title: Migrants in their family contexts: Application of a methodology

authors: Ho, Elsie

subjects: population

abstract: The composition of immigrant families is a topic which has attracted considerable public and political attention in recent years. In the late 1980s concern was expressed over the size of some households of Pacific Island peoples in New Zealand. In the 1990s a more persistent concern has been with the incidence of what have been called ‘astronaut’ families – families where one of the partners is persistently absent overseas. The ‘astronaut’ family phenomenon has been most commonly associated with Chinese immigrants from Hong Kong and Taiwan.

This report uses a novel methodology to examine the incidence of ‘astronaut’ families in New Zealand at the time of the 1991 and 1996 censuses. The methodology is described in some detail in the first section, and it is hoped that the careful attention to the procedures used to examine migrants, who have been identified in the census, in their family contexts will stimulate further research in this area.

The second part of the report presents the findings of an initial exploration of 1991 and 1996 census data using the methodology outlined in the first section. It is clear from results of this inquiry that the ‘astronaut’ family phenomenon is well established amongst some components of New Zealand’s Asian community. However, it is not as widespread as media comment in 1995 and 1996, before the 1996 election, suggested.

It is important to develop ways of assessing characteristics of immigrant family structures in order to counter unsubstantiated assertions which promote negative stereotypes of immigrant communities. This research, which builds on a project supported by the Marsden Fund in 1997, suggest one fruitful avenue for making more extensive use of census data on immigrants in New Zealand to provide more objective assessment of “migrants in social context”.

text: Migrants in their family contexts: Application of a methodology The composition of immigrant families is a topic which has attracted considerable public and political attention in recent years. In the late 1980s concern was expressed over the size of some households of Pacific Island peoples in New Zealand. In the 1990s a more persistent concern has been with the incidence of what have been called ‘astronaut’ families – families where one of the partners is persistently absent overseas. The ‘astronaut’ family phenomenon has been most commonly associated with Chinese immigrants from Hong Kong and Taiwan.

This report uses a novel methodology to examine the incidence of ‘astronaut’ families in New Zealand at the time of the 1991 and 1996 censuses. The methodology is described in some detail in the first section, and it is hoped that the careful attention to the procedures used to examine migrants, who have been identified in the census, in their family contexts will stimulate further research in this area.

The second part of the report presents the findings of an initial exploration of 1991 and 1996 census data using the methodology outlined in the first section. It is clear from results of this inquiry that the ‘astronaut’ family phenomenon is well established amongst some components of New Zealand’s Asian community. However, it is not as widespread as media comment in 1995 and 1996, before the 1996 election, suggested.

It is important to develop ways of assessing characteristics of immigrant family structures in order to counter unsubstantiated assertions which promote negative stereotypes of immigrant communities. This research, which builds on a project supported by the Marsden Fund in 1997, suggest one fruitful avenue for making more extensive use of census data on immigrants in New Zealand to provide more objective assessment of “migrants in social context”.

year: 2000-06

title: Usability of Greenstone's ‘Librarian’ to create and maintain a digital library: The case of senior users

authors: Cunningham, Sally Jo

subjects: computer science

abstract: While Greenstone is a versatile tool for creating and managing digital collections, its interface is not well suited for senior users. As we age, our usability requirements for software change; the mismatch between interfaces designed for (and by) younger members of society and the interface usability requirements of the elderly can make software less usable for the elderly. This paper reports on an intensive usability study of the Greenstone ‘Librarian’ interface (supporting collection development and maintenance) with senior participants. The findings of this study contribute to a re-design of Greenstone for senior users.

text: Usability of Greenstone's ‘Librarian’ to create and maintain a digital library: The case of senior users While Greenstone is a versatile tool for creating and managing digital collections, its interface is not well suited for senior users. As we age, our usability requirements for software change; the mismatch between interfaces designed for (and by) younger members of society and the interface usability requirements of the elderly can make software less usable for the elderly. This paper reports on an intensive usability study of the Greenstone ‘Librarian’ interface (supporting collection development and maintenance) with senior participants. The findings of this study contribute to a re-design of Greenstone for senior users.

year: 2011

title: Drawing on linguistic concepts to teach te reo Māori; Drawing on te reo Māori to teach linguistic concepts

authors: Wessels, Kanauhea Janion

subjects: linguistic pedagogy

abstract: In this paper, we explore the intersections in our teaching practice between the discipline of linguistics and te reo Māori. From the perspective of language teaching, in pedagogic materials for te reo Māori, we have observed that linguistic concepts are not typically highlighted (cf. Moorfield 2001, Jacobs 2012). From the perspective of teaching linguistics, te reo Māori is seldom employed to illustrate or assess linguistic concepts, although it commonly features in accounts of language revitalization. Content that does occur is limited (cf. Burridge & Stebbins, 2016). 
As a tertiary lecturer of the Māori language, I (Kanauhea) consider how, in my teaching practice, I draw on my technical knowledge of linguistics to enhance my explanations of language structures and their functions, where these are unfamiliar to language learners. As a tertiary linguistics lecturer, I (Julie) consider ways in which I draw on my beginner knowledge of te reo Māori to enhance my teaching of linguistic concepts, reflecting on materials I have developed to teach and assess students. 
We argue that students of te reo can benefit from linguistic understandings on their language learning journeys. Equally, as Aotearoa New Zealand's indigenous language, te reo Māori should have a strong presence in linguistic teaching materials, and our linguistics students should graduate with an indepth knowledge of te reo Māori structures.

text: Drawing on linguistic concepts to teach te reo Māori; Drawing on te reo Māori to teach linguistic concepts In this paper, we explore the intersections in our teaching practice between the discipline of linguistics and te reo Māori. From the perspective of language teaching, in pedagogic materials for te reo Māori, we have observed that linguistic concepts are not typically highlighted (cf. Moorfield 2001, Jacobs 2012). From the perspective of teaching linguistics, te reo Māori is seldom employed to illustrate or assess linguistic concepts, although it commonly features in accounts of language revitalization. Content that does occur is limited (cf. Burridge & Stebbins, 2016). 
As a tertiary lecturer of the Māori language, I (Kanauhea) consider how, in my teaching practice, I draw on my technical knowledge of linguistics to enhance my explanations of language structures and their functions, where these are unfamiliar to language learners. As a tertiary linguistics lecturer, I (Julie) consider ways in which I draw on my beginner knowledge of te reo Māori to enhance my teaching of linguistic concepts, reflecting on materials I have developed to teach and assess students. 
We argue that students of te reo can benefit from linguistic understandings on their language learning journeys. Equally, as Aotearoa New Zealand's indigenous language, te reo Māori should have a strong presence in linguistic teaching materials, and our linguistics students should graduate with an indepth knowledge of te reo Māori structures.

year: 2023