title: Go hard, go early: Alternatives to the treatment model for addressing poverty, inequality and mental distress in Aotearoa New Zealand

authors: Stolte, Ottilie Emma Elisabeth

subjects: community psychology

abstract: This discussion article is based on a paper presented at the Community Psychology Symposium as part of the 2021 New Zealand Psychology Conference. In this article, I reflect on my teaching praxis, widening inequalities, and on the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic for psychology. Currently, the lack of mental health sector capacity and the shortage of some 1000 psychologists, poses a significant conundrum. This article revisits Albee's critique, "that no mass disease or disorder has ever been controlled or eliminated through individual treatment" (2005, p.37), and in so doing I reflect on what community psychology can contribute at this point in history.

text: Go hard, go early: Alternatives to the treatment model for addressing poverty, inequality and mental distress in Aotearoa New Zealand This discussion article is based on a paper presented at the Community Psychology Symposium as part of the 2021 New Zealand Psychology Conference. In this article, I reflect on my teaching praxis, widening inequalities, and on the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic for psychology. Currently, the lack of mental health sector capacity and the shortage of some 1000 psychologists, poses a significant conundrum. This article revisits Albee's critique, "that no mass disease or disorder has ever been controlled or eliminated through individual treatment" (2005, p.37), and in so doing I reflect on what community psychology can contribute at this point in history.

year: 2021

title: The athleticism of drag queen practices and performance: A mixed-methods study of injury, prevention, and health care

authors: Diamond, Marisa

subjects: drag queen

abstract: Most research on drag performance has focused on gender and sexuality and/or performing arts. 
To date, very little has examined drag queens’ experiences of athleticism, injury, and injury care. This research provides insights into the physical experiences of professional drag queens, and the relationship of drag queens to health care, in Aotearoa New Zealand and the United States. Specific areas of inquiry include: how drag queen performers of diverse gender identities, ages, experience levels, and athletic backgrounds experience the use of their bodies in their practice of drag; injury occurrence related to drag queen performance; and how drag queens perceive, access, and experience health care in direct connection to their drag practice. 
A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining a survey (96 participants) and interviews with six drag queens from Aotearoa New Zealand the U.S. This research draws on Queer and feminist theory, as well as public health models, to inform data collection and analysis techniques. The findings reveal drag to be a physically demanding discipline: the majority of drag queens have experienced drag-related injuries, despite practicing personally developed body maintenance behaviours. Participants also expressed a lack of, and necessity for, widely available, fully accessible, and visible LGBTQ+ and drag culturally safe and resonant healthcare. These insights contribute to a broader understanding of the physical body in drag queen performance, as well as the health care needs of drag queens in Aotearoa New Zealand and the United States. Utilization of research findings, along with cross-sector discussions, could inform community health best practices and policy development, to improve health care for this historically marginalized population.

text: The athleticism of drag queen practices and performance: A mixed-methods study of injury, prevention, and health care Most research on drag performance has focused on gender and sexuality and/or performing arts. 
To date, very little has examined drag queens’ experiences of athleticism, injury, and injury care. This research provides insights into the physical experiences of professional drag queens, and the relationship of drag queens to health care, in Aotearoa New Zealand and the United States. Specific areas of inquiry include: how drag queen performers of diverse gender identities, ages, experience levels, and athletic backgrounds experience the use of their bodies in their practice of drag; injury occurrence related to drag queen performance; and how drag queens perceive, access, and experience health care in direct connection to their drag practice. 
A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining a survey (96 participants) and interviews with six drag queens from Aotearoa New Zealand the U.S. This research draws on Queer and feminist theory, as well as public health models, to inform data collection and analysis techniques. The findings reveal drag to be a physically demanding discipline: the majority of drag queens have experienced drag-related injuries, despite practicing personally developed body maintenance behaviours. Participants also expressed a lack of, and necessity for, widely available, fully accessible, and visible LGBTQ+ and drag culturally safe and resonant healthcare. These insights contribute to a broader understanding of the physical body in drag queen performance, as well as the health care needs of drag queens in Aotearoa New Zealand and the United States. Utilization of research findings, along with cross-sector discussions, could inform community health best practices and policy development, to improve health care for this historically marginalized population.

year: 2024

title: Life history of fluvial and lacustrine land-locked koaro (Galaxias brevipinnis) Günther (Pisces: galaxiidae) in the Tarawera lakes

authors: Young, Kim D.

abstract: Biological diversity in New Zealand has been seriously degraded as a result of human induced disturbances which include the introduction of many exotic species. Freshwater ecosystems have not escaped damage, with the introduction of primarily sports fish suspected to be a significant contributing factor in diminished native biological freshwater values. This is reflected by range and population reductions of several native fish species. 

One of these species is koaro (Galaxias brevipinnis), for which abundance in land-locked populations in the central North Island lakes has significantly declined. Koaro were once abundant in these lakes, and pre-European harvest in both its juvenile (whitebait) and adult (kokopu) form, comprised an important food resource for inland Maori. Since the introduction of recreational trout species to these lakes in the late 1880s, followed by the introduction of common smelt (Retropinna retropinna) in the early 1900s, the abundance of koaro has dramatically declined to the extent that, in these lakes, the species is now considered rare. 

To date, the interactions between recreational trout species, common smelt, and koaro populations have not been established, and the life-history of land-locked koaro is not fully understood. In particular, the extent of movement between lake and stream habitats remains unclear. However, a collaborative project between the indigenous people of the Rotorua Lakes (Te Arawa) and the Department of Conservation to restore a koaro population in one Rotorua lake, has driven a need to gain a better understanding of the biology and ecology of land-locked koaro. This includes identifying threats to important life-history stages and understanding the role of tributary streams.

During July 1999 to February 2001, lacustrine and fluvial koaro were studied in Lake Tarawera and Lake Okareka and their tributary streams. Both lakes are part of the Tarawera lakes group, a subgroup of the Rotorua lakes situated in the central North Island. Fyke netting was used to sample lacustrine koaro on a monthly basis from January 2000 to February 2001, and seasonal two-pass reduction electric fishing at five sites in the tributary streams took place in April, July and November 2000 and February 2001. All fish larger than 70 mm total length were tagged with a passive implant transponder. Spawning season and location, together with size and growth of lake and stream fish were determined. Movement of lake fish within the littoral zone was also investigated. 

The study found that lake and stream koaro may belong to two sub-populations indicated by differences in size, growth rate, spawning time and locality, and return of lake and stream koaro to natal habitats. The life-history of stream koaro has remained similar to that of its diadromous counterparts. Stream fish were found to spawn and hatch in stream environs, rear as larvae in the lake environs, and return to tributary streams as juvenile fish. Lake fish by contrast, most likely spawn in the lake itself, and results suggest that no juvenile migration of lake spawned fish to tributary streams occurs. Consequently, it was concluded that tributary streams may play little role in the life-history of lacustrine koaro.

Abundance of lacustrine koaro in both Lake Tarawera and Lake Okareka was low in comparison to lakes where trout species or common smelt are absent, and abundance of post-whitebait koaro (greater than 45 mm total length coloured and patterned) in both tributary streams studied was also low where rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were proportionally present in greater abundance. Important life-history stages were found to be subject to competition and predation by a combination of rainbow trout and common smelt in both lakes and streams.

Given the above, restoration programmes for land-locked koaro will need to be undertaken at the population level to enhance the survival of larval and juvenile life-history stages. This will need to occur at an ecosystem scale, and include the management of the combined effects of trout and common smelt in both lake and respective tributary stream environs.

text: Life history of fluvial and lacustrine land-locked koaro (Galaxias brevipinnis) Günther (Pisces: galaxiidae) in the Tarawera lakes Biological diversity in New Zealand has been seriously degraded as a result of human induced disturbances which include the introduction of many exotic species. Freshwater ecosystems have not escaped damage, with the introduction of primarily sports fish suspected to be a significant contributing factor in diminished native biological freshwater values. This is reflected by range and population reductions of several native fish species. 

One of these species is koaro (Galaxias brevipinnis), for which abundance in land-locked populations in the central North Island lakes has significantly declined. Koaro were once abundant in these lakes, and pre-European harvest in both its juvenile (whitebait) and adult (kokopu) form, comprised an important food resource for inland Maori. Since the introduction of recreational trout species to these lakes in the late 1880s, followed by the introduction of common smelt (Retropinna retropinna) in the early 1900s, the abundance of koaro has dramatically declined to the extent that, in these lakes, the species is now considered rare. 

To date, the interactions between recreational trout species, common smelt, and koaro populations have not been established, and the life-history of land-locked koaro is not fully understood. In particular, the extent of movement between lake and stream habitats remains unclear. However, a collaborative project between the indigenous people of the Rotorua Lakes (Te Arawa) and the Department of Conservation to restore a koaro population in one Rotorua lake, has driven a need to gain a better understanding of the biology and ecology of land-locked koaro. This includes identifying threats to important life-history stages and understanding the role of tributary streams.

During July 1999 to February 2001, lacustrine and fluvial koaro were studied in Lake Tarawera and Lake Okareka and their tributary streams. Both lakes are part of the Tarawera lakes group, a subgroup of the Rotorua lakes situated in the central North Island. Fyke netting was used to sample lacustrine koaro on a monthly basis from January 2000 to February 2001, and seasonal two-pass reduction electric fishing at five sites in the tributary streams took place in April, July and November 2000 and February 2001. All fish larger than 70 mm total length were tagged with a passive implant transponder. Spawning season and location, together with size and growth of lake and stream fish were determined. Movement of lake fish within the littoral zone was also investigated. 

The study found that lake and stream koaro may belong to two sub-populations indicated by differences in size, growth rate, spawning time and locality, and return of lake and stream koaro to natal habitats. The life-history of stream koaro has remained similar to that of its diadromous counterparts. Stream fish were found to spawn and hatch in stream environs, rear as larvae in the lake environs, and return to tributary streams as juvenile fish. Lake fish by contrast, most likely spawn in the lake itself, and results suggest that no juvenile migration of lake spawned fish to tributary streams occurs. Consequently, it was concluded that tributary streams may play little role in the life-history of lacustrine koaro.

Abundance of lacustrine koaro in both Lake Tarawera and Lake Okareka was low in comparison to lakes where trout species or common smelt are absent, and abundance of post-whitebait koaro (greater than 45 mm total length coloured and patterned) in both tributary streams studied was also low where rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were proportionally present in greater abundance. Important life-history stages were found to be subject to competition and predation by a combination of rainbow trout and common smelt in both lakes and streams.

Given the above, restoration programmes for land-locked koaro will need to be undertaken at the population level to enhance the survival of larval and juvenile life-history stages. This will need to occur at an ecosystem scale, and include the management of the combined effects of trout and common smelt in both lake and respective tributary stream environs.

year: 2002