title: An ecological analysis of hope amongst Asian rainbow young people in Aotearoa New Zealand

authors: Tan, Kyle K. H.

subjects: heterosexism

abstract: Rainbow research tends to prioritise gender and sexuality experiences over the racialised experiences of Asian rainbow young people. Informed by an intersectional lens, we employed a hope-based ecological framework to examine how multiple overlapping axes of oppression (e.g. cisgenderism, heterosexism and racism) shape the aspirations of these youth. We drew on the voices of Asian participants from the 2021 Aotearoa New Zealand Identify Survey, who had responded to an open-text question on their hopes for rainbow young people (n = 217; age range = 14 to 26). The content analysis identified seven prominent categories of hope across three ecological levels (macro exo and meso). These categories were societies: 1) break away from cisheterosexist expectations; 2) confront racism and intersection with cisheterosexism; 3) promote rainbow-inclusive education; 4) ban sexual orientation and gender identity change efforts; 5) improve access to culturally safe health care; 6) dismantle white-dominated rainbow spaces; and 7) provide more rainbow-inclusive family support. These hopes were constructed amidst the desire to challenge unacceptance and exclusion by the wider society for not adhering to white cisheterosexist expectations. The study provides critical insights for community organisations, education settings, and government to consider in addressing the diverse needs of Asian rainbow young people.

text: An ecological analysis of hope amongst Asian rainbow young people in Aotearoa New Zealand Rainbow research tends to prioritise gender and sexuality experiences over the racialised experiences of Asian rainbow young people. Informed by an intersectional lens, we employed a hope-based ecological framework to examine how multiple overlapping axes of oppression (e.g. cisgenderism, heterosexism and racism) shape the aspirations of these youth. We drew on the voices of Asian participants from the 2021 Aotearoa New Zealand Identify Survey, who had responded to an open-text question on their hopes for rainbow young people (n = 217; age range = 14 to 26). The content analysis identified seven prominent categories of hope across three ecological levels (macro exo and meso). These categories were societies: 1) break away from cisheterosexist expectations; 2) confront racism and intersection with cisheterosexism; 3) promote rainbow-inclusive education; 4) ban sexual orientation and gender identity change efforts; 5) improve access to culturally safe health care; 6) dismantle white-dominated rainbow spaces; and 7) provide more rainbow-inclusive family support. These hopes were constructed amidst the desire to challenge unacceptance and exclusion by the wider society for not adhering to white cisheterosexist expectations. The study provides critical insights for community organisations, education settings, and government to consider in addressing the diverse needs of Asian rainbow young people.

year: 2023-08-11

title: Storm Surges in Tauranga Harbour

authors: Tyler, Michael Jack

abstract: Understanding the potential elevation of extreme sea-levels at the coast is important for management of hazards, and adaptation to climate change. This poses challenges for coastlines around the globe, with current pressure from sea-level rise and predictions for an increase in the frequency of extreme events, storminess and associated storm surge hazards. Therefore present day extreme sea-levels are likely to occur more frequently in the future, reaching higher elevations. The largest storm surge on record in New Zealand was 0.88 m in Tauranga Harbour during Tropical Cyclone Gisele in 1968. This is lower in comparison to the tide which can be up to 2 m, therefore it is important to consider the role of storm tides on extreme sea-levels in New Zealand.

The main aim of this research is to understand how storm conditions amplify the sea-level variations across Tauranga Harbour. This is one of the first studies that aims to understand how storm conditions amplify the sea-level in the upper regions of the Harbour, and therefore affect the hazards in this zone. The peaks over threshold method was applied to sea-level data at four gauges inside the Harbour, and one on the open coast at Moturiki Island. Extreme storm surges were found to be influenced by the morphology of the coastline, and are largest at Omokoroa. Due to relatively short sea-level records, additional techniques using oral histories and photographic evidence provide additional data which can be used to validate results from extreme value analyses. Storm surge is variable depending on the intensity and track of significant storms relative to Tauranga Harbour.

On the 5th January 2018 a sub-tropical storm passing over Tauranga, coincided with king tide conditions, causing significant inundation around Tauranga Harbour. The event produced maximum recorded storm surge of 0.64 m at Hairini, with an estimated average recurrence interval of 100 years at this sea-level gauge. The combination of storm tide and wave run-up was highest around the southern entrance, indicating significant external wave energy entered the Harbour. This event is an important reminder to monitor weather conditions closely during periods of king tide conditions. 

Stepwise regression was also applied to determine the variance in storm surge explained by atmospheric pressure and wind. Atmospheric pressure explains approximately 50% of the variance in storm surges. Wind from the east was found to explain an additional 3 to 15% of the variance, with the most influence at Omokoroa as it experiences large fetches from the east, being located on the north eastern side of the Peninsula. Waves likely explain the remaining variance in storm surges which is supported by findings from historical events in this study, however further research is needed to quantify the effect of waves. The relationship between storm surge frequency and magnitude with the Southern Oscillation Index was investigated at Moturiki, due to the potential for increased coastal hazards during La Niña. No statistically significant relationship was identified, however the results indicate larger, more frequent surges during La Niña. Since 2012, there has been a greater frequency of storm surge events per year exceeding 0.4 m. This may be the result of the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation which shifted around 2000, and was predicted to increase the storm surge hazard for several decades based on previous research.

The research provides information and data on sea-levels and storm surges which will be useful in the implementation of the King Tides Project in Tauranga Harbour. This is a tool primarily focused on engaging the community with sea-level related information and coastal hazards, which is crucial for increasing awareness and our ability to adapt to coastal hazards.

text: Storm Surges in Tauranga Harbour Understanding the potential elevation of extreme sea-levels at the coast is important for management of hazards, and adaptation to climate change. This poses challenges for coastlines around the globe, with current pressure from sea-level rise and predictions for an increase in the frequency of extreme events, storminess and associated storm surge hazards. Therefore present day extreme sea-levels are likely to occur more frequently in the future, reaching higher elevations. The largest storm surge on record in New Zealand was 0.88 m in Tauranga Harbour during Tropical Cyclone Gisele in 1968. This is lower in comparison to the tide which can be up to 2 m, therefore it is important to consider the role of storm tides on extreme sea-levels in New Zealand.

The main aim of this research is to understand how storm conditions amplify the sea-level variations across Tauranga Harbour. This is one of the first studies that aims to understand how storm conditions amplify the sea-level in the upper regions of the Harbour, and therefore affect the hazards in this zone. The peaks over threshold method was applied to sea-level data at four gauges inside the Harbour, and one on the open coast at Moturiki Island. Extreme storm surges were found to be influenced by the morphology of the coastline, and are largest at Omokoroa. Due to relatively short sea-level records, additional techniques using oral histories and photographic evidence provide additional data which can be used to validate results from extreme value analyses. Storm surge is variable depending on the intensity and track of significant storms relative to Tauranga Harbour.

On the 5th January 2018 a sub-tropical storm passing over Tauranga, coincided with king tide conditions, causing significant inundation around Tauranga Harbour. The event produced maximum recorded storm surge of 0.64 m at Hairini, with an estimated average recurrence interval of 100 years at this sea-level gauge. The combination of storm tide and wave run-up was highest around the southern entrance, indicating significant external wave energy entered the Harbour. This event is an important reminder to monitor weather conditions closely during periods of king tide conditions. 

Stepwise regression was also applied to determine the variance in storm surge explained by atmospheric pressure and wind. Atmospheric pressure explains approximately 50% of the variance in storm surges. Wind from the east was found to explain an additional 3 to 15% of the variance, with the most influence at Omokoroa as it experiences large fetches from the east, being located on the north eastern side of the Peninsula. Waves likely explain the remaining variance in storm surges which is supported by findings from historical events in this study, however further research is needed to quantify the effect of waves. The relationship between storm surge frequency and magnitude with the Southern Oscillation Index was investigated at Moturiki, due to the potential for increased coastal hazards during La Niña. No statistically significant relationship was identified, however the results indicate larger, more frequent surges during La Niña. Since 2012, there has been a greater frequency of storm surge events per year exceeding 0.4 m. This may be the result of the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation which shifted around 2000, and was predicted to increase the storm surge hazard for several decades based on previous research.

The research provides information and data on sea-levels and storm surges which will be useful in the implementation of the King Tides Project in Tauranga Harbour. This is a tool primarily focused on engaging the community with sea-level related information and coastal hazards, which is crucial for increasing awareness and our ability to adapt to coastal hazards.

year: 2018

title: Moving away from home: Some social consequences for Tūhoe migrating to the Waikato

authors: Nikora, Linda Waimarie

subjects: psychology

abstract: To better understand the social consequences of migration away from traditional iwi regions, Tūhoe researchers intensively interviewed 40 Tūhoe people who had moved to the Waikato. It was found that most missed whanau and the community and made regular visits back home. Participants reported utilizing extensive whanau links to set themselves up in the Waikato, and many joined the Tūhoe associations in the Waikato. Others who did not join reported liking the idea that Tūhoe were there if needed. Some participants felt stronger in their Tūhoe identity since moving, and most reported noticing changes occurring in themselves or those back home over this period (they felt more worldly but saw those back home as more insular). While they did not interact much with tangata whenua, or participate in tangata whenua events, many said that they had a better appreciation of the local Tainui and the Kīngitanga groups since migrating. Finally, most would like to return to their iwi region for employment if it were available but saw little chance of this happening, and most reported wanting to retire there. The policy implications of both these points are explored.

text: Moving away from home: Some social consequences for Tūhoe migrating to the Waikato To better understand the social consequences of migration away from traditional iwi regions, Tūhoe researchers intensively interviewed 40 Tūhoe people who had moved to the Waikato. It was found that most missed whanau and the community and made regular visits back home. Participants reported utilizing extensive whanau links to set themselves up in the Waikato, and many joined the Tūhoe associations in the Waikato. Others who did not join reported liking the idea that Tūhoe were there if needed. Some participants felt stronger in their Tūhoe identity since moving, and most reported noticing changes occurring in themselves or those back home over this period (they felt more worldly but saw those back home as more insular). While they did not interact much with tangata whenua, or participate in tangata whenua events, many said that they had a better appreciation of the local Tainui and the Kīngitanga groups since migrating. Finally, most would like to return to their iwi region for employment if it were available but saw little chance of this happening, and most reported wanting to retire there. The policy implications of both these points are explored.

year: 2004