title: Children’s lives in the Te Aroha district

authors: Hart, Philip

abstract: Exaggerated claims have been made about the joys experienced by children living on goldfields, but indeed many did have happy memories. Childhood for many included working to supplement the family income at quite a young age, and examples are given of the wide variety of work undertaken. Some jobs, as in the battery, was exhausting, none were highly paid, and not all young workers were well treated.
Life could be dangerous, as illustrated by the variety of accidents, some fatal. The river claimed some lives, as did fires in homes. Ill health was common, with periodic epidemics causing deaths – some families experienced multiple deaths. 
Abandoned or uncontrollable children were sent to Industrial Homes, and some stepmothers lived up to their reputations, and several children suffered from cruel treatment. Although most juvenile crimes were of a minor nature, early experimentation caused moral panic amongst parents. 
Adults provided organized activities of an improving nature, especially sports and social gatherings, and some even went on trips to other places. Military cadets were formed, and it was possible to participate in arts and crafts, including music. And all children had ways to make their own, unorganized, fun. All of which suggests that for most children, while their life was not as idyllic as some would claim, it was generally happy.

text: Children’s lives in the Te Aroha district Exaggerated claims have been made about the joys experienced by children living on goldfields, but indeed many did have happy memories. Childhood for many included working to supplement the family income at quite a young age, and examples are given of the wide variety of work undertaken. Some jobs, as in the battery, was exhausting, none were highly paid, and not all young workers were well treated.
Life could be dangerous, as illustrated by the variety of accidents, some fatal. The river claimed some lives, as did fires in homes. Ill health was common, with periodic epidemics causing deaths – some families experienced multiple deaths. 
Abandoned or uncontrollable children were sent to Industrial Homes, and some stepmothers lived up to their reputations, and several children suffered from cruel treatment. Although most juvenile crimes were of a minor nature, early experimentation caused moral panic amongst parents. 
Adults provided organized activities of an improving nature, especially sports and social gatherings, and some even went on trips to other places. Military cadets were formed, and it was possible to participate in arts and crafts, including music. And all children had ways to make their own, unorganized, fun. All of which suggests that for most children, while their life was not as idyllic as some would claim, it was generally happy.

year: 2016

title: Parental perceptions of the role of Applied Behaviour Analysis intervention for children with autism during the transition from early childhood education settings to primary school

authors: Stebletsova, Galina

subjects: child with autism

abstract: The transition to school time for children with autism may represent a period of an increased stress for the whole family. Some parents choose to try the Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) intervention for their children as a way of reducing that stress and to assist the child’s transition. This study focuses on the role the ABA intervention might play during this period of time from a parental point of view. 
A qualitative approach grounded in an interpretive methodology has been used for this study. Data were collected through nine families participating in email surveys, and four of them then agreed to participate in semi-structured follow-up interviews. In all nine families, the ABA intervention of various intensity had happened with when their children were transitioning from pre-school settings to primary school. Three themes emerged in the course of the study: ABA intervention, even though chosen to facilitate the transition phase, does not seem to be the only factor that contributes to the successful transition to school; Language skills improvement with help of ABA therapy during transition time is seen as a stress decreasing factor; The influence of the ABA intervention during transition time was not always positive towards the younger siblings.
All nine families emphasised that the financial aspect of the ABA intervention (namely, high cost) was seen as an extra stress factor during transition to school time. The high cost of the therapy was also linked to this study’s difficulties with recruitment. 
The findings, although only limited to the perspectives of nine participants, highlight the importance of families with children with autism to be prepared for the possible challenges during transition to school time. They also demonstrate the importance of further study in the field of the role of early interventions during transition phases of the young children with autism and imply that other factors apart from the interventions might play an important role in a child’s with autism transition to school time.

text: Parental perceptions of the role of Applied Behaviour Analysis intervention for children with autism during the transition from early childhood education settings to primary school The transition to school time for children with autism may represent a period of an increased stress for the whole family. Some parents choose to try the Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) intervention for their children as a way of reducing that stress and to assist the child’s transition. This study focuses on the role the ABA intervention might play during this period of time from a parental point of view. 
A qualitative approach grounded in an interpretive methodology has been used for this study. Data were collected through nine families participating in email surveys, and four of them then agreed to participate in semi-structured follow-up interviews. In all nine families, the ABA intervention of various intensity had happened with when their children were transitioning from pre-school settings to primary school. Three themes emerged in the course of the study: ABA intervention, even though chosen to facilitate the transition phase, does not seem to be the only factor that contributes to the successful transition to school; Language skills improvement with help of ABA therapy during transition time is seen as a stress decreasing factor; The influence of the ABA intervention during transition time was not always positive towards the younger siblings.
All nine families emphasised that the financial aspect of the ABA intervention (namely, high cost) was seen as an extra stress factor during transition to school time. The high cost of the therapy was also linked to this study’s difficulties with recruitment. 
The findings, although only limited to the perspectives of nine participants, highlight the importance of families with children with autism to be prepared for the possible challenges during transition to school time. They also demonstrate the importance of further study in the field of the role of early interventions during transition phases of the young children with autism and imply that other factors apart from the interventions might play an important role in a child’s with autism transition to school time.

year: 2013

title: Kōauau auē, e auau tō au e! The Kōauau in Te Ao Māori.

authors: Komene, Jo'el

subjects: Kōauau

abstract: In recent years there has been a revival of interest in traditional Māori musical instruments, including the kōauau. This thesis studies kōauau informed by a Māori framework, giving weight to traditional Māori knowledge and practices, emphasizing the spiritual dimensions of the instrument in its origins and its functions. The thesis defines the kōauau and how it is distinct from other taonga pūoro in its physical characteristics. It then presents the traditions associated with the kōauau which link its origins to the atua and their natural world, especially Raukatauri, together with other traditions from many rohe throughout Aotearoa.  The thesis describes the traditional tools and methods of construction, the role of atua in the construction process, materials used for kōauau, how they were embellished, and their use as adornments. The techniques for playing kōauau are analyzed, and there is a discussion of the occasions on which kōauau were played, and the purposes of performing on kōauau. The thesis also presents the texts of several traditional waiata kōauau. A number of traditional kōauau in storage at the Auckland Museum were able to be examined to confirm and extend documentary evidence about materials, construction methods, and embellishment. The discussion also comments on the quot;voicesquot; for those kōauau in the museum collection that could be sounded. The decline in kōauau performance during the twentieth century is outlined, and there is a summary of successful efforts in the later twentieth century to revive taonga pūoro, including kōauau. The thesis brings together in concise form much scattered information so that current and future performers with kōauau are able to give full consideration to its place in te ao Māori.

text: Kōauau auē, e auau tō au e! The Kōauau in Te Ao Māori. In recent years there has been a revival of interest in traditional Māori musical instruments, including the kōauau. This thesis studies kōauau informed by a Māori framework, giving weight to traditional Māori knowledge and practices, emphasizing the spiritual dimensions of the instrument in its origins and its functions. The thesis defines the kōauau and how it is distinct from other taonga pūoro in its physical characteristics. It then presents the traditions associated with the kōauau which link its origins to the atua and their natural world, especially Raukatauri, together with other traditions from many rohe throughout Aotearoa.  The thesis describes the traditional tools and methods of construction, the role of atua in the construction process, materials used for kōauau, how they were embellished, and their use as adornments. The techniques for playing kōauau are analyzed, and there is a discussion of the occasions on which kōauau were played, and the purposes of performing on kōauau. The thesis also presents the texts of several traditional waiata kōauau. A number of traditional kōauau in storage at the Auckland Museum were able to be examined to confirm and extend documentary evidence about materials, construction methods, and embellishment. The discussion also comments on the quot;voicesquot; for those kōauau in the museum collection that could be sounded. The decline in kōauau performance during the twentieth century is outlined, and there is a summary of successful efforts in the later twentieth century to revive taonga pūoro, including kōauau. The thesis brings together in concise form much scattered information so that current and future performers with kōauau are able to give full consideration to its place in te ao Māori.

year: 2009