title: Participatory Action Research (PAR) as a Professional Learning Community (PLC) strategy for Secondary School Teacher Professional Development (PD)

authors: Ahlawat, Gautam

subjects: Participatory Action Research

abstract: Participatory action research (PAR) was used to investigate the effect of a purposeful and sustained professional learning community (PLC) on teacher professional development (PD) in a secondary school context. A self-contained focus group of teachers organised in a learning community generated iterative data. The focus group meetings served as professional development sessions and data was collected through audio recordings. Inductive and comparative data analysis made meaning of the participants perceptions and compared their individual positioning.
The findings indicate that teachers need favourable conditions for shared knowledge generation and focus group dynamics play a pivotal role in professional learning communities. 
It is recommended that purposeful and sustained professional learning communities be formed within and across New Zealand secondary schools and PAR as pedagogy is used as a PLC strategy for positive teacher PD outcomes.

text: Participatory Action Research (PAR) as a Professional Learning Community (PLC) strategy for Secondary School Teacher Professional Development (PD) Participatory action research (PAR) was used to investigate the effect of a purposeful and sustained professional learning community (PLC) on teacher professional development (PD) in a secondary school context. A self-contained focus group of teachers organised in a learning community generated iterative data. The focus group meetings served as professional development sessions and data was collected through audio recordings. Inductive and comparative data analysis made meaning of the participants perceptions and compared their individual positioning.
The findings indicate that teachers need favourable conditions for shared knowledge generation and focus group dynamics play a pivotal role in professional learning communities. 
It is recommended that purposeful and sustained professional learning communities be formed within and across New Zealand secondary schools and PAR as pedagogy is used as a PLC strategy for positive teacher PD outcomes.

year: 2015

title: The corophiid amphipods of Tauranga Harbour, New Zealand: evidence of an Australian crustacean invader

authors: Stevens, Mark I.

subjects: Amphipoda

abstract: Using morphological and molecular techniques we examined the corophiid amphipods in the Waimapu Estuary, Tauranga Harbour in the North Island of New Zealand. Based on morphology we identified two New Zealand endemic species, Paracorophium lucasi and P. excavatum, as well as P. brisbanensis, previously recorded only from the eastern coast of Australia and Corophium sp. which has not been previously recorded from New Zealand. Allozyme analyses confirmed the morphological diagnoses of three distinct species within Paracorophium and of the single Corophium species. The presence of reproductive females and juvenile P. brisbanensis suggests a viable, breeding population in Tauranga Harbour. We conclude that the species is likely to have been introduced to New Zealand waters via shipping activities (e.g., ballast water). The possibility that P. brisbanensis may now spread to other New Zealand ports as well as the consequences of this introduction for other New Zealand taxa need to be urgently examined.

text: The corophiid amphipods of Tauranga Harbour, New Zealand: evidence of an Australian crustacean invader Using morphological and molecular techniques we examined the corophiid amphipods in the Waimapu Estuary, Tauranga Harbour in the North Island of New Zealand. Based on morphology we identified two New Zealand endemic species, Paracorophium lucasi and P. excavatum, as well as P. brisbanensis, previously recorded only from the eastern coast of Australia and Corophium sp. which has not been previously recorded from New Zealand. Allozyme analyses confirmed the morphological diagnoses of three distinct species within Paracorophium and of the single Corophium species. The presence of reproductive females and juvenile P. brisbanensis suggests a viable, breeding population in Tauranga Harbour. We conclude that the species is likely to have been introduced to New Zealand waters via shipping activities (e.g., ballast water). The possibility that P. brisbanensis may now spread to other New Zealand ports as well as the consequences of this introduction for other New Zealand taxa need to be urgently examined.

year: 2002

title: Ōpōtiki Mai Tawhiti Kapa Haka

authors: Maxwell, Te Kahautu

abstract: Ōpōtiki Mai Tawhiti competed in Te Matatini World Championship Kapa Haka Competition and placed second overall out of 45 kapa haka. Placed 1st Male Leader, 1st Waiata a Ringa Composition, 1st, Poi Composition, 2nd Haka Composition, 1st overall composition, 1st Waiata Tira, 1st Waiata a Ringa, 3rd Whakakeke, 2nd Poi.

text: Ōpōtiki Mai Tawhiti Kapa Haka Ōpōtiki Mai Tawhiti competed in Te Matatini World Championship Kapa Haka Competition and placed second overall out of 45 kapa haka. Placed 1st Male Leader, 1st Waiata a Ringa Composition, 1st, Poi Composition, 2nd Haka Composition, 1st overall composition, 1st Waiata Tira, 1st Waiata a Ringa, 3rd Whakakeke, 2nd Poi.

year: 2015