title: An investigation of wellness retreat tourism experiences: a mixed-methods study from perceived value perspective

authors: Mai, Xuan Tai

subjects: wellness retreats

abstract: In recent years, wellness tourism has developed into a rapidly growing segment of the global tourism industry, particularly driven by increasing public interest in achieving and maintaining physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing. Despite this growth, wellness retreats—a distinctive and transformative subsector of wellness tourism—remain underexplored in academic literature. Grounded in the increasing urgency of mental health as a global development priority (United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being), this study investigates how wellness retreat experiences foster tourists' holistic wellbeing and their loyalty to the destination through the lens of customer perceived value.

Drawing on Sheth, Newman, and Gross (1991)’s theory of consumption values and supported by the concept of Transformation Economy (Pine & Gilmore, 2011), and multidimensional wellness frameworks, this study aims to (1) explore the dimensions of perceived value in wellness retreat experiences, (2) develop and validate a multidimensional measurement scale of perceived value of wellness retreat experiences, (3) investigate the association between tourists’ perceived value and destination loyalty, and (4) identify combinations of value dimensions that foster high levels of destination loyalty. An exploratory sequential mixed-methods approach was employed, incorporating qualitative thematic analysis of 936 qualified reviews of wellness retreat visitors on TripAdvisor and Google Maps Reviews, followed by quantitative surveys of 159 wellness retreat attendees at the Resolution Retreats, New Zealand. To analyse the collected quantitative data, this study employed Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) as a symmetrical analysis method and fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) as an asymmetrical technique. This integration served to strengthen the findings and construct a composite picture of customer perceived value dimensions on the destination loyalty of wellness retreat attendees.

The findings of the Exploratory Factor Analysis revealed five dimensions of perceived value: Nutritional, Functional, Emotional, Social and Educational, and Ecological Healing. PLS-SEM results confirmed that perceived value significantly drives destination loyalty, while customer-employee interaction negatively moderates this relationship, challenging prior assumptions about the role of interpersonal engagement in tourism and hospitality contexts. Moreover, fsQCA identified five distinct configurations of value dimensions that are sufficient for high loyalty, demonstrating that different combinations can lead to similar positive desired outcomes, depending on visitor experiences and value propositions.

Theoretically, this research advances the wellness tourism literature by differentiating wellness retreats as a distinct niche, thereby deepening the conceptualisation of eudaimonic value within tourism experiences. Furthermore, it applies the consumer perceived perspective to enhance the prediction of tourists’ decision-making processes. This study also addresses the existing methodological gaps by demonstrating the transformative potential of mixed-methods approaches within the tourism and hospitality discipline. By integrating PLS-SEM and fsQCA to capture both linear and non-linear patterns in visitor behaviour, this study underscores how methodological advancements can improve our understanding of complex research phenomena. Practically, the research provides a robust measurement instrument for assessing wellness retreat experiences and offers strategic guidance to wellness managers, tourism developers, and policymakers on designing and promoting transformative tourism products. It also emphasises the need for wellness-focused governance frameworks, workforce protection, and community engagement to ensure equitable and sustainable development in wellness tourism.

text: An investigation of wellness retreat tourism experiences: a mixed-methods study from perceived value perspective In recent years, wellness tourism has developed into a rapidly growing segment of the global tourism industry, particularly driven by increasing public interest in achieving and maintaining physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing. Despite this growth, wellness retreats—a distinctive and transformative subsector of wellness tourism—remain underexplored in academic literature. Grounded in the increasing urgency of mental health as a global development priority (United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being), this study investigates how wellness retreat experiences foster tourists' holistic wellbeing and their loyalty to the destination through the lens of customer perceived value.

Drawing on Sheth, Newman, and Gross (1991)’s theory of consumption values and supported by the concept of Transformation Economy (Pine & Gilmore, 2011), and multidimensional wellness frameworks, this study aims to (1) explore the dimensions of perceived value in wellness retreat experiences, (2) develop and validate a multidimensional measurement scale of perceived value of wellness retreat experiences, (3) investigate the association between tourists’ perceived value and destination loyalty, and (4) identify combinations of value dimensions that foster high levels of destination loyalty. An exploratory sequential mixed-methods approach was employed, incorporating qualitative thematic analysis of 936 qualified reviews of wellness retreat visitors on TripAdvisor and Google Maps Reviews, followed by quantitative surveys of 159 wellness retreat attendees at the Resolution Retreats, New Zealand. To analyse the collected quantitative data, this study employed Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) as a symmetrical analysis method and fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) as an asymmetrical technique. This integration served to strengthen the findings and construct a composite picture of customer perceived value dimensions on the destination loyalty of wellness retreat attendees.

The findings of the Exploratory Factor Analysis revealed five dimensions of perceived value: Nutritional, Functional, Emotional, Social and Educational, and Ecological Healing. PLS-SEM results confirmed that perceived value significantly drives destination loyalty, while customer-employee interaction negatively moderates this relationship, challenging prior assumptions about the role of interpersonal engagement in tourism and hospitality contexts. Moreover, fsQCA identified five distinct configurations of value dimensions that are sufficient for high loyalty, demonstrating that different combinations can lead to similar positive desired outcomes, depending on visitor experiences and value propositions.

Theoretically, this research advances the wellness tourism literature by differentiating wellness retreats as a distinct niche, thereby deepening the conceptualisation of eudaimonic value within tourism experiences. Furthermore, it applies the consumer perceived perspective to enhance the prediction of tourists’ decision-making processes. This study also addresses the existing methodological gaps by demonstrating the transformative potential of mixed-methods approaches within the tourism and hospitality discipline. By integrating PLS-SEM and fsQCA to capture both linear and non-linear patterns in visitor behaviour, this study underscores how methodological advancements can improve our understanding of complex research phenomena. Practically, the research provides a robust measurement instrument for assessing wellness retreat experiences and offers strategic guidance to wellness managers, tourism developers, and policymakers on designing and promoting transformative tourism products. It also emphasises the need for wellness-focused governance frameworks, workforce protection, and community engagement to ensure equitable and sustainable development in wellness tourism.

year: 2025-12-01

title: Secondary school student' experiences of restorative practices

authors: Yule, Abbey

subjects: Restorative

abstract: Restorative practices in education have gained prominence as an alternative to traditional punitive disciplinary measures. This alternative aims to foster accountability, healing and relationships within the school community. Despite the increasing implementation, there is little attention or research given to voices and experiences of those most affected – the students themselves.

This study investigates the lived experiences of students and how students in Aotearoa New Zealand perceive and experience restorative practices. Using narrative inquiry and qualitative research methods, the study generates accounts of nine student’s experiences of restorative practices. These accounts include the
meanings they made of interactions with teachers, their peers and other aspects of the restorative processes that informed their experiences.

Drawing on individual semi-structured interviews with students, this research employed thematic analysis to identify five key themes. Particular discourses were identified that inform power relations in restorative practices, personal agency, communication and supportive relationships. The findings highlight participants’ preferences for trust-based connections with staff and peers, and contexts that foster open and honest communication that address fear and exclude punitive approaches and consequences. The complexity of discursive power relations and how they are exercised in relationships between students and teaching staff show that understanding discursive power and how to address its effects is important for schools to consider when engaging in restorative practices.

By focusing on the perspectives of students, this study contributes to an evolving social justice education discourse. Social justice in education fosters student agency, relational approaches to school disciplinary policies, and promotes educational, justice-based school communities. A social justice approach offers valuable insights for educators and policymakers seeking to enhance the effectiveness of restorative approaches within school communities. Working towards a more meaningful, equitable and impactful process for conflict resolution.

text: Secondary school student' experiences of restorative practices Restorative practices in education have gained prominence as an alternative to traditional punitive disciplinary measures. This alternative aims to foster accountability, healing and relationships within the school community. Despite the increasing implementation, there is little attention or research given to voices and experiences of those most affected – the students themselves.

This study investigates the lived experiences of students and how students in Aotearoa New Zealand perceive and experience restorative practices. Using narrative inquiry and qualitative research methods, the study generates accounts of nine student’s experiences of restorative practices. These accounts include the
meanings they made of interactions with teachers, their peers and other aspects of the restorative processes that informed their experiences.

Drawing on individual semi-structured interviews with students, this research employed thematic analysis to identify five key themes. Particular discourses were identified that inform power relations in restorative practices, personal agency, communication and supportive relationships. The findings highlight participants’ preferences for trust-based connections with staff and peers, and contexts that foster open and honest communication that address fear and exclude punitive approaches and consequences. The complexity of discursive power relations and how they are exercised in relationships between students and teaching staff show that understanding discursive power and how to address its effects is important for schools to consider when engaging in restorative practices.

By focusing on the perspectives of students, this study contributes to an evolving social justice education discourse. Social justice in education fosters student agency, relational approaches to school disciplinary policies, and promotes educational, justice-based school communities. A social justice approach offers valuable insights for educators and policymakers seeking to enhance the effectiveness of restorative approaches within school communities. Working towards a more meaningful, equitable and impactful process for conflict resolution.

year: 2025

title: Te pā tūwatawata: Te reo i te kāinga

authors: Bailey, Iraia Thompson

subjects: te reo Māori

abstract: He tuhinga tēnei e whakaatu atu ana i ngā whakakitenga i puta mai ai i ngā rangahau mō te reo Māori i te kāinga ki ngā whānau o Tūwharetoa.  He toronga anō hoki ki tētahi huarahi hei whakatō iho anō i te reo Māori ki roto i ngā pātū o te kāinga, arā, ki roto i te whānau.

text: Te pā tūwatawata: Te reo i te kāinga He tuhinga tēnei e whakaatu atu ana i ngā whakakitenga i puta mai ai i ngā rangahau mō te reo Māori i te kāinga ki ngā whānau o Tūwharetoa.  He toronga anō hoki ki tētahi huarahi hei whakatō iho anō i te reo Māori ki roto i ngā pātū o te kāinga, arā, ki roto i te whānau.

year: 2019