title: The ethics of fiction: Representations of New Zealand history in the poetry of Chris Tse and Airini Beautrais, and how an author's sense of self affects the story

authors: Mead, Olivia Frances

subjects: New Zealand poetry

abstract: The landscape of contemporary literature and film is saturated with interpretations of recorded histories and events. We have passed them down through generations—orally at first, written recordings when we had the comprehension and means to do so—each representation changed a little bit more by the time it reached us. But contemporary literature also draws from recent history, helping both reader and author to understand the contexts in which they exist. The resulting texts inform, and in turn are informed by, our cultures, ethnicities, religions, values, geography—all contributors to the sense of self with which we interpret fact and fiction.

This thesis looks at the representations of events within New Zealand history found in the poetry of Chris Tse and Airini Beautrais, considering these events through the specific lens of each author’s culture and identity. From the murder of Joe Kum Yung in 1905 and the death of anarchist Neil Roberts in 1982 to the multi-layered history of the Whanganui region, each collection illustrates how an author’s sense of self can alter history. Tse’s How to be Dead in a Year of Snakes and Beautrais’ Dear Neil Roberts and Flow: Whanganui River Poems are examples of the impact of an author’s voice on historical fact, and reinforce a need for accuracy in the poetry genre in the context of New Zealand history and literature. As poet James Brown asks: is verse the future of history?

text: The ethics of fiction: Representations of New Zealand history in the poetry of Chris Tse and Airini Beautrais, and how an author's sense of self affects the story The landscape of contemporary literature and film is saturated with interpretations of recorded histories and events. We have passed them down through generations—orally at first, written recordings when we had the comprehension and means to do so—each representation changed a little bit more by the time it reached us. But contemporary literature also draws from recent history, helping both reader and author to understand the contexts in which they exist. The resulting texts inform, and in turn are informed by, our cultures, ethnicities, religions, values, geography—all contributors to the sense of self with which we interpret fact and fiction.

This thesis looks at the representations of events within New Zealand history found in the poetry of Chris Tse and Airini Beautrais, considering these events through the specific lens of each author’s culture and identity. From the murder of Joe Kum Yung in 1905 and the death of anarchist Neil Roberts in 1982 to the multi-layered history of the Whanganui region, each collection illustrates how an author’s sense of self can alter history. Tse’s How to be Dead in a Year of Snakes and Beautrais’ Dear Neil Roberts and Flow: Whanganui River Poems are examples of the impact of an author’s voice on historical fact, and reinforce a need for accuracy in the poetry genre in the context of New Zealand history and literature. As poet James Brown asks: is verse the future of history?

year: 2020

title: Increasing functional communication for individuals with an intellectual disability using picture exchange communication system in a disability residential setting

authors: Svensson, Melissa

abstract: Individuals who are diagnosed with a developmental disorder may find it difficult to communicate functionally, which limits their ability to have their needs met and their thoughts respected. Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) interventions such as, the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) aim to provide a way for individuals with functional communication deficits to communicate their needs. A small number of studies have explored whether direct caregivers can be trained to implement PECS for adult clients with a developmental delay, who reside in a disability residential flat. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of Behavioural Skills Training (BST), delivered remotely, for training support staff to implement PECS in a disability residential setting. The effect of PECS on functional communication for the client is also evaluated. Staff participants took part in training sessions using BST procedures. Once staff participants had achieved 80% accuracy during training, PECS implementation sessions began with the staff and client participants.  Training and implementation sessions were delivered remotely, via video conferencing software. The results of this research indicate that direct caregivers can be trained to implement PECS in a disability residential flat, with all staff participants maintaining a high level of accuracy throughout training and implementation. Training and implementation data showed increased functional communication acts for the client participant as he learned to use PECS to mand for items and activities. However, this change was not reflected in the data gained at generalisation and follow-up sessions. In conclusion, this research provides evidence to support BST as an effective practice for training caregivers to implement PECS in a disability residential setting. Further, PECS may also be an effective intervention for increasing functional communication for individuals with a developmental delay and communication deficits.

text: Increasing functional communication for individuals with an intellectual disability using picture exchange communication system in a disability residential setting Individuals who are diagnosed with a developmental disorder may find it difficult to communicate functionally, which limits their ability to have their needs met and their thoughts respected. Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) interventions such as, the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) aim to provide a way for individuals with functional communication deficits to communicate their needs. A small number of studies have explored whether direct caregivers can be trained to implement PECS for adult clients with a developmental delay, who reside in a disability residential flat. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of Behavioural Skills Training (BST), delivered remotely, for training support staff to implement PECS in a disability residential setting. The effect of PECS on functional communication for the client is also evaluated. Staff participants took part in training sessions using BST procedures. Once staff participants had achieved 80% accuracy during training, PECS implementation sessions began with the staff and client participants.  Training and implementation sessions were delivered remotely, via video conferencing software. The results of this research indicate that direct caregivers can be trained to implement PECS in a disability residential flat, with all staff participants maintaining a high level of accuracy throughout training and implementation. Training and implementation data showed increased functional communication acts for the client participant as he learned to use PECS to mand for items and activities. However, this change was not reflected in the data gained at generalisation and follow-up sessions. In conclusion, this research provides evidence to support BST as an effective practice for training caregivers to implement PECS in a disability residential setting. Further, PECS may also be an effective intervention for increasing functional communication for individuals with a developmental delay and communication deficits.

year: 2022

title: Matariki, commodity culture, and multiple identities

authors: Hardy, Ann

subjects: Matariki

abstract: The event known as Matariki, the rising of the Pleiades in winter, which Māori take as the mark of the beginning of a new year, was not a strong feature of the wider public sphere for most of the 20th century. Since 2001, however, when Te Taura Whiri, the Māori Language Commission, published an explanatory booklet with the aim of reviving interest in Matariki as an aide to the maintenance of te reo, it has been promoted by several quasi-governmental institutions, especially the national museum, Te Papa, as a winter festival for all New Zealanders. Its main public presence to date has been through media products: posters, banners, websites, television programmes, newspaper features, calendars, some theatrical performances and physical commemoration ceremonies.

The larger project, of which this paper represents an initial descriptive and positioning phase, is a continuation of the researcher's long-standing interest in the intersections of religiosity, culture, and media as they are active in the environment of Aotearoa New Zealand. It assumes, building on theorists such as Bellah and Lundby that the creation of such festivals is an act of 'civil religiosity' that attempts to create and strengthen national community around a set of numinous symbols.
However, the development of an enterprise such as Matariki is pursued in a complex political field, where broad agreement across various factions is needed before the festival can take on an enduring material and symbolic existence. In investigating the factors that will determine the future of Matariki it is relevant to consider the interaction of three factors in particular: the ethno-political history of New Zealand; the characteristics of contemporary reflexive spirituality, which are intertwined with commodificatory tendencies and thirdly, the impacts of increasing globalisation on the parameters of identity-formation for citizens in late-modern societies.

text: Matariki, commodity culture, and multiple identities The event known as Matariki, the rising of the Pleiades in winter, which Māori take as the mark of the beginning of a new year, was not a strong feature of the wider public sphere for most of the 20th century. Since 2001, however, when Te Taura Whiri, the Māori Language Commission, published an explanatory booklet with the aim of reviving interest in Matariki as an aide to the maintenance of te reo, it has been promoted by several quasi-governmental institutions, especially the national museum, Te Papa, as a winter festival for all New Zealanders. Its main public presence to date has been through media products: posters, banners, websites, television programmes, newspaper features, calendars, some theatrical performances and physical commemoration ceremonies.

The larger project, of which this paper represents an initial descriptive and positioning phase, is a continuation of the researcher's long-standing interest in the intersections of religiosity, culture, and media as they are active in the environment of Aotearoa New Zealand. It assumes, building on theorists such as Bellah and Lundby that the creation of such festivals is an act of 'civil religiosity' that attempts to create and strengthen national community around a set of numinous symbols.
However, the development of an enterprise such as Matariki is pursued in a complex political field, where broad agreement across various factions is needed before the festival can take on an enduring material and symbolic existence. In investigating the factors that will determine the future of Matariki it is relevant to consider the interaction of three factors in particular: the ethno-political history of New Zealand; the characteristics of contemporary reflexive spirituality, which are intertwined with commodificatory tendencies and thirdly, the impacts of increasing globalisation on the parameters of identity-formation for citizens in late-modern societies.

year: 2011