title: Re-configuring and deterritorializing subject↔object relations in education

authors: Tesar, Marek

abstract: For many years in the 20th Century, Western thinking in education has been defined against the background of Cartesian dualisms, both with respect to philosophy and methodology. And it was this Cartesian thinking, the separation of the discursive and material, and the elevation of the philosophy of the subject, the human I, that gave birth to the postmodern era, and in recent years, to the notions that we tend to call new materialisms and post-humanisms. And it was modernity and its ruins, that gave birth to the re-writing of the human self, and of subject↔object relations. As cultural critic Greenberg (1973) argues: “the essence of Modernism lies in the use of characteristic methods of a discipline to criticize the discipline itself, not in order to subvert it but in order to entrench it more firmly in its area of competence. Immanuel Kant used logic to establish the limits of logic, and while he withdrew much from its old jurisdiction, logic was left all the more secure in what there remained to it” (p. 66).

text: Re-configuring and deterritorializing subject↔object relations in education For many years in the 20th Century, Western thinking in education has been defined against the background of Cartesian dualisms, both with respect to philosophy and methodology. And it was this Cartesian thinking, the separation of the discursive and material, and the elevation of the philosophy of the subject, the human I, that gave birth to the postmodern era, and in recent years, to the notions that we tend to call new materialisms and post-humanisms. And it was modernity and its ruins, that gave birth to the re-writing of the human self, and of subject↔object relations. As cultural critic Greenberg (1973) argues: “the essence of Modernism lies in the use of characteristic methods of a discipline to criticize the discipline itself, not in order to subvert it but in order to entrench it more firmly in its area of competence. Immanuel Kant used logic to establish the limits of logic, and while he withdrew much from its old jurisdiction, logic was left all the more secure in what there remained to it” (p. 66).

year: 2016

title: The influence of fire on vegetation dynamics of a New Zealand restiad bog

authors: Wilson, Clara Renée

subjects: fire

abstract: New Zealand restiad bogs have a history of natural fire, yet little is known about their fire ecology compared to other frequently burnt ecosystems. Previous research has identified general vegetation recovery trends, but it remains unclear how certain species increase their dominance following fire and what the main environmental changes associated with burning are. To address these research gaps, this study focussed on three areas of varying last burn date (2017, 2005, and 1974) within Kopuatai Bog. 

Measures of vegetation dynamics, light availability, and nutrient concentrations (in peat and foliage) were compared between burnt and adjacent unburnt sites. At the 2017 burn site, post-fire flowering of the sedge species, Machaerina teretifolia and Schoenus brevifolius, was assessed. At the same site, near-surface temperature fluctuations were monitored for almost one year, and samples collected two weeks post-fire were used to test for immediate nutrient enrichment. The role of the peat seed bank was tested experimentally, by exposing peat to heat and/or smoke and assessing germination. 

Species capable of vegetative recovery dominated within the first two years post-fire. By 14 years, vegetation had largely recovered to pre-fire composition, although percent cover of Leptospermum scoparium, Machaerina teretifolia, Schoenus brevifolius, and Epacris pauciflora were higher on the burnt area. Leptospermum’s response can be explained by its well-documented serotinous capability. The increase in sedge species is attributed to their strong fire-stimulated flowering response, particularly in Machaerina, which averaged 30.4 flowering heads m-2 at the 2017 burn site. Epacris recovered from a rich peat seed bank, as demonstrated by the response in the germination experiment of 3143 seedlings m-2, on average. The effect of heat on germination was unclear. Further research, including improved heat treatments, is required to determine the effect of heat on seeds of restiad species, Empodisma robustum and Sporadanthus ferrugineus, which were relatively common in the control and smoke treatments. 

Fire resulted in immediate increases in peat total P, S, Ca, Mg, K, Na, Fe, Mn, Cu concentrations. These effects had declined by two years post-fire, although foliar nutrients suggest that plant-available nutrients may have still been elevated at this time. Peat total N was unaffected. Near-surface maximum and average air temperatures were found to be consistently higher on the burn, while minimum temperatures were seasonally variable. Fire caused an increase in light availability from 0.1-0.2% diffuse light availability under an intact Empodisma-dominated canopy to 19.5% 16 months post-fire – an effect which had subsided completely by 14 years post-fire. 

While nutrient enhancement, particularly in P, may temporarily enhance plant productivity, the most important driver of vegetation dynamics appears to be light. Fire opens up the canopy, providing an opportunity for seedlings to become established – an opportunity which Leptospermum, Epacris, and the sedge species take advantage of.

text: The influence of fire on vegetation dynamics of a New Zealand restiad bog New Zealand restiad bogs have a history of natural fire, yet little is known about their fire ecology compared to other frequently burnt ecosystems. Previous research has identified general vegetation recovery trends, but it remains unclear how certain species increase their dominance following fire and what the main environmental changes associated with burning are. To address these research gaps, this study focussed on three areas of varying last burn date (2017, 2005, and 1974) within Kopuatai Bog. 

Measures of vegetation dynamics, light availability, and nutrient concentrations (in peat and foliage) were compared between burnt and adjacent unburnt sites. At the 2017 burn site, post-fire flowering of the sedge species, Machaerina teretifolia and Schoenus brevifolius, was assessed. At the same site, near-surface temperature fluctuations were monitored for almost one year, and samples collected two weeks post-fire were used to test for immediate nutrient enrichment. The role of the peat seed bank was tested experimentally, by exposing peat to heat and/or smoke and assessing germination. 

Species capable of vegetative recovery dominated within the first two years post-fire. By 14 years, vegetation had largely recovered to pre-fire composition, although percent cover of Leptospermum scoparium, Machaerina teretifolia, Schoenus brevifolius, and Epacris pauciflora were higher on the burnt area. Leptospermum’s response can be explained by its well-documented serotinous capability. The increase in sedge species is attributed to their strong fire-stimulated flowering response, particularly in Machaerina, which averaged 30.4 flowering heads m-2 at the 2017 burn site. Epacris recovered from a rich peat seed bank, as demonstrated by the response in the germination experiment of 3143 seedlings m-2, on average. The effect of heat on germination was unclear. Further research, including improved heat treatments, is required to determine the effect of heat on seeds of restiad species, Empodisma robustum and Sporadanthus ferrugineus, which were relatively common in the control and smoke treatments. 

Fire resulted in immediate increases in peat total P, S, Ca, Mg, K, Na, Fe, Mn, Cu concentrations. These effects had declined by two years post-fire, although foliar nutrients suggest that plant-available nutrients may have still been elevated at this time. Peat total N was unaffected. Near-surface maximum and average air temperatures were found to be consistently higher on the burn, while minimum temperatures were seasonally variable. Fire caused an increase in light availability from 0.1-0.2% diffuse light availability under an intact Empodisma-dominated canopy to 19.5% 16 months post-fire – an effect which had subsided completely by 14 years post-fire. 

While nutrient enhancement, particularly in P, may temporarily enhance plant productivity, the most important driver of vegetation dynamics appears to be light. Fire opens up the canopy, providing an opportunity for seedlings to become established – an opportunity which Leptospermum, Epacris, and the sedge species take advantage of.

year: 2020

title: Kaumatua Mana Motuhake: peer education intervention to help Maori elders during later-stage life transitions

authors: Oetzel, John G.

subjects: Science & Technology

abstract: Background
Aotearoa/New Zealand has a population that is ageing and there are challenges to health and social outcomes related to related to key life transitions (e.g., retirement, change in health conditions, loss of spouse). Further, there are significant inequities between Māori (Indigenous people) and non-Māori in ageing outcomes. The purpose of this study was to test the impacts and cost effectiveness of a tuakana/teina (peer education) intervention on kaumātua (elders) receiving the intervention. This study was framed by a strengths-based approach based on the key cultural concept of mana motuhake (autonomy and self-actualisation).

Methods
This study was grounded in principles of Kaupapa Māori and community-based participatory research to bring together a diverse group of stakeholders to co-develop and co-evaluate the intervention. The intervention had tuakana (peer educators) having conversations with up to six teina (recipients) and providing information related to health and social services. The research design was a pre- and post-test, clustered staggered design. Participants completed a baseline assessment of health and mana motuhake measures consistent with Māori worldviews along with two follow-up assessments (one after the first intervention group completed its activities and a second after the second intervention group completed its activities). Additionally, five focus groups and open-ended questions on the assessments were used to provide qualitative evaluation.

Findings
A total of 180 kaumātua were recruited to the intervention with 121 completing it. The analysis revealed improvements over time in the expected direction on most of the variables. However, only three of the variables had statistically significant intervention effects: received support, tribal identity, and trouble paying bills. Qualitative results supported impacts of the intervention on mana motuhake, social connectedness, and tangible/information support related to services. Cost-effectiveness analysis showed that the intervention is cost effective, with a cost per QALY of less than the conventional threshold of three times gross domestic product per capita.

Conclusions
The findings support the relevancy and importance of kaumātua knowledge to create a strengths-based approach to improve health and social outcomes. This study demonstrates that a contextually based and culturally safe age-friendly environments can facilitate engagement and participation by kaumātua for kaumātua.

Trial registry
Australia New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry (ACTRN12617001396314); Date Registered: 3 October 2017 (retrospectively registered); https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=373733&isClinicalTrial=False

text: Kaumatua Mana Motuhake: peer education intervention to help Maori elders during later-stage life transitions Background
Aotearoa/New Zealand has a population that is ageing and there are challenges to health and social outcomes related to related to key life transitions (e.g., retirement, change in health conditions, loss of spouse). Further, there are significant inequities between Māori (Indigenous people) and non-Māori in ageing outcomes. The purpose of this study was to test the impacts and cost effectiveness of a tuakana/teina (peer education) intervention on kaumātua (elders) receiving the intervention. This study was framed by a strengths-based approach based on the key cultural concept of mana motuhake (autonomy and self-actualisation).

Methods
This study was grounded in principles of Kaupapa Māori and community-based participatory research to bring together a diverse group of stakeholders to co-develop and co-evaluate the intervention. The intervention had tuakana (peer educators) having conversations with up to six teina (recipients) and providing information related to health and social services. The research design was a pre- and post-test, clustered staggered design. Participants completed a baseline assessment of health and mana motuhake measures consistent with Māori worldviews along with two follow-up assessments (one after the first intervention group completed its activities and a second after the second intervention group completed its activities). Additionally, five focus groups and open-ended questions on the assessments were used to provide qualitative evaluation.

Findings
A total of 180 kaumātua were recruited to the intervention with 121 completing it. The analysis revealed improvements over time in the expected direction on most of the variables. However, only three of the variables had statistically significant intervention effects: received support, tribal identity, and trouble paying bills. Qualitative results supported impacts of the intervention on mana motuhake, social connectedness, and tangible/information support related to services. Cost-effectiveness analysis showed that the intervention is cost effective, with a cost per QALY of less than the conventional threshold of three times gross domestic product per capita.

Conclusions
The findings support the relevancy and importance of kaumātua knowledge to create a strengths-based approach to improve health and social outcomes. This study demonstrates that a contextually based and culturally safe age-friendly environments can facilitate engagement and participation by kaumātua for kaumātua.

Trial registry
Australia New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry (ACTRN12617001396314); Date Registered: 3 October 2017 (retrospectively registered); https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=373733&isClinicalTrial=False

year: 2020