title: Cycling on the Verge? Exploring the Place of Utility Cycling in Contemporary New Zealand Transport Policy

authors: Smith, Megan

subjects: discourse analysis

abstract: Efforts to increase cycling as a mode of transport (utility cycling) occur at central, regional and local levels of government through a range of supportive strategies, research, and guidelines.  Despite these efforts, utility cycling levels in New Zealand have remained persistently low.  This thesis examines the apparent disparity between policy intent and policy result, using a discourse analytical approach. It examines how cycling is positioned in contemporary New Zealand transport policy documents, and explores whose priorities are shaping transport policy with what implications for utility cycling.  
This study uses a critical discourse analysis (CDA) approach to analyse the land transport documents from across the institutions of government.  The CDA approach, grounded in the work of van Dijk and Fairclough, draws on ideas from the interpretive tradition of discourse analysis, inspired by Foucault’s concepts of knowledge and power.  This approach reveals the position of utility cycling by exposing the framing, dominant discourses, and discursive strategies that privilege certain transport objectives and activities over others.
The findings show transport is promoted almost exclusively by central government as an activity to facilitate economic growth and efficiency, despite its potential (and actual) impacts on health and well-being, social justice, and environmental sustainability.  The discursive practices of the government privilege private motor vehicle use, helping to both legitimate and maintain that privilege at all levels of government, while positioning utility cycling as a marginalised mode of transport.  
This thesis contributes to scholarship on utility cycling and land transport policy in New Zealand by identifying how the discursive strategies of government control the position of utility cycling in New Zealand.  This study underscores the need for a central government-led, long-term strategic vision for a genuinely integrated, multi-modal transport system, in order for the benefits of utility cycling to be fully maximised.

text: Cycling on the Verge? Exploring the Place of Utility Cycling in Contemporary New Zealand Transport Policy Efforts to increase cycling as a mode of transport (utility cycling) occur at central, regional and local levels of government through a range of supportive strategies, research, and guidelines.  Despite these efforts, utility cycling levels in New Zealand have remained persistently low.  This thesis examines the apparent disparity between policy intent and policy result, using a discourse analytical approach. It examines how cycling is positioned in contemporary New Zealand transport policy documents, and explores whose priorities are shaping transport policy with what implications for utility cycling.  
This study uses a critical discourse analysis (CDA) approach to analyse the land transport documents from across the institutions of government.  The CDA approach, grounded in the work of van Dijk and Fairclough, draws on ideas from the interpretive tradition of discourse analysis, inspired by Foucault’s concepts of knowledge and power.  This approach reveals the position of utility cycling by exposing the framing, dominant discourses, and discursive strategies that privilege certain transport objectives and activities over others.
The findings show transport is promoted almost exclusively by central government as an activity to facilitate economic growth and efficiency, despite its potential (and actual) impacts on health and well-being, social justice, and environmental sustainability.  The discursive practices of the government privilege private motor vehicle use, helping to both legitimate and maintain that privilege at all levels of government, while positioning utility cycling as a marginalised mode of transport.  
This thesis contributes to scholarship on utility cycling and land transport policy in New Zealand by identifying how the discursive strategies of government control the position of utility cycling in New Zealand.  This study underscores the need for a central government-led, long-term strategic vision for a genuinely integrated, multi-modal transport system, in order for the benefits of utility cycling to be fully maximised.

year: 2014

title: Case Comment: Re Greenpeace of New Zealand Inc

authors: Chevalier-Watts, Juliet

abstract: This has been a much awaited decision and marks the end of a long journey with regard to matters relating to political activities and charitable trusts, as well as considering illegal activities and charitable purpose. For a charity to be recognised as charitable at law in New Zealand, and thus take advantage of the fiscal and social benefits of this recognition, an entity must apply to the Department of Internal Affairs – Charities1 to register as charity. An entity must demonstrate that it falls under one of the four heads of charity, which find their history in the seminal case of The Commissioners for Special Purposes of the Income Tax v Pemsel2 and now s 5(1) of the Charities Act 2005, which states: 
“In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, charitable purpose includes every charitable purpose, whether it relates to the relief of poverty, the advancement of education or religion, or any other matter beneficial to the community”

text: Case Comment: Re Greenpeace of New Zealand Inc This has been a much awaited decision and marks the end of a long journey with regard to matters relating to political activities and charitable trusts, as well as considering illegal activities and charitable purpose. For a charity to be recognised as charitable at law in New Zealand, and thus take advantage of the fiscal and social benefits of this recognition, an entity must apply to the Department of Internal Affairs – Charities1 to register as charity. An entity must demonstrate that it falls under one of the four heads of charity, which find their history in the seminal case of The Commissioners for Special Purposes of the Income Tax v Pemsel2 and now s 5(1) of the Charities Act 2005, which states: 
“In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, charitable purpose includes every charitable purpose, whether it relates to the relief of poverty, the advancement of education or religion, or any other matter beneficial to the community”

year: 2014

title: Ōpōtiki Mai Tawhiti Kapa Haka

authors: Maxwell, Te Kahautu

abstract: Te Matatini is the World Champion Competition. Ōpōtiki Mai Tawhiti; Pool performance on Day 1 of the Te Matatini National Kapa Haka Competition. Ōpōtiki Mai Tawhiti placed second in the pool and qualified for the Top 9 Finals on Sunday 24th February 2013. Overall in the Pool qualifiers ŌpōTiki Mai Tawhiti placed 5th out of 41.

text: Ōpōtiki Mai Tawhiti Kapa Haka Te Matatini is the World Champion Competition. Ōpōtiki Mai Tawhiti; Pool performance on Day 1 of the Te Matatini National Kapa Haka Competition. Ōpōtiki Mai Tawhiti placed second in the pool and qualified for the Top 9 Finals on Sunday 24th February 2013. Overall in the Pool qualifiers ŌpōTiki Mai Tawhiti placed 5th out of 41.

year: 2013-02-21