title: A history of Māori literacy success

authors: Derby, Melissa

abstract: This article explores literacy in 19th century Māori society, and in particular, this work considers the initial interactions Māori tribal groups had with literacy following contact with British settlers. The overarching purpose of this article is to respond to the increasingly prevalent suggestion that literacy is a Western competency, and that to be concerned with ensuring Māori children are achieving well in reading and writing is an act of colonisation. This work illustrates that these narratives run counter to the history, behaviour, and values of many tribal groups in New Zealand. More specifically, the historical interactions Māori had with literacy illustrate that both the ability and the desire to succeed in reading and writing was a feature of Māori historical practices. Therefore, to ensure high levels of literacy achievement in contemporary times is not a colonising act but rather aligns with Māori history, behaviour, and values.

text: A history of Māori literacy success This article explores literacy in 19th century Māori society, and in particular, this work considers the initial interactions Māori tribal groups had with literacy following contact with British settlers. The overarching purpose of this article is to respond to the increasingly prevalent suggestion that literacy is a Western competency, and that to be concerned with ensuring Māori children are achieving well in reading and writing is an act of colonisation. This work illustrates that these narratives run counter to the history, behaviour, and values of many tribal groups in New Zealand. More specifically, the historical interactions Māori had with literacy illustrate that both the ability and the desire to succeed in reading and writing was a feature of Māori historical practices. Therefore, to ensure high levels of literacy achievement in contemporary times is not a colonising act but rather aligns with Māori history, behaviour, and values.

year: 2021

title: Māori Waiata: Discourse structuring, sub-genres and aesthetics

authors: Roa, Raukura

subjects: Te reo Māori

abstract: With particular reference to a discourse-based analysis of five waiata tangi from Ngāti Hauā, it is argued here that different types of Māori waiata (songs and chants) may be characterised by different types of overall discourse structuring. It is also suggested that discourse structuring may be a significant aspect of the aesthetics of Māori waiata.

text: Māori Waiata: Discourse structuring, sub-genres and aesthetics With particular reference to a discourse-based analysis of five waiata tangi from Ngāti Hauā, it is argued here that different types of Māori waiata (songs and chants) may be characterised by different types of overall discourse structuring. It is also suggested that discourse structuring may be a significant aspect of the aesthetics of Māori waiata.

year: 2004-02

title: Competition between native bees and honey bees on mānuka flowers in New Zealand

authors: Fale, Grant

abstract: Humans have introduced the European subspecies of the Western honey bee (Apis mellifera) to every other continent except Antarctica, resulting in the presence of this generalist forager many ecosystems that honey bees are not native to. The impacts of introduced honey bees on these ecosystems are still not well understood. Honey bees were introduced to New Zealand in 1839, and are common visitors to native flowers throughout the country. As honey bees are generalist flower visitors and can present at high abundances, they could potentially be competing with and displacing native flower visitors. The aim of this study was to investigate interactions and possible competition between European-derived honey bees (A. mellifera sspp.) and native bee species (Leioproctus spp) for mānuka (Leptospermum scoparium) floral resources in New Zealand. I assessed a) temporal overlap in activity, b) abundances across time of day, and c) foraging behaviours of honey bees and Leioproctus bees. In a combination of field observations and behaviour experiments I found that a) temporal niche partitioning occurs daily and seasonally and b) both Leioproctus sp and honey bees display behavioural changes in the presence of the other. My observations suggest that competition does occur between honey bees and Leioproctus sp and that both alter their foraging behaviour and activity to reduce this competition. However, more research is required to assess this interspecific competition is great enough to adversely affect either species. Evidence-based understanding of the impacts of honey bees in native ecosystems is critical to our ability to improve honey bee management strategies and/or mitigate adverse effects of honey bee competition to endemic species where honey bees have been introduced.

text: Competition between native bees and honey bees on mānuka flowers in New Zealand Humans have introduced the European subspecies of the Western honey bee (Apis mellifera) to every other continent except Antarctica, resulting in the presence of this generalist forager many ecosystems that honey bees are not native to. The impacts of introduced honey bees on these ecosystems are still not well understood. Honey bees were introduced to New Zealand in 1839, and are common visitors to native flowers throughout the country. As honey bees are generalist flower visitors and can present at high abundances, they could potentially be competing with and displacing native flower visitors. The aim of this study was to investigate interactions and possible competition between European-derived honey bees (A. mellifera sspp.) and native bee species (Leioproctus spp) for mānuka (Leptospermum scoparium) floral resources in New Zealand. I assessed a) temporal overlap in activity, b) abundances across time of day, and c) foraging behaviours of honey bees and Leioproctus bees. In a combination of field observations and behaviour experiments I found that a) temporal niche partitioning occurs daily and seasonally and b) both Leioproctus sp and honey bees display behavioural changes in the presence of the other. My observations suggest that competition does occur between honey bees and Leioproctus sp and that both alter their foraging behaviour and activity to reduce this competition. However, more research is required to assess this interspecific competition is great enough to adversely affect either species. Evidence-based understanding of the impacts of honey bees in native ecosystems is critical to our ability to improve honey bee management strategies and/or mitigate adverse effects of honey bee competition to endemic species where honey bees have been introduced.

year: 2023