title: Striving for social justice: The power that picturebooks have to counter inequitable cultural hegemony

authors: Daly, Nicola

abstract: Children’s literature has a long association with education. It has transmitted cultural values to readers over  many  centuries,  often  reflecting  dominant  identities  and  cultures  of  the  time.  Picturebooks,  a specific format in children’s literature, are unique in their marriage of image and text and can have a powerful influence on readers’ perceptions of themselves, others and the world around them. Our focus on picturebooks as a subset of children’s literature reflects our view that picturebooks have a particular power for a very wide age group, from those who cannot read independently, to those who are making choices on behalf of future readers. It is the fact that picturebooks are often chosen by adults, such as parents, librarians, teachers and publishers, for readers forming their views of the world that make them of particular interest when it comes to maintaining or disrupting existing power structures.

text: Striving for social justice: The power that picturebooks have to counter inequitable cultural hegemony Children’s literature has a long association with education. It has transmitted cultural values to readers over  many  centuries,  often  reflecting  dominant  identities  and  cultures  of  the  time.  Picturebooks,  a specific format in children’s literature, are unique in their marriage of image and text and can have a powerful influence on readers’ perceptions of themselves, others and the world around them. Our focus on picturebooks as a subset of children’s literature reflects our view that picturebooks have a particular power for a very wide age group, from those who cannot read independently, to those who are making choices on behalf of future readers. It is the fact that picturebooks are often chosen by adults, such as parents, librarians, teachers and publishers, for readers forming their views of the world that make them of particular interest when it comes to maintaining or disrupting existing power structures.

year: 2022

title: What about the violent offenders?: The possibilities and problems of prison abolition in New Zealand

authors: Hoek, Katherine

subjects: Prison abolition

abstract: This thesis engages with the issues of mass incarceration and violence in the developing field of research on post-prison societies.  Rather than restating the abolitionist argument, this thesis seeks to address three key questions, all with a specific New Zealand focus.  Questions one and two broadly explore the barriers to prison abolition and what strategies, policies, and interventions are necessary for New Zealand to become a post-prison society.  The third question explores alternative approaches to violent offending in New Zealand, discounting the current system of imprisonment.  The research involved nine semi-structured qualitative interviews (six were face-to-face, two through video call, and one through audio call) with academics, advocates, and persons with relevant experience with the criminal justice system through employment, advocacy, or in a research capacity.  

Much like the previous literature, this thesis problematises the ‘place’ of prisons and the current approaches to general and violent offending.  This thesis highlights public attitudes, structural or macro-level barriers, and the absence of an abolitionist plan as significant barriers to prison abolition in New Zealand.  This thesis also found that early intervention and prevention, the establishment of a consistent and identifiable abolitionist framework, and greater use of in-community alternatives and treatments are considered integral strategies within the incremental steps required to move New Zealand towards a post-prison society.  Moreover, this thesis highlights the importance of recognising that violence is deeply contextual and should thus be a vital factor in decision making for how to respond to these forms of harmful behaviour.  Finally, demonstrated by the spectrum of perspectives, this thesis argues that those at the centre illustrate the potential for a future reformist and abolitionist collaboration, and a significant possibility for movement towards a New Zealand without prisons.

text: What about the violent offenders?: The possibilities and problems of prison abolition in New Zealand This thesis engages with the issues of mass incarceration and violence in the developing field of research on post-prison societies.  Rather than restating the abolitionist argument, this thesis seeks to address three key questions, all with a specific New Zealand focus.  Questions one and two broadly explore the barriers to prison abolition and what strategies, policies, and interventions are necessary for New Zealand to become a post-prison society.  The third question explores alternative approaches to violent offending in New Zealand, discounting the current system of imprisonment.  The research involved nine semi-structured qualitative interviews (six were face-to-face, two through video call, and one through audio call) with academics, advocates, and persons with relevant experience with the criminal justice system through employment, advocacy, or in a research capacity.  

Much like the previous literature, this thesis problematises the ‘place’ of prisons and the current approaches to general and violent offending.  This thesis highlights public attitudes, structural or macro-level barriers, and the absence of an abolitionist plan as significant barriers to prison abolition in New Zealand.  This thesis also found that early intervention and prevention, the establishment of a consistent and identifiable abolitionist framework, and greater use of in-community alternatives and treatments are considered integral strategies within the incremental steps required to move New Zealand towards a post-prison society.  Moreover, this thesis highlights the importance of recognising that violence is deeply contextual and should thus be a vital factor in decision making for how to respond to these forms of harmful behaviour.  Finally, demonstrated by the spectrum of perspectives, this thesis argues that those at the centre illustrate the potential for a future reformist and abolitionist collaboration, and a significant possibility for movement towards a New Zealand without prisons.

year: 2020

title: Pakeha students and a pro-Treaty analysis: Teaching issues in a diploma of clinical psychology programme

authors: Yensen, Helen

subjects: Maori

abstract: We ran Treaty/biculturalism workshops for the Diploma on an ad hoc basis in 1990, 1991, and 1992. This year we have contracted for a fuller package which involves work with first and second years and staff. Next year this will continue with third year students. We believe biculturalism training for non-Maori has two major aspects and, although they overlap in various ways we think that it is useful to separate them: the first one is awareness of Maori cultural practices, values, etc, which can perhaps be called ‘cultural sensitivity training’. This needs to be under the control of Maori and have major input from Maori. The second aspect is where our focus is, and that is awareness of the effect on the Maori world of the loss of sovereignty by Maori; of their marginalisation over the last one hundred and fifty years by Pakeha; of their oppressed status; loss of economic base, and the implications for change that flow from those events. We believe that, at least initially, Pakeha have the responsibility for educating themselves and other pakeha in this area.

text: Pakeha students and a pro-Treaty analysis: Teaching issues in a diploma of clinical psychology programme We ran Treaty/biculturalism workshops for the Diploma on an ad hoc basis in 1990, 1991, and 1992. This year we have contracted for a fuller package which involves work with first and second years and staff. Next year this will continue with third year students. We believe biculturalism training for non-Maori has two major aspects and, although they overlap in various ways we think that it is useful to separate them: the first one is awareness of Maori cultural practices, values, etc, which can perhaps be called ‘cultural sensitivity training’. This needs to be under the control of Maori and have major input from Maori. The second aspect is where our focus is, and that is awareness of the effect on the Maori world of the loss of sovereignty by Maori; of their marginalisation over the last one hundred and fifty years by Pakeha; of their oppressed status; loss of economic base, and the implications for change that flow from those events. We believe that, at least initially, Pakeha have the responsibility for educating themselves and other pakeha in this area.

year: 1993