title: The Professionalization of Nursing: New Zealand as a Case Study

authors: Liu, Yue

subjects: Professionalization

abstract: Nursing has often been regarded by sociologists, the medical profession and even nurses themselves, as an occupational grouping which is semi - rather than fully - professionalised. This study is concerned with recognising the ‘professional project’ that has been undertaken by New Zealand nurses and assesses their progress towards professionalization by addressing two key research questions. Firstly, what are the historical and contemporary mechanisms by which nursing has attempted to secure professional status in New Zealand? Secondly, how do nursing organisations and nurses themselves seek to maintain and enhance their professional status? This study presents a review of historical and sociological literature with regard to nursing to portray its evolution from the colonial settlement of New Zealand until the present. Within the New Zealand context the professional project undertaken by nurses appears to have a proud history, and New Zealand nurses were the first in the world to achieve legislated registration. Despite this early recognition, progress towards achieving full professional status by this female dominated occupation has historically faced challenges from its male dominated counterpart in the form of the medical profession. The strength of nursing organisations and the establishment of formal nursing education have been two of the historical means by which professionalization for New Zealand nurses has been advanced. In order to examine contemporary perceptions about the processes through which nursing has been professionalized and how professional status is maintained, a series of eight semi-structured interviews were undertaken with a purposive sample of key informants from the state sector, nursing organisations and nursing educators. A qualitative analysis of the data collected showed that both nursing organisations and tertiary level qualifications had contributed to the achievement of professional status. The professional project had also been accelerated through working partnerships between nursing organisations and external stakeholders, as well as the establishment of standards that defined scopes of practice and codes of ethics. A diminishing public health budget and the increased presence of unregulated health workers were considered to be key threats to maintaining the professional status of nursing. This research concludes that despite the impression given by the international sociological literature that nursing is a semi-profession, nurses in New Zealand fulfil the claim to full professional status through their association with an exclusive body of knowledge, their ability to self-regulate and operate with a high degree of professional autonomy, as well as external recognition as a profession. However, professional status is dynamic, rather than fixed, and nurses will continue to strategically maintain and renegotiate their status in the face of future challenges.

text: The Professionalization of Nursing: New Zealand as a Case Study Nursing has often been regarded by sociologists, the medical profession and even nurses themselves, as an occupational grouping which is semi - rather than fully - professionalised. This study is concerned with recognising the ‘professional project’ that has been undertaken by New Zealand nurses and assesses their progress towards professionalization by addressing two key research questions. Firstly, what are the historical and contemporary mechanisms by which nursing has attempted to secure professional status in New Zealand? Secondly, how do nursing organisations and nurses themselves seek to maintain and enhance their professional status? This study presents a review of historical and sociological literature with regard to nursing to portray its evolution from the colonial settlement of New Zealand until the present. Within the New Zealand context the professional project undertaken by nurses appears to have a proud history, and New Zealand nurses were the first in the world to achieve legislated registration. Despite this early recognition, progress towards achieving full professional status by this female dominated occupation has historically faced challenges from its male dominated counterpart in the form of the medical profession. The strength of nursing organisations and the establishment of formal nursing education have been two of the historical means by which professionalization for New Zealand nurses has been advanced. In order to examine contemporary perceptions about the processes through which nursing has been professionalized and how professional status is maintained, a series of eight semi-structured interviews were undertaken with a purposive sample of key informants from the state sector, nursing organisations and nursing educators. A qualitative analysis of the data collected showed that both nursing organisations and tertiary level qualifications had contributed to the achievement of professional status. The professional project had also been accelerated through working partnerships between nursing organisations and external stakeholders, as well as the establishment of standards that defined scopes of practice and codes of ethics. A diminishing public health budget and the increased presence of unregulated health workers were considered to be key threats to maintaining the professional status of nursing. This research concludes that despite the impression given by the international sociological literature that nursing is a semi-profession, nurses in New Zealand fulfil the claim to full professional status through their association with an exclusive body of knowledge, their ability to self-regulate and operate with a high degree of professional autonomy, as well as external recognition as a profession. However, professional status is dynamic, rather than fixed, and nurses will continue to strategically maintain and renegotiate their status in the face of future challenges.

year: 2011

title: Using the theory of planned behaviour to predict intentions to reduce the environmental impact of travel

authors: Reddy, Siddhart

abstract: The use of private cars is responsible for a large amount of the world’s CO2 emissions
and the amount of pollution produced by the aviation industry is also growing at an alarming 
rate. Thus, it is important to understand the factors that can lead to pro-environmental 
behaviours (PEB), such as choosing more environmentally friendly options for air and car 
travel. I explored whether the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) variables of
environmental attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control (PBC) 
predicted individuals’ willingness to change their travel behaviour. A sample of 327 
participants from New Zealand and the United States of America completed an online 
questionnaire measuring TPB variables for low-, medium- and high-cost behaviours which 
were defined as short, medium, and long trips by both car and plane. I hypothesised that, in 
line with the A-B-C model, the TBP variables would be most predictive of intentions to 
reduce the environmental impact of medium-cost behaviours, rather than low- or high-cost 
behaviours. Attitudes, subjective norms, and PBC almost always significantly predicted
behavioural intention for the NZ sample, whilst only subjective norms and PBC were 
significant predictors for the USA sample, however, there was no support for the low-cost 
hypothesis or A-B-C model. Findings may influence and inform interventions and policy 
aimed at behavioural change in different contexts and that it may be beneficial for 
interventions to be tailored to specific populations based upon the strength of correlating 
variables.

text: Using the theory of planned behaviour to predict intentions to reduce the environmental impact of travel The use of private cars is responsible for a large amount of the world’s CO2 emissions
and the amount of pollution produced by the aviation industry is also growing at an alarming 
rate. Thus, it is important to understand the factors that can lead to pro-environmental 
behaviours (PEB), such as choosing more environmentally friendly options for air and car 
travel. I explored whether the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) variables of
environmental attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control (PBC) 
predicted individuals’ willingness to change their travel behaviour. A sample of 327 
participants from New Zealand and the United States of America completed an online 
questionnaire measuring TPB variables for low-, medium- and high-cost behaviours which 
were defined as short, medium, and long trips by both car and plane. I hypothesised that, in 
line with the A-B-C model, the TBP variables would be most predictive of intentions to 
reduce the environmental impact of medium-cost behaviours, rather than low- or high-cost 
behaviours. Attitudes, subjective norms, and PBC almost always significantly predicted
behavioural intention for the NZ sample, whilst only subjective norms and PBC were 
significant predictors for the USA sample, however, there was no support for the low-cost 
hypothesis or A-B-C model. Findings may influence and inform interventions and policy 
aimed at behavioural change in different contexts and that it may be beneficial for 
interventions to be tailored to specific populations based upon the strength of correlating 
variables.

year: 2024

title: Evaluation of land in Wairoa District for potential horticultural development

authors: Rau, Johnathon Taukiri

subjects: land suitability

abstract: The Wairoa District, on the East Coast of the North Island of New Zealand has less horticultural development than areas to the north and south. The objective of this study was to provide information to help inform landowners who may wish to invest in horticulture which could improve the economic situation of the district.
Field work involving local scale climate mapping and soil characterisation of areas with potential for horticulture in Wairoa District was completed in 2017. Constructed climate and topographical maps with existing soil maps were evaluated against known crop growth requirements to produce crop potential maps identifying areas with potential for crop production. Horticultural crops included in this study include kiwifruit, apples, cherries. Alternative crops include hemp and poppies.
Between mid-April – 31 October 2017, 45 portable iButton temperature loggers were deployed throughout Land Use Capability classes 1-3 in the Wairoa District and were set to record hourly temperature. When regressed against nearby climate stations, long term (18 -26 years) temperature datasets were derived from the short term iButton datasets. MODIS satellite images were also analysed to help identify areas prone to frost. From the long-term datasets local scale chill hour, growing degree days and October frost risk maps were constructed for the Wairoa District. For the central area from Wairoa to Frasertown, chill hours were estimated to range between 600 – 900, growing degree days 1300 – 1400 and October frost risk less than 25%.
From four representative soil types, horizon samples were taken to determine the soils physical properties including each horizons Total Available Water Holding Capacity (TAWHC). Horizon TAWHC for each soil type were summed to give TAWHC to 1 meter which along with 21 years of estimated daily rainfall and potential evapotranspiration were used in a soil water balance model to estimate seasonal crop irrigation requirements. Irrigation estimates for kiwifruit compared well against published values ranging between mean 204 – 247 mm.
The crop potential maps with seasonal crop irrigation estimates can enhance a land owner’s ability to make informed decisions resulting in economic benefit to whanau, community and the Wairoa District.

text: Evaluation of land in Wairoa District for potential horticultural development The Wairoa District, on the East Coast of the North Island of New Zealand has less horticultural development than areas to the north and south. The objective of this study was to provide information to help inform landowners who may wish to invest in horticulture which could improve the economic situation of the district.
Field work involving local scale climate mapping and soil characterisation of areas with potential for horticulture in Wairoa District was completed in 2017. Constructed climate and topographical maps with existing soil maps were evaluated against known crop growth requirements to produce crop potential maps identifying areas with potential for crop production. Horticultural crops included in this study include kiwifruit, apples, cherries. Alternative crops include hemp and poppies.
Between mid-April – 31 October 2017, 45 portable iButton temperature loggers were deployed throughout Land Use Capability classes 1-3 in the Wairoa District and were set to record hourly temperature. When regressed against nearby climate stations, long term (18 -26 years) temperature datasets were derived from the short term iButton datasets. MODIS satellite images were also analysed to help identify areas prone to frost. From the long-term datasets local scale chill hour, growing degree days and October frost risk maps were constructed for the Wairoa District. For the central area from Wairoa to Frasertown, chill hours were estimated to range between 600 – 900, growing degree days 1300 – 1400 and October frost risk less than 25%.
From four representative soil types, horizon samples were taken to determine the soils physical properties including each horizons Total Available Water Holding Capacity (TAWHC). Horizon TAWHC for each soil type were summed to give TAWHC to 1 meter which along with 21 years of estimated daily rainfall and potential evapotranspiration were used in a soil water balance model to estimate seasonal crop irrigation requirements. Irrigation estimates for kiwifruit compared well against published values ranging between mean 204 – 247 mm.
The crop potential maps with seasonal crop irrigation estimates can enhance a land owner’s ability to make informed decisions resulting in economic benefit to whanau, community and the Wairoa District.

year: 2018