title: Unpacking media narratives: Racism and problematic reasonings

authors: Tan, Kyle K. H.

abstract: In this research brief, we present summaries of four case studies of racism in mainstream and social media in Aotearoa. Through a series of carefully selected datasets sourced from TV episodes (Police TEN 7), print media such as news articles (including Northland checkpoints), and tweets (Three Waters reform), we outline how Māori are represented across these mediums. With an expert in language modelling on our team, we analysed large datasets that give us sufficient statistical power to infer specific Māori discourses on respective platforms. Further, we examined key themes that characterise how Māori are represented in the media and signal the scale of anti-Māori attacks. For instance, we found that the predominant discussion on Three Waters reform on Twitter focused on ‘conflict’ (distrust towards government; 33%) and ‘capability’ (questioning the credibility of the reform; 23%) rather than its core intention of promoting water ‘safety’ (7%). The modelling analysis was supplemented by in-depth qualitative analysis that integrates anti-Māori themes (Moewaka-Barnes et al., 2012) and problematic reasoning tactics (Sturgill, 2021) to elucidate how false, deficit-based rhetoric about Māori is deployed to fuel racism and disinformation. In summary, our findings reinforce Kupu Taea’s call for new media sectors to integrate Te Tiriti o Waitangi into their practices to safeguard Māori and other minoritised groups who are likely to be at the fore of racist attacks.

text: Unpacking media narratives: Racism and problematic reasonings In this research brief, we present summaries of four case studies of racism in mainstream and social media in Aotearoa. Through a series of carefully selected datasets sourced from TV episodes (Police TEN 7), print media such as news articles (including Northland checkpoints), and tweets (Three Waters reform), we outline how Māori are represented across these mediums. With an expert in language modelling on our team, we analysed large datasets that give us sufficient statistical power to infer specific Māori discourses on respective platforms. Further, we examined key themes that characterise how Māori are represented in the media and signal the scale of anti-Māori attacks. For instance, we found that the predominant discussion on Three Waters reform on Twitter focused on ‘conflict’ (distrust towards government; 33%) and ‘capability’ (questioning the credibility of the reform; 23%) rather than its core intention of promoting water ‘safety’ (7%). The modelling analysis was supplemented by in-depth qualitative analysis that integrates anti-Māori themes (Moewaka-Barnes et al., 2012) and problematic reasoning tactics (Sturgill, 2021) to elucidate how false, deficit-based rhetoric about Māori is deployed to fuel racism and disinformation. In summary, our findings reinforce Kupu Taea’s call for new media sectors to integrate Te Tiriti o Waitangi into their practices to safeguard Māori and other minoritised groups who are likely to be at the fore of racist attacks.

year: 2025

title: The Truth About Stories: A Native Narrative By Thomas King

authors: Douglas, Zanna

abstract: The truth about stories is that that’s all we are.” Koinei ngā kupu e tika ana hei whakamana i te āhua o te pukapuka nei nā Thomas King i tuhi. Ko te pakiwaitara tētehi āhuatanga e pupuri nei e te iwi taketake, he huarahi e mārama ai tātou ki te huringa o te ao. He taonga hoki ēnei kua take mai nō mua rā anō, kia kore e warewaretia wā tātou hītori, kia pupuri tonu hoki ki ngā kōrero ō mua, ngā kōrero e puawai ai te tuakiri o te tangata. Mō King, ka hanga te pakiwaitara i te tangata, nā koianei te pūtakenga mai o tāna aronga i roto i te pukapuka nei. Ko tāna he whakatakoto mai i ngā pakiwaitara kua rangona e ia i roto i ōna tau, me kī ko ngā hītori nō tōna iwi. Ko tētehi o ngā āhuatanga matua ka tū mai i roto i te tuhituhinga nei ko tāna kōrero mō ngā āhuatanga kua pā ki a ia i roto i tōna oranga. He huarahi pai tēnei hei whakamahana atu i te kaituhi ki te kaipānui, mā reira e āhei ana te kaipānui ki te whakawhanaunga atu ki te ngako o ngā kōrero o roto i te pukapuka.

text: The Truth About Stories: A Native Narrative By Thomas King The truth about stories is that that’s all we are.” Koinei ngā kupu e tika ana hei whakamana i te āhua o te pukapuka nei nā Thomas King i tuhi. Ko te pakiwaitara tētehi āhuatanga e pupuri nei e te iwi taketake, he huarahi e mārama ai tātou ki te huringa o te ao. He taonga hoki ēnei kua take mai nō mua rā anō, kia kore e warewaretia wā tātou hītori, kia pupuri tonu hoki ki ngā kōrero ō mua, ngā kōrero e puawai ai te tuakiri o te tangata. Mō King, ka hanga te pakiwaitara i te tangata, nā koianei te pūtakenga mai o tāna aronga i roto i te pukapuka nei. Ko tāna he whakatakoto mai i ngā pakiwaitara kua rangona e ia i roto i ōna tau, me kī ko ngā hītori nō tōna iwi. Ko tētehi o ngā āhuatanga matua ka tū mai i roto i te tuhituhinga nei ko tāna kōrero mō ngā āhuatanga kua pā ki a ia i roto i tōna oranga. He huarahi pai tēnei hei whakamahana atu i te kaituhi ki te kaipānui, mā reira e āhei ana te kaipānui ki te whakawhanaunga atu ki te ngako o ngā kōrero o roto i te pukapuka.

year: 2011-04

title: Exploring the benefits and use of flexitime: Similarities and differences

authors: Haar, Jarrod M.

subjects: flexible working hours

abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to understand the benefits of flexitime amongst users and non-users, and determine what flexitime is used for by employees using a gender perspective. 
Design/methodology/approach – The study consisted of interviews of 30 employees of a New Zealand local-government organisation, including 22 users and eight non-users of flexitime. Social exchange theory was used to test the benefits of flexitime towards job attitudes and work-family balance, while the socialisation perspective was used to explore flexitime usage divided into use by gender and parental status. 
Findings – Employees were highly positive of flexitime, including the eight non-users. Further, many positive comments were made regarding the important role that flexitime plays in allowing employees to balance their work and family commitments. Analysis showed that while there were no differences between males and females who had no dependants, there were major differences between parents. Mothers, exclusively used their flexitime to support their mothering role like attending school events, while fathers used flexitime for personal activities such as exercise. 
Research limitations/implications – A limitation of this research is the small sample of employees interviewed. Implications are that flexitime is a very positive work-family practice with universal appeal to all employees including non-users. However, this may come at the expense of reinforcing gendered roles for working mothers and fathers. Future research is needed to determine whether the flexitime usage by gender is universal, and whether working parents see the reinforcing of gender roles as a negative. 
Originality/value – This paper undertakes one of the few examinations of employee usage of flexitime by gender and parental status, and clearly provides insights that can aid the work-family and gender literature. It also reinforces the value of a work-family practice to users and non-users alike.

text: Exploring the benefits and use of flexitime: Similarities and differences Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to understand the benefits of flexitime amongst users and non-users, and determine what flexitime is used for by employees using a gender perspective. 
Design/methodology/approach – The study consisted of interviews of 30 employees of a New Zealand local-government organisation, including 22 users and eight non-users of flexitime. Social exchange theory was used to test the benefits of flexitime towards job attitudes and work-family balance, while the socialisation perspective was used to explore flexitime usage divided into use by gender and parental status. 
Findings – Employees were highly positive of flexitime, including the eight non-users. Further, many positive comments were made regarding the important role that flexitime plays in allowing employees to balance their work and family commitments. Analysis showed that while there were no differences between males and females who had no dependants, there were major differences between parents. Mothers, exclusively used their flexitime to support their mothering role like attending school events, while fathers used flexitime for personal activities such as exercise. 
Research limitations/implications – A limitation of this research is the small sample of employees interviewed. Implications are that flexitime is a very positive work-family practice with universal appeal to all employees including non-users. However, this may come at the expense of reinforcing gendered roles for working mothers and fathers. Future research is needed to determine whether the flexitime usage by gender is universal, and whether working parents see the reinforcing of gender roles as a negative. 
Originality/value – This paper undertakes one of the few examinations of employee usage of flexitime by gender and parental status, and clearly provides insights that can aid the work-family and gender literature. It also reinforces the value of a work-family practice to users and non-users alike.

year: 2007