title: Threats to the New Zealand Serious Fraud Office: an institutional perspective

authors: Van Peursem, Karen A.

subjects: auditors

abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to evaluate threats to dissolve the New Zealand Serious Fraud Office (SFO) as interpreted through the public press. 
Design/methodology/approach – An institutional approach is adopted in this case, and the analysis is driven by Oliver's understandings of antecedents to deinstitutionalization. Relevant press articles are reviewed, and SFO history and New Zealand socio-political context inform the analysis. 
Findings – The paper identifies over 1,800 articles (September 2003 to October 2008) and analyses the content of those 157 that contain views on the SFO itself. This analysis reveals that while there is a strong political antecedent to the proposed change, the media is dominated by weakly evidenced but emotive functional and social arguments. The susceptibility of the SFO to political influence, and a less-than-fully engaged media, is shown to provide a risk of deinstitutionalization to this politically dependent office. 
Research limitations/implications – Conclusions suggest how a relatively new and possibly politically naïve organisation may be, by necessity, starting to come to terms with its own external dependencies. 
Social implications – The SFO may be evolving new relational norms in response to its own vulnerabilities in a political environment. There may be lessons for others in this analysis of a norming process, and further research into such processes would be a rich area for further study. 
Originality/value – The contribution is in forming an understanding of the media patterns and in analysing what they convey as to the threatened deinstituitonalization of the SFO.

text: Threats to the New Zealand Serious Fraud Office: an institutional perspective Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to evaluate threats to dissolve the New Zealand Serious Fraud Office (SFO) as interpreted through the public press. 
Design/methodology/approach – An institutional approach is adopted in this case, and the analysis is driven by Oliver's understandings of antecedents to deinstitutionalization. Relevant press articles are reviewed, and SFO history and New Zealand socio-political context inform the analysis. 
Findings – The paper identifies over 1,800 articles (September 2003 to October 2008) and analyses the content of those 157 that contain views on the SFO itself. This analysis reveals that while there is a strong political antecedent to the proposed change, the media is dominated by weakly evidenced but emotive functional and social arguments. The susceptibility of the SFO to political influence, and a less-than-fully engaged media, is shown to provide a risk of deinstitutionalization to this politically dependent office. 
Research limitations/implications – Conclusions suggest how a relatively new and possibly politically naïve organisation may be, by necessity, starting to come to terms with its own external dependencies. 
Social implications – The SFO may be evolving new relational norms in response to its own vulnerabilities in a political environment. There may be lessons for others in this analysis of a norming process, and further research into such processes would be a rich area for further study. 
Originality/value – The contribution is in forming an understanding of the media patterns and in analysing what they convey as to the threatened deinstituitonalization of the SFO.

year: 2010

title: Traditional kava use, cognition and driver fitness

authors: Aporosa, S. 'Apo'

abstract: Introduction: Kava (Piper methysticum) is a traditional, culturally significant Pacific Island beverage, which produces soporific relaxant effects similar to Benzodiazepine (Sarris et al, 2012, Journal of Psychopharmacology Clinical and Experimental, 27:262-9). Most research into kava psychopharmacology has utilised kava in extract tablet form (typically 300mg per/day), with the results erroneously overlaid on kava as used in traditional settings. Very little is known about kava’s impacts on cognitive function when consumed traditionally as a drink over many hours, which often amount to more than 15 times the pharmacologically recommended dose. Approximately 70% of kava drinkers drive following use, which has prompted concerns regarding driver impairment. This research builds on two earlier studies (Aporosa et al, 2020, Journal of Human Psychopharmacology, 35[2]:e2725) to investigate the effects of kava on six cognition-related functions associated with driving. Methods: The study was guided by the Pacific Post-development Methodological Framework to ensure the ethical and equitable use of Western standardised psychometrics among Pacific peoples (Aporosa et al., Pacific Dynamics, 5[1]:74-92). Experienced male kava users (n=20, mean age = 34.75) attended a six hour traditionally influenced kava session. Each participant consumed 3.6 litres (6.33 pints) of kava, equating to 3,680mg of kavalactones. Also present were a control group of non-kava consuming males (n=19, mean age = 35.57). At baseline, the participants completed computerised somato-sensory psychometric tests (using the Brain Gauge [www.corticalmetrics.com]) to measure six strategic, tactical and operational functions, including fine-motor-skills and fatigue. Re-testing was conducted three and six hours after kava consumption. Pre/post analysis compared within person and between group differences. Statistical modelling was based on t-tests and Bayesian analysis. Results: Test data revealed significant impairment (p<0.05) to only one of the six functions assessed by the Brain Gauge ̶ Temporal Order Judgement (TOJ) [t=0.007; B=6.193]. Conclusions: When ingested in traditional use volumes, kava did not impact participants’ Focus, Accuracy, Timing Perception, Plasticity or Fatigue, but there was a significant negative impact on TOJ. TOJ (as measured by the Brain Gauge) is chiefly associated with sequencing linked to executive functions allied with decision making, behavioural control, and information processing (Aporosa et al., 2022, Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 291[115080]:1-15). These new findings suggest that traditional kava use effects are unique and subtle, and manifest very differently to alcohol, cannabis and hallucinogens. Nevertheless, kava effects may compromise driver safety. The study was followed up with a culture-relevant kava drink- driving awareness campaign. Funding: The study was funded by the New Zealand Health Research Council (19/002).

text: Traditional kava use, cognition and driver fitness Introduction: Kava (Piper methysticum) is a traditional, culturally significant Pacific Island beverage, which produces soporific relaxant effects similar to Benzodiazepine (Sarris et al, 2012, Journal of Psychopharmacology Clinical and Experimental, 27:262-9). Most research into kava psychopharmacology has utilised kava in extract tablet form (typically 300mg per/day), with the results erroneously overlaid on kava as used in traditional settings. Very little is known about kava’s impacts on cognitive function when consumed traditionally as a drink over many hours, which often amount to more than 15 times the pharmacologically recommended dose. Approximately 70% of kava drinkers drive following use, which has prompted concerns regarding driver impairment. This research builds on two earlier studies (Aporosa et al, 2020, Journal of Human Psychopharmacology, 35[2]:e2725) to investigate the effects of kava on six cognition-related functions associated with driving. Methods: The study was guided by the Pacific Post-development Methodological Framework to ensure the ethical and equitable use of Western standardised psychometrics among Pacific peoples (Aporosa et al., Pacific Dynamics, 5[1]:74-92). Experienced male kava users (n=20, mean age = 34.75) attended a six hour traditionally influenced kava session. Each participant consumed 3.6 litres (6.33 pints) of kava, equating to 3,680mg of kavalactones. Also present were a control group of non-kava consuming males (n=19, mean age = 35.57). At baseline, the participants completed computerised somato-sensory psychometric tests (using the Brain Gauge [www.corticalmetrics.com]) to measure six strategic, tactical and operational functions, including fine-motor-skills and fatigue. Re-testing was conducted three and six hours after kava consumption. Pre/post analysis compared within person and between group differences. Statistical modelling was based on t-tests and Bayesian analysis. Results: Test data revealed significant impairment (p<0.05) to only one of the six functions assessed by the Brain Gauge ̶ Temporal Order Judgement (TOJ) [t=0.007; B=6.193]. Conclusions: When ingested in traditional use volumes, kava did not impact participants’ Focus, Accuracy, Timing Perception, Plasticity or Fatigue, but there was a significant negative impact on TOJ. TOJ (as measured by the Brain Gauge) is chiefly associated with sequencing linked to executive functions allied with decision making, behavioural control, and information processing (Aporosa et al., 2022, Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 291[115080]:1-15). These new findings suggest that traditional kava use effects are unique and subtle, and manifest very differently to alcohol, cannabis and hallucinogens. Nevertheless, kava effects may compromise driver safety. The study was followed up with a culture-relevant kava drink- driving awareness campaign. Funding: The study was funded by the New Zealand Health Research Council (19/002).

year: 2022

title: Rumours of gold at Te Aroha

authors: Hart, Philip

abstract: From the time of the opening of the Thames goldfield, miners were tormented by the belief that the best gold would be found in Te Aroha mountain, on their southern horizon - so near and yet so far because of Maori resistance to prospecting that district. Some Maori claimed to have found gold there, and visiting Pakeha from at least the 1850s onwards detected gold in the vicinity. The first time gold in the Waiorongomai valley was noted was in 1868. Several prospectors claimed to have explored the district, illegally and, potentially, dangerously, especially after Ohinemuri was opened to mining in 1875. But not until Hone Werahiko found gold in 1880 and the field was officially opened on 25 November would it be possible to prove whether a payable goldfield existed.

text: Rumours of gold at Te Aroha From the time of the opening of the Thames goldfield, miners were tormented by the belief that the best gold would be found in Te Aroha mountain, on their southern horizon - so near and yet so far because of Maori resistance to prospecting that district. Some Maori claimed to have found gold there, and visiting Pakeha from at least the 1850s onwards detected gold in the vicinity. The first time gold in the Waiorongomai valley was noted was in 1868. Several prospectors claimed to have explored the district, illegally and, potentially, dangerously, especially after Ohinemuri was opened to mining in 1875. But not until Hone Werahiko found gold in 1880 and the field was officially opened on 25 November would it be possible to prove whether a payable goldfield existed.

year: 2016