title: "It's about community" - Finding Local Solutions to Local Problems: Exploring Responses to the Social Problem of Youth Unemployment

authors: Whitham, Michael Philip

subjects: Youth

abstract: The purpose of this research is to explore the policies and practices associated with the social „problem‟ of youth unemployment. A major focus of this research is a case study of the employment programme being utilised in Otorohanga to address this problem. This is an initiative consisting of 11 key projects to reduce youth unemployment. The projects have consistently created a situation in Otorohanga where nobody under the age of 25 is registered with Work and Income New Zealand as unemployed. This outcome has been achieved by ensuring that local youth are either in local training programmes, in employment or in apprenticeships. The research project uses both qualitative and quantitative research methods and provides a thematic analysis, from a labour studies perspective, of both literature and empirical findings from a range of interviews. In order to undertake this research, the thesis firstly provides a review of the literature on youth, unemployment, engagement and policies. Secondly, it highlights the employment policies utilised within New Zealand from the late 1990s through to 2011 and in order to examine the changes in political ideology between the Labour-led and National-led central government policies. Thirdly, the study incorporates interviews with a selection of key stakeholders involved in the successes of the Otorohanga projects.

The central arguments in this thesis are: 1) that youth are a significant and poorly understood demographic; and that youth unemployment is perceived to be a social problem due to the economic and social disadvantages for youth which are exacerbated by structural inequalities; 2) that the current policies for dealing with youth unemployment, especially the emphasis on education and the impact of neo-liberal ideologies only have limited success in dealing with the issue of youth unemployment; 3) that no current policy understands or addresses the needs of youth specifically, therefore the social problem of youth unemployment will continue to be perpetuated; and, 4) that policies which draw on local, community driven solutions, grounded in labour market realities can be successful.

On this basis, the research provides good practice solutions which highlight the importance of incorporating community support, passionate leadership and employment-led training options in projects designed to address youth unemployment. By identifying these good practice solutions the policy aspects that led to the success of the Otorohanga projects can be shared with other regional initiatives in New Zealand. Should this occur, the thesis aims of contributing towards reducing youth unemployment in New Zealand can be achieved and have the potential to reduce youth unemployment in other centres.

text: "It's about community" - Finding Local Solutions to Local Problems: Exploring Responses to the Social Problem of Youth Unemployment The purpose of this research is to explore the policies and practices associated with the social „problem‟ of youth unemployment. A major focus of this research is a case study of the employment programme being utilised in Otorohanga to address this problem. This is an initiative consisting of 11 key projects to reduce youth unemployment. The projects have consistently created a situation in Otorohanga where nobody under the age of 25 is registered with Work and Income New Zealand as unemployed. This outcome has been achieved by ensuring that local youth are either in local training programmes, in employment or in apprenticeships. The research project uses both qualitative and quantitative research methods and provides a thematic analysis, from a labour studies perspective, of both literature and empirical findings from a range of interviews. In order to undertake this research, the thesis firstly provides a review of the literature on youth, unemployment, engagement and policies. Secondly, it highlights the employment policies utilised within New Zealand from the late 1990s through to 2011 and in order to examine the changes in political ideology between the Labour-led and National-led central government policies. Thirdly, the study incorporates interviews with a selection of key stakeholders involved in the successes of the Otorohanga projects.

The central arguments in this thesis are: 1) that youth are a significant and poorly understood demographic; and that youth unemployment is perceived to be a social problem due to the economic and social disadvantages for youth which are exacerbated by structural inequalities; 2) that the current policies for dealing with youth unemployment, especially the emphasis on education and the impact of neo-liberal ideologies only have limited success in dealing with the issue of youth unemployment; 3) that no current policy understands or addresses the needs of youth specifically, therefore the social problem of youth unemployment will continue to be perpetuated; and, 4) that policies which draw on local, community driven solutions, grounded in labour market realities can be successful.

On this basis, the research provides good practice solutions which highlight the importance of incorporating community support, passionate leadership and employment-led training options in projects designed to address youth unemployment. By identifying these good practice solutions the policy aspects that led to the success of the Otorohanga projects can be shared with other regional initiatives in New Zealand. Should this occur, the thesis aims of contributing towards reducing youth unemployment in New Zealand can be achieved and have the potential to reduce youth unemployment in other centres.

year: 2012

title: Beneath the Golden Facade: A History of the Early Years on the Thames Goldfields

authors: Johnson, Matthew Alan Barker

subjects: Thames

abstract: The story of Thames has been told and retold by many authors since the area was proclaimed a goldfield in 1867. These histories often glamourise the prosperity and wealth that gold brought to the town and its people. This thesis argues that this was not the case. In fact, the goldfields struggled for many years because the area lacked the necessary equipment to extract the gold. By 1870, machinery was steadily introduced and implemented, leading to short period of prosperity in the town, but it was temporary. Throughout the late 1860s and 1870s, locals experienced many financial hardships, which have been neglected by historians in favour of more positive portrayals of life on the goldfields. This thesis explores the economic situation of the town during this period, highlighting the experiences of those that failed to strike it rich on the goldfields. By examining their stories, it is clear that the romantic portrayal of life in early Thames was in the most part fiction compared to the harsh realities of those actually living on the goldfields.
Additionally, this thesis examines the role that the community played in improving the economic situation in Thames. The efforts of locals helped to develop and foster a diverse array of industries, which lessened the town’s reliance on the success of the goldfields. These improvements came at a time when Thames was suffering considerable economic pressures, thanks in large part to the decline in gold production after 1871.
This thesis utilises a range of primary and secondary sources to investigate the economic situation of Thames during this early period. It makes thorough use of newspaper articles, which highlight what information was readily available to local and external observers pertaining to the condition of the town. Government reports are used to show the role that officials played in the development of Thames and what actions they took to improve the local economy. This thesis also examines personal accounts from residents, which illustrate the harsh realities of life on the goldfields.

text: Beneath the Golden Facade: A History of the Early Years on the Thames Goldfields The story of Thames has been told and retold by many authors since the area was proclaimed a goldfield in 1867. These histories often glamourise the prosperity and wealth that gold brought to the town and its people. This thesis argues that this was not the case. In fact, the goldfields struggled for many years because the area lacked the necessary equipment to extract the gold. By 1870, machinery was steadily introduced and implemented, leading to short period of prosperity in the town, but it was temporary. Throughout the late 1860s and 1870s, locals experienced many financial hardships, which have been neglected by historians in favour of more positive portrayals of life on the goldfields. This thesis explores the economic situation of the town during this period, highlighting the experiences of those that failed to strike it rich on the goldfields. By examining their stories, it is clear that the romantic portrayal of life in early Thames was in the most part fiction compared to the harsh realities of those actually living on the goldfields.
Additionally, this thesis examines the role that the community played in improving the economic situation in Thames. The efforts of locals helped to develop and foster a diverse array of industries, which lessened the town’s reliance on the success of the goldfields. These improvements came at a time when Thames was suffering considerable economic pressures, thanks in large part to the decline in gold production after 1871.
This thesis utilises a range of primary and secondary sources to investigate the economic situation of Thames during this early period. It makes thorough use of newspaper articles, which highlight what information was readily available to local and external observers pertaining to the condition of the town. Government reports are used to show the role that officials played in the development of Thames and what actions they took to improve the local economy. This thesis also examines personal accounts from residents, which illustrate the harsh realities of life on the goldfields.

year: 2013

title: Viewing the world through a wider lens: Māori and council planning documents

authors: Kennedy, Nathan

subjects: New Zealand

abstract: My effort to convey an iwi perspective on environmental resource management - what we call kaitiakitanga – should highlight for new planners about to enter the profession that the environmental perspectives of hapū  and iwi (which are provided for in the RMA), are currently not well covered in either mainstream local government planning or education.

text: Viewing the world through a wider lens: Māori and council planning documents My effort to convey an iwi perspective on environmental resource management - what we call kaitiakitanga – should highlight for new planners about to enter the profession that the environmental perspectives of hapū  and iwi (which are provided for in the RMA), are currently not well covered in either mainstream local government planning or education.

year: 2008-07-30