title: Child Abuse Prevention in New Zealand: Legislative and Policy Responses Within An Ecological Framework

authors: Cutler-Naroba, Maree

subjects: Child Abuse NZ

abstract: ABSTRACT

	
The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that one way New Zealand's high prevalence of child abuse can be reduced is by the government increasing the legislative and policy responses within an ecological framework, to child abuse prevention.  This is because such responses would ensure a 'best practice' approach to child abuse prevention.  This 'best-practice' approach is one where child abuse prevention measures are community-driven, child-centred, multi-disciplinary and inter-sectoral. 

Section 1 of this thesis will provide a background on the different types of child abuse, why child abuse occurs and what the consequences of child abuse are.  This section will also cover some current statistics on the incidences of child abuse in New Zealand.  Additionally, there is a discussion on how child abuse is increasingly being minimised within a family violence paradigm - even though family violence is only one form of child abuse.  New Zealand does not have a good track record when it comes to its rates of child abuse. Section 1 is intended to give the reader a very clear picture of how children in New Zealand are not currently being protected adequately enough from child abuse.  This protection should be coming from the adults in their lives, in their community and in their nation.

Section 2 of this thesis outlines an ecological framework for child abuse prevention.  More specifically the way in which such an ecological model is operating presently in New Zealand, at particularly an exosystem (community) and macrosystem (national) level.  The second part of this section discusses factors which will ensure the 'success' of an ecological framework for child abuse prevention.  By 'success' the author is referring to a framework in which the primary outcome is the prevalence of child abuse in New Zealand is reducing.

Section 3 of this thesis will contain the substantive arguments of this paper.  New Zealand does currently have in place legislative and policy responses to child abuse prevention.  However, the author maintains these responses to date have not been sufficient because New Zealand's rates of child abuse continue to escalate.  This section consists of 19 recommendations of legislative and policy responses that could be implemented at a macrosystem/national level.  

At the conclusion of the recommendations contained in this thesis, it becomes clear that the government does need to respond urgently to New Zealand's growing child abuse rates.  New Zealand can no longer afford to have a reactive, ad-hoc approach to child abuse.  Nor can the response at a macro level continue to be one of rhetoric where there is more talk on child abuse prevention than there is on activating, monitoring and funding practical solutions.  It is the author's contention that if the government considered the interests and welfare of children as paramount in legislative and policy decisions that relate to children, then this will send a strong and clear signal to the adults in childrens' lives that children are not to be abused.  Instead, children are to be nurtured, respected and cherished in every way.

text: Child Abuse Prevention in New Zealand: Legislative and Policy Responses Within An Ecological Framework ABSTRACT

	
The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that one way New Zealand's high prevalence of child abuse can be reduced is by the government increasing the legislative and policy responses within an ecological framework, to child abuse prevention.  This is because such responses would ensure a 'best practice' approach to child abuse prevention.  This 'best-practice' approach is one where child abuse prevention measures are community-driven, child-centred, multi-disciplinary and inter-sectoral. 

Section 1 of this thesis will provide a background on the different types of child abuse, why child abuse occurs and what the consequences of child abuse are.  This section will also cover some current statistics on the incidences of child abuse in New Zealand.  Additionally, there is a discussion on how child abuse is increasingly being minimised within a family violence paradigm - even though family violence is only one form of child abuse.  New Zealand does not have a good track record when it comes to its rates of child abuse. Section 1 is intended to give the reader a very clear picture of how children in New Zealand are not currently being protected adequately enough from child abuse.  This protection should be coming from the adults in their lives, in their community and in their nation.

Section 2 of this thesis outlines an ecological framework for child abuse prevention.  More specifically the way in which such an ecological model is operating presently in New Zealand, at particularly an exosystem (community) and macrosystem (national) level.  The second part of this section discusses factors which will ensure the 'success' of an ecological framework for child abuse prevention.  By 'success' the author is referring to a framework in which the primary outcome is the prevalence of child abuse in New Zealand is reducing.

Section 3 of this thesis will contain the substantive arguments of this paper.  New Zealand does currently have in place legislative and policy responses to child abuse prevention.  However, the author maintains these responses to date have not been sufficient because New Zealand's rates of child abuse continue to escalate.  This section consists of 19 recommendations of legislative and policy responses that could be implemented at a macrosystem/national level.  

At the conclusion of the recommendations contained in this thesis, it becomes clear that the government does need to respond urgently to New Zealand's growing child abuse rates.  New Zealand can no longer afford to have a reactive, ad-hoc approach to child abuse.  Nor can the response at a macro level continue to be one of rhetoric where there is more talk on child abuse prevention than there is on activating, monitoring and funding practical solutions.  It is the author's contention that if the government considered the interests and welfare of children as paramount in legislative and policy decisions that relate to children, then this will send a strong and clear signal to the adults in childrens' lives that children are not to be abused.  Instead, children are to be nurtured, respected and cherished in every way.

year: 2006

title: Waveguide joint design and validation for use in acoustic vector-corrected network analysers

authors: MacDonell, Marcus Scott Glengarry

abstract: The Vector-corrected Network Analyser (VNA) has been an indispensable tool for many decades in the field of RF and microwave engineering where the availability of calibrated and traceable results is taken for granted. However, calibrated and traceable measurements are not so easily available in the acoustic domain. In an effort to allow such measurements, a dual-port acoustic vector network analyser (AVNA) has been designed and built. The calibration of this test and measurement system hinges on the repeatability of the uncalibrated system and its acoustic waveguide joints. The first generation of acoustic waveguide joints have been 3D printed with a high precision printer and designed to include alignment pins, O-rings, and a reinforcing ‘clip’ system to allow for a consistent bolt torque without damaging the plastic waveguide. We show that the resulting variation in measurements between cycles of disassembly and reassembly is acceptably small and will allow for calibration of the system. Three-dimensional printed titanium joints show increased rigidity and ease of use but similar repeatability.

text: Waveguide joint design and validation for use in acoustic vector-corrected network analysers The Vector-corrected Network Analyser (VNA) has been an indispensable tool for many decades in the field of RF and microwave engineering where the availability of calibrated and traceable results is taken for granted. However, calibrated and traceable measurements are not so easily available in the acoustic domain. In an effort to allow such measurements, a dual-port acoustic vector network analyser (AVNA) has been designed and built. The calibration of this test and measurement system hinges on the repeatability of the uncalibrated system and its acoustic waveguide joints. The first generation of acoustic waveguide joints have been 3D printed with a high precision printer and designed to include alignment pins, O-rings, and a reinforcing ‘clip’ system to allow for a consistent bolt torque without damaging the plastic waveguide. We show that the resulting variation in measurements between cycles of disassembly and reassembly is acceptably small and will allow for calibration of the system. Three-dimensional printed titanium joints show increased rigidity and ease of use but similar repeatability.

year: 2019

title: Upsetting Geographies: Sacred Spaces of Matata

authors: Brown, Keri Aroha Michelle

subjects: sacred

abstract: My research focuses on the emotional experience of the unearthing of ancestral bones for local Māori of Matata. The coastal town of Matata in the Eastern Bay of Plenty provides a central case study location as it is a town that is facing the pressure of coastal residential development as well the added strain of dealing with the 2005 flood which has compounded issues over local waahi tapu.  Local iwi have continued to actively advocate for the protection of these sites especially with regard to the ongoing discovery of ancestral bones.

Cultural and emotional geographies provide the theoretical framework for this research. This framework has been particularly useful as it encourages reflexive commentary and alternative ways of approaching and thinking about, and understanding knowledge. I have incorporated the research paradigm of kaupapa Māori which complements my theoretical framework by producing a research design that is organised and shaped according to tikanga Māori while (in) advertently critiquing and challenging traditional ways of conducting research. The overall aim is to explore the current issues surrounding the discovery of ancestral bones through korero with local iwi members. It is through their perspectives, stories, beliefs and opinions that provide a better understanding of the meanings attributed to waahi tapu and the influence of certain events such as the 2005 flood. I examine, critically the relationship between power, sacred sites, bones and the body. 

It is from these objectives that I contribute to an area of scholarship that has been largely left out from geographical enquiry. I suggest that the importance of sacredness and spirituality has been relatively overlooked as an influential factor in people's perceptions of the world around them. This thesis is intended to demonstrate the value of indigenous perspectives of bones, the body and sacredness as a way of better understanding some of the complexities that can arise when cross-cultural approaches collide in environmental planning.  

There are three main themes that have emerged from this research. The first theme has to do with competing knowledges. To Māori, the location and knowledge of ancestral bones is culturally important and is in its self sacred, therefore certain tikanga is applied as a means of a protection mechanism. However this ideologically clashes with traditional scientific western approaches which are privileged over other alternative ways of understanding knowledge, in this case Māori knowledge. The second related theme concerns the process of boundary making and cross-cultural ways of perceiving 'sacred' and 'everyday' spaces. To better understand these perspectives involves acknowledging the embodied and emotional experience of wāhi tapu to Māori, and the active role of kaitiaki in the protection and careful management of these culturally important spaces.

text: Upsetting Geographies: Sacred Spaces of Matata My research focuses on the emotional experience of the unearthing of ancestral bones for local Māori of Matata. The coastal town of Matata in the Eastern Bay of Plenty provides a central case study location as it is a town that is facing the pressure of coastal residential development as well the added strain of dealing with the 2005 flood which has compounded issues over local waahi tapu.  Local iwi have continued to actively advocate for the protection of these sites especially with regard to the ongoing discovery of ancestral bones.

Cultural and emotional geographies provide the theoretical framework for this research. This framework has been particularly useful as it encourages reflexive commentary and alternative ways of approaching and thinking about, and understanding knowledge. I have incorporated the research paradigm of kaupapa Māori which complements my theoretical framework by producing a research design that is organised and shaped according to tikanga Māori while (in) advertently critiquing and challenging traditional ways of conducting research. The overall aim is to explore the current issues surrounding the discovery of ancestral bones through korero with local iwi members. It is through their perspectives, stories, beliefs and opinions that provide a better understanding of the meanings attributed to waahi tapu and the influence of certain events such as the 2005 flood. I examine, critically the relationship between power, sacred sites, bones and the body. 

It is from these objectives that I contribute to an area of scholarship that has been largely left out from geographical enquiry. I suggest that the importance of sacredness and spirituality has been relatively overlooked as an influential factor in people's perceptions of the world around them. This thesis is intended to demonstrate the value of indigenous perspectives of bones, the body and sacredness as a way of better understanding some of the complexities that can arise when cross-cultural approaches collide in environmental planning.  

There are three main themes that have emerged from this research. The first theme has to do with competing knowledges. To Māori, the location and knowledge of ancestral bones is culturally important and is in its self sacred, therefore certain tikanga is applied as a means of a protection mechanism. However this ideologically clashes with traditional scientific western approaches which are privileged over other alternative ways of understanding knowledge, in this case Māori knowledge. The second related theme concerns the process of boundary making and cross-cultural ways of perceiving 'sacred' and 'everyday' spaces. To better understand these perspectives involves acknowledging the embodied and emotional experience of wāhi tapu to Māori, and the active role of kaitiaki in the protection and careful management of these culturally important spaces.

year: 2008