title: Real convergence and regime-switching among EU accession countries

authors: Holmes, Mark J.

subjects: real interest parity

abstract: Real convergence among the ten EU 2004 accession economies is investigated with respect to long-run real interest parity. We employ a novel approach where unit-root tests for real interest differentials are embedded  within a Markov regime-switching framework. Whereas standard univariate unit-root tests provide mixed support for parity, we find parity is present in all cases where differentials either switch between regimes of stationary and non-stationarity behaviour, or between alternative regimes of stationarity characterized by differing degrees of persistence. Further insights are obtained from the inferred probabilities of being in each regime, and the regime-switching nature of the differential variances.

text: Real convergence and regime-switching among EU accession countries Real convergence among the ten EU 2004 accession economies is investigated with respect to long-run real interest parity. We employ a novel approach where unit-root tests for real interest differentials are embedded  within a Markov regime-switching framework. Whereas standard univariate unit-root tests provide mixed support for parity, we find parity is present in all cases where differentials either switch between regimes of stationary and non-stationarity behaviour, or between alternative regimes of stationarity characterized by differing degrees of persistence. Further insights are obtained from the inferred probabilities of being in each regime, and the regime-switching nature of the differential variances.

year: 2008

title: Where there's smoke there's fire? Women's experiences of smoking and cessation during pregnancy

authors: Drewer, Amanda

subjects: smoking

abstract: Women who smoke during pregnancy have been identified by the New Zealand Ministry of Health as a priority group for cessation services. In addition to adverse pregnancy outcomes, the effects of cigarette exposure in utero are believed to have health implications throughout life for the developing foetus. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors that affect smoking and cessation during pregnancy.  Fifteen women who had quit, tried to quit, or continued to smoke through a recent pregnancy were interviewed using face-to-face semi-structured interviews. During analysis, several key findings became apparent. Smoking played a central role in the women’s lives both in and out of pregnancy. Women were fearful and concerned about the possible effects on their growing babies. Their concerns contributed to their feelings of guilt and other negative emotions, as did frustrations over not being able to quit, adverse pregnancy outcomes and their perceived failure to meet with social expectations. However, they also doubted their concerns as most had seen, or had had their own experiences of healthy babies being born to mothers who smoked. Nonetheless, their worries led to a range of behavioural changes including spontaneously quitting, adjusting their smoking, hiding their pregnancy to continue smoking, or hiding their smoking. Changing their smoking behaviours enabled women to avoid being judged which was raised in most interviews. In addition, the importance of the context in which women lived and socialised was highlighted, as were the women’s midwives. Healthcare professionals were often spoken about in relation to the mismatch between what women wanted regarding cessation and what they were supplied. A key finding was the range of smoking statuses women presented with. This contrasts with much of the other literature that usually defines women as smokers or quitters. The use of the label ‘smoker’ in society is a generalised term that obscures differences that are important for healthcare practitioners to recognise. As a result of this study, a tool that assesses a woman’s awareness of the risks from smoking in pregnancy and openness to talking about smoking cessation has been developed. The aim is to give maternity care providers a way to broach this sensitive subject in a way that is appropriate for their client.

text: Where there's smoke there's fire? Women's experiences of smoking and cessation during pregnancy Women who smoke during pregnancy have been identified by the New Zealand Ministry of Health as a priority group for cessation services. In addition to adverse pregnancy outcomes, the effects of cigarette exposure in utero are believed to have health implications throughout life for the developing foetus. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors that affect smoking and cessation during pregnancy.  Fifteen women who had quit, tried to quit, or continued to smoke through a recent pregnancy were interviewed using face-to-face semi-structured interviews. During analysis, several key findings became apparent. Smoking played a central role in the women’s lives both in and out of pregnancy. Women were fearful and concerned about the possible effects on their growing babies. Their concerns contributed to their feelings of guilt and other negative emotions, as did frustrations over not being able to quit, adverse pregnancy outcomes and their perceived failure to meet with social expectations. However, they also doubted their concerns as most had seen, or had had their own experiences of healthy babies being born to mothers who smoked. Nonetheless, their worries led to a range of behavioural changes including spontaneously quitting, adjusting their smoking, hiding their pregnancy to continue smoking, or hiding their smoking. Changing their smoking behaviours enabled women to avoid being judged which was raised in most interviews. In addition, the importance of the context in which women lived and socialised was highlighted, as were the women’s midwives. Healthcare professionals were often spoken about in relation to the mismatch between what women wanted regarding cessation and what they were supplied. A key finding was the range of smoking statuses women presented with. This contrasts with much of the other literature that usually defines women as smokers or quitters. The use of the label ‘smoker’ in society is a generalised term that obscures differences that are important for healthcare practitioners to recognise. As a result of this study, a tool that assesses a woman’s awareness of the risks from smoking in pregnancy and openness to talking about smoking cessation has been developed. The aim is to give maternity care providers a way to broach this sensitive subject in a way that is appropriate for their client.

year: 2014

title: Defence not defiance: The shaping of New Zealand’s volunteer force

authors: Clayton, Garry James

subjects: New Zealand Army history

abstract: In the latter half of the nineteenth century and the first decade of the twentieth New Zealand's land defences were primarily the responsibility of its Volunteer Force. This Force over a period of fifty-two years evolved from ill-considered vigilante bands to a well organised and disciplined Army. This thesis examines the evolution of this Volunteer Army in chronological sequence concentrating on the factors which shaped and developed it.
The preface provides a brief outline of this study on New Zealand's Volunteer Force. The thesis then presents the history of the Force in eight chapters. These chapters are in four basic divisions. The first section, of three chapters. examines the origins of the Force, its role in the New Zealand Wars and its subsequent development in the period of tenuous peace during the 1870's . The second section, comprising of two chapters only, examines the transformation of the Volunteers from a military body which primarily looked inward. into a Force which concentrated on protecting the nation's main ports. The third section , also comprising two chapters , then views the development of this coastal protection Force into a Colonial Army, able and willing to provide for the nation's own security as well as expeditionary units to· serve with the British Imperial Forces ·. The last Section, of one Chapter only, concentrates on the demise of Volunteering and the moves to compulsory military training. The conclusion then draws together the analytical threads of the thesis. 
As the thesis is extensive in its coverage of time, it is only possible to outline the very nature of Volunteering. It will be for Regimental Historians to show the uniqueness of each of the 658 different units that comprised the New Zealand Volunteer Force over its fifty-two years of existence. What this broad survey does do, however, is provide a unique window for the examination of the development of an embryonic Colonial Army in the context of a developing nation.

text: Defence not defiance: The shaping of New Zealand’s volunteer force In the latter half of the nineteenth century and the first decade of the twentieth New Zealand's land defences were primarily the responsibility of its Volunteer Force. This Force over a period of fifty-two years evolved from ill-considered vigilante bands to a well organised and disciplined Army. This thesis examines the evolution of this Volunteer Army in chronological sequence concentrating on the factors which shaped and developed it.
The preface provides a brief outline of this study on New Zealand's Volunteer Force. The thesis then presents the history of the Force in eight chapters. These chapters are in four basic divisions. The first section, of three chapters. examines the origins of the Force, its role in the New Zealand Wars and its subsequent development in the period of tenuous peace during the 1870's . The second section, comprising of two chapters only, examines the transformation of the Volunteers from a military body which primarily looked inward. into a Force which concentrated on protecting the nation's main ports. The third section , also comprising two chapters , then views the development of this coastal protection Force into a Colonial Army, able and willing to provide for the nation's own security as well as expeditionary units to· serve with the British Imperial Forces ·. The last Section, of one Chapter only, concentrates on the demise of Volunteering and the moves to compulsory military training. The conclusion then draws together the analytical threads of the thesis. 
As the thesis is extensive in its coverage of time, it is only possible to outline the very nature of Volunteering. It will be for Regimental Historians to show the uniqueness of each of the 658 different units that comprised the New Zealand Volunteer Force over its fifty-two years of existence. What this broad survey does do, however, is provide a unique window for the examination of the development of an embryonic Colonial Army in the context of a developing nation.

year: 1990