title: Coastal communities, leisure and wellbeing: Advancing a trans-disciplinary agenda for understanding ocean-human relationships in Aotearoa New Zealand

authors: Wheaton, Belinda

subjects: Science & Technology

abstract: Commentators are advocating for research to better understand relationships between healthy coastal ecosystems and human wellbeing. Doing so requires inter- and transdisciplinary approaches across humanities, arts, social sciences, and science and technology disciplines. These approaches include culturally diverse knowledge systems, such as indigenous ones, that locate sustainable use of and relationships to marine ecosystems. This paper contributes to this agenda through a case-study of relationships between coastal ecosystems and human wellbeing in Aotearoa New Zealand. This article highlights interconnected cultural and wellbeing benefits of, and socio-ecological relationships between, these coastal ecosystems drawing on a case study of one ocean-based, ‘immersive’ leisure activity, surfing. Further, it examines how these relationships impact human physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing, and the wellbeing of communities and ecosystems. The research illustrates that surfing creates strong bonds between practitioners and coastal places, linking the health of marine environments and people. We demonstrate the value of a transdisciplinary place-based approach that integrates research across the humanities and social sciences and engages with Indigenous knowledge (Mātauranga Māori). This argument for multicultural co-learning shows the value of Western and Māori vantage points for how we understand coastal blue spaces. Indigenous perspectives, we conclude, deepen appreciation, as well as equity considerations, of how we understand place, wellbeing, and long-term sustainable relationships with marine ecosystems.

text: Coastal communities, leisure and wellbeing: Advancing a trans-disciplinary agenda for understanding ocean-human relationships in Aotearoa New Zealand Commentators are advocating for research to better understand relationships between healthy coastal ecosystems and human wellbeing. Doing so requires inter- and transdisciplinary approaches across humanities, arts, social sciences, and science and technology disciplines. These approaches include culturally diverse knowledge systems, such as indigenous ones, that locate sustainable use of and relationships to marine ecosystems. This paper contributes to this agenda through a case-study of relationships between coastal ecosystems and human wellbeing in Aotearoa New Zealand. This article highlights interconnected cultural and wellbeing benefits of, and socio-ecological relationships between, these coastal ecosystems drawing on a case study of one ocean-based, ‘immersive’ leisure activity, surfing. Further, it examines how these relationships impact human physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing, and the wellbeing of communities and ecosystems. The research illustrates that surfing creates strong bonds between practitioners and coastal places, linking the health of marine environments and people. We demonstrate the value of a transdisciplinary place-based approach that integrates research across the humanities and social sciences and engages with Indigenous knowledge (Mātauranga Māori). This argument for multicultural co-learning shows the value of Western and Māori vantage points for how we understand coastal blue spaces. Indigenous perspectives, we conclude, deepen appreciation, as well as equity considerations, of how we understand place, wellbeing, and long-term sustainable relationships with marine ecosystems.

year: 2021

title: Māori language research

authors: Barbour, Julie Renee

subjects: Māori language research

abstract: The theme of this special issue is Māori language research. Contributions to the special issue cover linguistic topics surrounding language revitalisation and pedagogy topics, ranging from acoustic to morphosyntactic analysis. At its heart, each paper is concerned with te reo Māori, as it is learned, taught, spoken and valued in Aotearoa New Zealand in the 21st century. The inspiration for this special issue came from the global events surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2022), and the realisation that the linguistic community in Aotearoa New Zealand could, and should, be doing more to support our Indigenous language.

text: Māori language research The theme of this special issue is Māori language research. Contributions to the special issue cover linguistic topics surrounding language revitalisation and pedagogy topics, ranging from acoustic to morphosyntactic analysis. At its heart, each paper is concerned with te reo Māori, as it is learned, taught, spoken and valued in Aotearoa New Zealand in the 21st century. The inspiration for this special issue came from the global events surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2022), and the realisation that the linguistic community in Aotearoa New Zealand could, and should, be doing more to support our Indigenous language.

year: 2024

title: The use of a multidimensional support model to examine policies and practices for immigrant students across Canada.

authors: Volante, Louis

subjects: immigrant children

abstract: In the larger context of migration, the education and integration of immigrant children within Canadian school systems has become a pressing concern for education policy makers. Through a systematic content analysis, this study developed a Multidimensional Support Model to examine education policies and support measures that have been articulated by Ministries and Departments of Education across Canada to facilitate the integration and success of immigrant students in K–12 public education systems. The discussion underscores the timeliness and rationale for Ministries and Departments of Education to develop a stand-alone policy document to address all of the unique needs of immigrant students comprehensively and devote greater attention to the socio-economic challenges immigrant students disproportionately face. Developing this document would also address the importance of greater policy coherence and collaboration among ministry sectors. The utility of the proposed support model, which drew on the existing literature, is also discussed in relation to future research studies.

text: The use of a multidimensional support model to examine policies and practices for immigrant students across Canada. In the larger context of migration, the education and integration of immigrant children within Canadian school systems has become a pressing concern for education policy makers. Through a systematic content analysis, this study developed a Multidimensional Support Model to examine education policies and support measures that have been articulated by Ministries and Departments of Education across Canada to facilitate the integration and success of immigrant students in K–12 public education systems. The discussion underscores the timeliness and rationale for Ministries and Departments of Education to develop a stand-alone policy document to address all of the unique needs of immigrant students comprehensively and devote greater attention to the socio-economic challenges immigrant students disproportionately face. Developing this document would also address the importance of greater policy coherence and collaboration among ministry sectors. The utility of the proposed support model, which drew on the existing literature, is also discussed in relation to future research studies.

year: 2020