title: What Effect Does Relevant Policy Have on Pacific Peoples’ Experiences of Housing in Aotearoa New Zealand?

authors: Brown, Georgia

subjects: housing

abstract: Every New Zealander has the right to a warm, safe, and secure home. However, many people in Aotearoa experience housing that lacks these fundamental aspects. The size, quality, and affordability of Aotearoa New Zealand’s housing within both the state and private rental markets are not meeting the health or well-being needs of the nation’s people. This is particularly notable for specific sectors of the population, including those with low socio-economic status, and Māori and Pacific peoples. This thesis aims to understand and examine Pacific peoples’ housing experiences in Kirikiriroa Hamilton, Aotearoa New Zealand. Specifically, this work seeks to understand the context of housing policy in Aotearoa New Zealand and how that links to the experiences of Pacific home occupants. It will uncover severe issues related to housing deprivation, housing over-crowding, housing affordability, housing quality, and the relationship between health and housing for Pacific peoples in Aotearoa New Zealand. In understanding these factors of peoples’ experiences with housing, relevant housing policy is examined. Policies that are included are The Resident Tenancies Act 1986 (including the Amendment Act 2020), the Housing Improvement Regulation 1947, the Health Act 1956, the Building Act 2004, the Healthy Home Guarantees Act and the Residential Tenancies (Healthy Homes Standards) Regulations 2019. Understanding how these policies function, are enforced, and are implemented by national and local governments allows insight into their effectiveness in ensuring that all of New Zealand’s population are able to access adequate and affordable housing. Assessing Kāinga Ora, New Zealand’s largest landlord, will also allow for an understanding of the housing experiences of many of the most vulnerable populations in Aotearoa. Through talanoa methodology, driven by a Pacific research team, an understanding of housing experiences is shaped around the narratives provided by seven Pacific families living in severe housing deprivation within Kirikiriroa Hamilton, Aotearoa New Zealand. Little qualitative research has been conducted on the experiences of Pacific peoples living in Aotearoa New Zealand. This thesis hopes to improve understandings of housing for Pacific peoples, their position in society and the impacts of relevant policy. Identifying existing issues will hopefully allow for a recognition of housing issues that will work towards being effectively improved by stakeholders essential to uplifting New Zealand’s housing space.

text: What Effect Does Relevant Policy Have on Pacific Peoples’ Experiences of Housing in Aotearoa New Zealand? Every New Zealander has the right to a warm, safe, and secure home. However, many people in Aotearoa experience housing that lacks these fundamental aspects. The size, quality, and affordability of Aotearoa New Zealand’s housing within both the state and private rental markets are not meeting the health or well-being needs of the nation’s people. This is particularly notable for specific sectors of the population, including those with low socio-economic status, and Māori and Pacific peoples. This thesis aims to understand and examine Pacific peoples’ housing experiences in Kirikiriroa Hamilton, Aotearoa New Zealand. Specifically, this work seeks to understand the context of housing policy in Aotearoa New Zealand and how that links to the experiences of Pacific home occupants. It will uncover severe issues related to housing deprivation, housing over-crowding, housing affordability, housing quality, and the relationship between health and housing for Pacific peoples in Aotearoa New Zealand. In understanding these factors of peoples’ experiences with housing, relevant housing policy is examined. Policies that are included are The Resident Tenancies Act 1986 (including the Amendment Act 2020), the Housing Improvement Regulation 1947, the Health Act 1956, the Building Act 2004, the Healthy Home Guarantees Act and the Residential Tenancies (Healthy Homes Standards) Regulations 2019. Understanding how these policies function, are enforced, and are implemented by national and local governments allows insight into their effectiveness in ensuring that all of New Zealand’s population are able to access adequate and affordable housing. Assessing Kāinga Ora, New Zealand’s largest landlord, will also allow for an understanding of the housing experiences of many of the most vulnerable populations in Aotearoa. Through talanoa methodology, driven by a Pacific research team, an understanding of housing experiences is shaped around the narratives provided by seven Pacific families living in severe housing deprivation within Kirikiriroa Hamilton, Aotearoa New Zealand. Little qualitative research has been conducted on the experiences of Pacific peoples living in Aotearoa New Zealand. This thesis hopes to improve understandings of housing for Pacific peoples, their position in society and the impacts of relevant policy. Identifying existing issues will hopefully allow for a recognition of housing issues that will work towards being effectively improved by stakeholders essential to uplifting New Zealand’s housing space.

year: 2023

title: Community composition and distribution of macroinvertebrates on natural and artificial substrates in North Island lakes and ponds

authors: Taitibe, Heather

subjects: Community composition

abstract: Artificial structures in freshwater ecosystems are becoming increasingly common. The introduction of these structures in marine systems lead to changes in the physical structure and the biotic assemblages. Even though artificial structures provide hard substrates for species to colonize and settle on, they are commonly shown to support a smaller number of taxa than natural substrates and are also known to facilitate the settlement of disproportionate numbers of non-native species. Nevertheless, little is known of their effects in freshwaters. 
In the second chapter of my thesis, I compare macroinvertebrate communities on three substrate types, macrophytes, sediments and artificial structures, among twenty-two ponds, to identify differences in community composition and distribution of macroinvertebrates between natural and artificial substrates. In addition, I investigated whether non-native macroinvertebrates prefer artificial substrates more than natural substrates. The similarities between artificial substrates and macrophytes can be attributed to the habitat structure, i.e., hard surfaces and the provision of refugia for macroinvertebrates from their predators. The differences between sediments and macrophytes, and artificial substrates were attributed to the difference in habitat structure and the fauna they supported (i.e., sediments contained large proportions of infauna). Non-native species that were collected in my study did not show preference for any of the habitats that were sampled.  
In the third chapter of my thesis, I identified important environmental factors that affect the distribution of macroinvertebrates communities across the twenty-two ponds sampled. The most important factor identified was temperature, nutrient gradients, pH and dissolved oxygen levels.  
Both chapters of my thesis offer an understanding of how existing artificial substrates and environmental variables in lakes and ponds on the North Island, New Zealand, affect macroinvertebrate community composition and distribution in relation to natural substrates.

text: Community composition and distribution of macroinvertebrates on natural and artificial substrates in North Island lakes and ponds Artificial structures in freshwater ecosystems are becoming increasingly common. The introduction of these structures in marine systems lead to changes in the physical structure and the biotic assemblages. Even though artificial structures provide hard substrates for species to colonize and settle on, they are commonly shown to support a smaller number of taxa than natural substrates and are also known to facilitate the settlement of disproportionate numbers of non-native species. Nevertheless, little is known of their effects in freshwaters. 
In the second chapter of my thesis, I compare macroinvertebrate communities on three substrate types, macrophytes, sediments and artificial structures, among twenty-two ponds, to identify differences in community composition and distribution of macroinvertebrates between natural and artificial substrates. In addition, I investigated whether non-native macroinvertebrates prefer artificial substrates more than natural substrates. The similarities between artificial substrates and macrophytes can be attributed to the habitat structure, i.e., hard surfaces and the provision of refugia for macroinvertebrates from their predators. The differences between sediments and macrophytes, and artificial substrates were attributed to the difference in habitat structure and the fauna they supported (i.e., sediments contained large proportions of infauna). Non-native species that were collected in my study did not show preference for any of the habitats that were sampled.  
In the third chapter of my thesis, I identified important environmental factors that affect the distribution of macroinvertebrates communities across the twenty-two ponds sampled. The most important factor identified was temperature, nutrient gradients, pH and dissolved oxygen levels.  
Both chapters of my thesis offer an understanding of how existing artificial substrates and environmental variables in lakes and ponds on the North Island, New Zealand, affect macroinvertebrate community composition and distribution in relation to natural substrates.

year: 2019

title: He Pikinga Waiora: Supporting Maori health organisations to respond to pre-diabetes

authors: Beaton, Angela

subjects: Science & Technology

abstract: Background
Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) is a common long-term condition affecting the health and wellbeing of New Zealanders; one in every four New Zealanders is pre-diabetic. Māori, the Indigenous people of New Zealand, are at an increased risk of developing pre-diabetes and T2D and there are significant inequities between Māori and non-Māori for T2D complications. The purpose of this study was to explore the questions of how the strengths of Māori heath organisations may be leveraged, and how the barriers and constraints experienced by Māori health organisations may be negotiated, for the benefit of Māori; and from a systems perspective, to identify strategic opportunities that may be considered and applied by Māori health organisations, funders and policy makers to respond more effectively to pre-diabetes and reduce health inequities between Māori and non-Māori.

Methods
Utilising case study methodology, a range of data sources were triangulated including nine semi-structured interviews, documents, and a diabetes system map to identify possible strategic opportunities for key stakeholders to respond more effectively to pre-diabetes.

Results
Key themes and possible actions to improve health outcomes for Māori with pre-diabetes include: (1) Recognising Māori health organisations as conduits for the community voice and influential partners in the community to effect change; (2) Strengthened partnerships with Māori health organisations for community benefit and to support measurable, evidence-based change and service delivery, particularly when Māori knowledge systems are viewed alongside a Western scientific approach; and (3) Intersectoral integration of health and social services to support provision of whānau-centred care and influence the social determinants of health and local environment.
Conclusions
Māori health organisations are important actors in systems seeking to improve outcomes and eliminate health inequities. Support from funders and policy makers will be required to build on the strengths of these organisations and to overcome system challenges. To realise improved health outcomes for Māori, the value placed on whānau and community perspectives not only needs to be acknowledged in the implementation of health interventions, health and social policies and funding arrangements, but performance measures, service design and delivery must evolve to accommodate these perspectives in practice.

text: He Pikinga Waiora: Supporting Maori health organisations to respond to pre-diabetes Background
Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) is a common long-term condition affecting the health and wellbeing of New Zealanders; one in every four New Zealanders is pre-diabetic. Māori, the Indigenous people of New Zealand, are at an increased risk of developing pre-diabetes and T2D and there are significant inequities between Māori and non-Māori for T2D complications. The purpose of this study was to explore the questions of how the strengths of Māori heath organisations may be leveraged, and how the barriers and constraints experienced by Māori health organisations may be negotiated, for the benefit of Māori; and from a systems perspective, to identify strategic opportunities that may be considered and applied by Māori health organisations, funders and policy makers to respond more effectively to pre-diabetes and reduce health inequities between Māori and non-Māori.

Methods
Utilising case study methodology, a range of data sources were triangulated including nine semi-structured interviews, documents, and a diabetes system map to identify possible strategic opportunities for key stakeholders to respond more effectively to pre-diabetes.

Results
Key themes and possible actions to improve health outcomes for Māori with pre-diabetes include: (1) Recognising Māori health organisations as conduits for the community voice and influential partners in the community to effect change; (2) Strengthened partnerships with Māori health organisations for community benefit and to support measurable, evidence-based change and service delivery, particularly when Māori knowledge systems are viewed alongside a Western scientific approach; and (3) Intersectoral integration of health and social services to support provision of whānau-centred care and influence the social determinants of health and local environment.
Conclusions
Māori health organisations are important actors in systems seeking to improve outcomes and eliminate health inequities. Support from funders and policy makers will be required to build on the strengths of these organisations and to overcome system challenges. To realise improved health outcomes for Māori, the value placed on whānau and community perspectives not only needs to be acknowledged in the implementation of health interventions, health and social policies and funding arrangements, but performance measures, service design and delivery must evolve to accommodate these perspectives in practice.

year: 2019