commonplace; and responsibility for contributing to indigenous psychology development is shared among and sustained by the collective capacity of the Leaders and Producers.  Consolidation, the process by which multiple and interrelated pathways are connected to form a unified whole, is fundamental to reaching the point of irreversible change.  An original interactional framework for consolidation is proposed.  This framework is based on two key consolidating mechanisms: a working description of Kaupapa Māori Psychologies; and a Kaupapa Māori Psychologies Research and Training Centre.  Psychologies relevant and of benefit to Māori communities which contribute to the realisation of Māori aspirations are the cornerstones, with all elements of the framework leading back into this fundamental foundation.

year: 2007