Aotearoa New Research Articles

Severe weather events and cryptosporidiosis in Aotearoa New Zealand: A case series of space-time clusters.

Severe weather events and cryptosporidiosis in Aotearoa New Zealand: A case series of space-time clusters.

Artificial intelligence is poised to usher in a paradigm shift in surgery: application of ChatGPT in Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia.

Artificial intelligence is poised to usher in a paradigm shift in surgery: application of ChatGPT in Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia.

The Interplay of Climate and Disaster in Men's Stories of the 2016 Kaikōura Earthquake in Aotearoa New Zealand1

This paper contributes to the emerging field of men, masculinities, and disasters by drawing on narratives of men's accounts of the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake, including how stories of the earthquake intersect with experiences and understandings of extreme weather and climate change. A qualitative methodology was employed, and semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 19 men who experienced the 7.8 magnitude earthquake. This article offers an examination of the complexity of disaster experiences and recovery, as well as how people make sense of hazards and risks. We argue that ongoing exposure to climate hazards informed participant's responses to other infrequent natural hazard events, such as the Kaikōura earthquake. The research identified that men construct their own understandings and responses to natural hazards through a hierarchy of risk perception and probability based on personal experience.

A new species, family, and suborder of beetle for Aotearoa New Zealand – Distocupes varians (Lea, 1902) (Coleoptera: Archostemata: Cupedidae)

ABSTRACT Distocupes varians (Lea, 1908) (Coleoptera: Cupedidae) is a species within the relictual suborder Archostemata. This suborder has a nearly worldwide distribution, which includes the Gondwanan regions and countries Australia, New Caledonia, southern South America, but not New Zealand. The larvae of Archostemata are woodborers, with several cupedid species known to feed on fungi-rich rotting wood, whereas the adults feed on pollen or sap. Until recently, these beetles were unknown from New Zealand, but in November 2021 two adult specimens were caught in SLAM traps in Laingholm, West Auckland. These specimens were collected two weeks apart, which suggests that there is an established population, rather than these being independent incidents of wind-assisted arrivals. This hypothesis is further corroborated by additional specimens of D. varians collected or photographed during November and December 2022, which were then recorded on iNaturalist (https://inaturalist.nz/), a citizen science platform to record, organise and identify biodiversity.

Patient experiences and perspectives of health service access for carpal tunnel syndrome in Aotearoa New Zealand: a normalisation process theory-informed qualitative study

BackgroundEarly access to care for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) can avoid higher rates of surgery and permanent harm yet is often delayed, particularly for populations more likely to underutilise care.ObjectiveWe sought to explore patient experiences and perspectives of health service access for CTS to inform an equity-focussed co-design of a health service for improving early care access.MethodsIn this Normalisation Process Theory (NPT)-informed qualitative study we conducted semistructured in-depth interviews with 19 adults with experience of CTS. Recruitment prioritised New Zealand Māori, Pasifika, low-income, and rural populations. Data were analysed using deductive then inductive thematic analysis.ResultsWe identified five major themes: (1) the ‘Significant Impact of CTS’ of the sense-making and relational work to understand the condition, deciding when to get care, compelling clinicians to provide care, and garnering help from others; (2) ‘Waiting and Paying for Care’– the enacting, relational, and appraising work to avoid long wait times unless paying privately, particularly where quality of care was low, employment relations poor, or injury compensation processes faltered; (3) circumstances of ‘Occupation and CTS Onset’ whereby the burden of proof to relate onset of CT symptoms to occupation created excessive relational and enacting work; (4) the ‘Information Scarcity’ of good information about CTS and the high relational and appraising work associated with using online resources; (5) ‘Negotiating Telehealth Perspectives’ where telehealth was valued if it meant earlier access for all despite the challenges it held for many.ConclusionQuality, culturally and linguistically responsive information and communication from clinicians and health services will improve equitable early access to CTS care including realising the potential of telehealth modes of care. Policy changes that reduce individual burden of proof in injury compensation claims processes, enable time off work to attend health appointments, and increase public funding for surgical resources would improve early access to CTS care particularly for Māori and Pacific populations and those in small and rural workplaces. NPT is valuable for understanding where opportunities lie to reduce inequitable delays to accessing care including the impact of racism, particularly for populations more likely to underutilise care.

The incidence of early onset colorectal cancer in Aotearoa New Zealand: 2000–2020

BackgroundThe incidence of early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC), diagnosed before age 50, has been rising in many countries in the past few decades. This study aims to evaluate this trend in Aotearoa New Zealand and assess its impact on Māori.MethodsCrude incidence and age-standardized incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) was analyzed from all new cases from the Aotearoa New Zealand national cancer registry for the period 2000–2020. Trends were estimated by sex, ethnicity, age group and location of cancer and projections made to 2040.ResultsBetween 2000 and 2020, there were a total of 56,761 cases of CRC diagnosed in Aotearoa New Zealand, 3,702 of these being EOCRC, with age-standardized incidence decreasing significantly (P = 8.2 × 10− 80) from 61.0 to 47.3 cases per 100,000. EOCRC incidence increased on average by 26% per decade (incidence rate ratio (IRR) 1.26, p = < 0.0001) at all sites (proximal colon, distal colon and rectum), while the incidence in those aged 50–79 years decreased on average by 18% per decade (IRR 0.82, p = < 0.0005), again across all sites. There was no significant average change in CRC incidence in those over 80 years. In Māori, there was no significant change in age-standardized incidence. There was however a significant increase in crude incidence rates (IRR 1.28, p = < 0.0005) driven by significant increases in EOCRC (IRR1.36, p = < 0.0005). By 2040, we predict the incidence of EOCRC will have risen from 8.00 to 14.9 per 100,000 (6.33 to 10.00 per 100,000 in Māori). However, due to the aging population an estimated 43.0% of all CRC cases will be diagnosed in those over 80 years of age (45.9% over 70 years of age in Māori).ConclusionThe age-standardized incidence of CRC from 2000 to 2020 decreased in Aotearoa New Zealand, but not for Māori. The incidence of EOCRC over the same period continues to rise, and at a faster rate in Māori. However, with the ageing of the population in Aotearoa New Zealand, and for Māori, CRC in the elderly will continue to dominate case numbers.

Perspectives of potentially eligible Indigenous Māori on a lung cancer screening programme: a qualitative study

aims: Lung cancer causes more deaths than any other cancer, globally and in Aotearoa New Zealand, where it disproportionately affects Māori. We aimed to understand Māori perspectives on lung cancer screening in Aotearoa New Zealand to guide its equity focussed implementation, including identifying enablers and barriers. methods: We took a Kaupapa Māori based co-design approach to inform future screening, recruiting Māori current/ex-smokers and members of their whānau (family) for three focus group phases held in Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand in August 2019. Participants responded to a proposed lung cancer screening pathway and shared their attitudes and beliefs about lung cancer and screening. Results were thematically analysed. results: The 21 Māori participants supported future lung cancer screening in Aotearoa New Zealand. Perceived benefits included being more informed about lung cancer and screening and enabling healthier future generations. Barriers to screening were previous negative health service experiences; fear; stigma; and access, including time, cost and transport. Enablers included providers’ cultural competence; clear communication; a one-stop shop; and support with transport. A range of factors could potentially influence a decision to participate in screening. conclusions: Participants favoured future lung cancer screening and identified key barriers and facilitators of screening.

Differences in life expectancy within and between countries: implications for domestic TAVI guidelines in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.

The advent of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has caused a paradigm shift in the management of aortic stenosis away from traditional surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). However, uncertainty remains about the long-term (>10 year) durability of TAVI valves, especially in younger patients. This viewpoint collates life expectancy data from Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand to propose sex-specific age-based recommendations for choice of SAVR versus TAVI in their respective general populations and among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia and both Māori and Pacific peoples living in Aotearoa New Zealand.

‘A Safe Place to be Happy and Content’: Housing and ‘Home’ in Women’s Desistance

Through narrative interviews with 15 women with histories of imprisonment in Aotearoa New Zealand, this article explores the role of housing and ‘home’ in women’s desistance. The article argues that safety and control are key psycho-social benefits of ‘home’ that support women’s ontological security. The women’s ‘homes’ – as sites of safety and control – could provide a space for them to construct drug and crime free identities and ultimately ‘do’ desistance. Moreover, their ‘homes’ became a physical manifestation or ‘expression’ of their changing identities which served to motivate and further reinforce their desistance.

A better start to literacy for bilingual children in New Zealand: findings from an exploratory case study in te reo Māori and English

ABSTRACT This article details findings from an exploratory case study that examined the efficacy of a phonological awareness and vocabulary programme with children educated in a bilingual immersion context of English and te reo Māori (Māori language) in Aotearoa New Zealand. The current paper discusses changes in the development of early literacy skills in English and te reo Māori in two groups of children aged from 5 years 0 months to 7 years 5 months. Twenty-six children from two bilingual classrooms in a rural school participated in a programme implemented by teachers over 15 weeks. The programme included explicit instruction in phonological awareness and vocabulary. One classroom was from Level 1 te reo Māori immersion, and one was from Level 3 te reo Māori/English. Results were analysed at cohort and class levels. Analyses indicated that both groups of children significantly improved in phonological awareness skills, non-word reading, and expressive vocabulary. Correlational analyses indicated that growth in te reo Māori skills was positively associated with growth in English skills. These findings suggest that further investigation into how the explicit teaching of te reo Māori can benefit the development of phonological awareness and print-related skills in English.

Occurrence, site-fidelity and photo-identification of long-finned pilot whales in Aotearoa New Zealand

Occurrence, site-fidelity and photo-identification of long-finned pilot whales in Aotearoa New Zealand

Settler memory and Indigenous counter-memories: narrative struggles over the history of colonialism in Aotearoa New Zealand

ABSTRACT As with other settler colonies, Aotearoa New Zealand has seen a long-running conflict between a Euro-centric ‘master narrative’ of the historical past and Indigenous counter-narratives. Previous research on these narrative struggles adopts the ‘top-down’ perspective on collective remembering, focusing primarily on how memory entrepreneurs deploy cultural texts and practices to construct particular representations of history. To broaden the methodological scope, the analysis developed in this paper follows the ‘bottom-up’ approach, which makes it possible to map the distribution of collective memories across individuals and investigate their attitudinal effects. By means of a rigorous survey study (N = 1,066), the paper reveals three key findings about collective remembering in Aotearoa New Zealand. First, individuals in the ‘critical years’ of adolescence are more open to weaving Indigenous Māori perspectives into their understandings of history than older generations. Second, when compared to the monocultural master narrative, historical reconstructions that reflect Māori experiences promote a more inclusive understanding of national identity and generate public support for redressing historical injustices against Māori. Third, the empirical analysis finds no evidence for claims made by conservative political actors that creating space for the articulation of Māori histories perpetuates social division and weakens popular identification with the nation.

Navigating the Science-Collaboration Interface for Watershed Management in Aotearoa, New Zealand

Collaborative partnerships around the world address environmental challenges from a local perspective. At the same time, many of these efforts are based on scientific information. Local and scientific information are not always compatible, and numerous challenges arise at the science-policy interface in collaboration. This study identifies key factors affecting the science-policy interface, including credibility, salience, legitimacy, and communication, as well as two-way interactions and compatibility with local knowledge that are important in collaborative governance. The importance of these factors is illustrated in a case of collaborative watershed management in the Canterbury Region of Aotearoa New Zealand. The case tells the story of local community members’ contestation of science used by the government to determine the health risks of recreational swimming and the role of collaboration in bridging experiential and scientific knowledge. Evidence from meeting observations, documents, and interviews indicates points of contention and how the collaborative forum successfully served as a boundary spanner to navigate the science-policy interface.

Introducing ‘Ngaruroro’, a New Model for Understanding Māori Wellbeing

Indigenous peoples around the world are revitalising their ancestral beliefs, practices, and languages, including traditional understandings of health and wellbeing. In the Aotearoa (New Zealand) context, a number of ground-breaking Māori health- and wellbeing-related models have emerged, each with their own scope and applications. We sought in our qualitative studies to explore and identify several key sources of wellbeing for Māori individuals. Nine interviews were conducted with members of Māori communities to identify key themes of Māori wellbeing. We performed a Reflexive Thematic Analysis on these data and then conducted a further fifteen interviews to revise, refine, and reposition the previously generated themes. The Ngaruroro model describes wellbeing as the embodied and active process of being well in relation with one’s (1) here tāngata (social and familial ties), (2) te taiao (the environment), and (3) taonga tuku iho (cultural treasures) while doing what one can to make lifestyle choices that are conducive to the health of one’s (4) tinana (body) and (5) wairua (spirit) while cultivating a balanced (6) ngākau (inner-system), fulfilling (7) matea (core needs) and exercising your (8) mana (authority). These themes illustrate that Māori wellbeing is dynamic, interconnected, and holistic.

Restorative Justice Responses to Sexual Violence: Perspectives and Experiences of Participating Persons Responsible and Persons Harmed

ABSTRACT The failings of mainstream Western criminal justice systems in dealing with sexual violence cases, including the potential revictimization and retraumatization, are well established. Accordingly, demand has grown for alternative justice mechanisms. Project Restore NZ is funded by the New Zealand government to facilitate specialist restorative justice processes for sexual violence cases in Aotearoa New Zealand. Referrals come both from the community and from the New Zealand criminal justice system. This research investigated the experiences and perspectives of both persons harmed and persons responsible who undertook a restorative justice process through Project Restore. A survey was made available to participants between 2016 and 2019 and was completed by 37 persons harmed and 28 persons responsible. Comprising both multi-choice quantitative and open-ended qualitative questions, the survey explored the preparatory stage, motivations, and outcomes of the restorative justice process, as well as the emotional and practical experiences of the process itself. Although there is some variation in responses, the findings indicate that a majority of both persons harmed and persons responsible generally had positive perspectives on and experiences of the restorative justice processes offered by Project Restore.

An evaluation of the quality, suitability and impact on equity of clinical practice guidelines relevant to preterm birth for use in Aotearoa New Zealand

BackgroundPreterm birth is a leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality and a defining event for pregnant people, infants, and whānau (extended families). Recommendations have been made for a national preterm birth prevention initiative focusing on equity in Aotearoa New Zealand, including the development of a national best practice guide. An understanding of the number and quality of guidelines, and consideration of their suitability and impact on equity is required.MethodsGuidelines were identified through a systematic literature search, search of professional bodies websites, and invitation to regional health services in Aotearoa New Zealand. Obstetric and midwifery clinical directors were invited to report on guideline use. Identified guidelines were appraised by a 23-member trans-disciplinary Review Panel; quantitatively using the AGREE-II instrument and qualitatively using modified ADAPTE questions. The quality of guidelines available but not in use was compared against those in current use, and by health services by level of maternity and neonatal care. Major themes affecting implementation and impact on equity were identified using Braun and Clarke methodology.ResultsA total of 235 guidelines were included for appraisal. Guidelines available but not in use by regional health services scored higher in quality than guidelines in current use (median domain score Rigour and Development 47.5 versus 18.8, p < 0.001, median domain score Overall Assessment 62.5 versus 44.4, p < 0.001). Guidelines in use by regional health services with tertiary maternity and neonatal services had higher median AGREE II scores in several domains, than those with secondary level services (median domain score Overall Assessment 50.0 versus 37.5, p < 0.001). Groups identified by the Review Panel as experiencing the greatest constraints and limitations to guideline implementation were rural, provincial, low socioeconomic, Māori, and Pacific populations. Identified themes to improve equity included a targeted approach to groups experiencing the least advantage; a culturally considered approach; nationally consistent guidance; and improved funding to support implementation of guideline recommendations.ConclusionsWe have systematically identified and assessed guidelines on preterm birth. High-quality guidelines will inform a national best practice guide for use in Taonga Tuku Iho, a knowledge translation project for equity in preterm birth care and outcomes in Aotearoa.

The use of telepsychiatry during COVID-19 in Aotearoa New Zealand: experiences, learnings and cultural safety

PurposeMany psychiatrists and trainees in Aotearoa New Zealand used telepsychiatry during COVID-19 lockdowns, despite minimal experience and training in the area. Research on a culturally safe telepsychiatry framework is lacking in Aotearoa. This study aims to provide a better understanding of telepsychiatry in the Aotearoa context and identify potential gaps with the current practice, with a focus on exploring telepsychiatry use with Maori, Pacific peoples and Asians.Design/methodology/approachThis qualitative study was guided by the principles of the Kaupapa Maori methodology and the “Give Way Rule” from Pan-Pacific studies, to ensure culturally appropriate analysis and outcomes. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a sample of psychiatrists and trainees recruited from Aotearoa members of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists. The qualitative data were then analysed using general inductive thematic analysis to identify the major themes.FindingsIn total, 18 participants were interviewed. Three key themes were identified: cultural safety such as preparation for a telepsychiatry session, cultural practices and equity issues; clinical practice such as continuity of care, patient selection and limitations; and process of running a telepsychiatry service.Originality/valueThe analysis of the main themes gives both practical ideas for providing a culturally safe telepsychiatry appointment, as well as a wider base for developing a telepsychiatry service that works particularly for Maori, Pacific and Asians mental health users. Issues around resources and expertise in the field are lacking and further frameworks to support infrastructure and training are needed.

A cloud‐based solution for trustless indigenous data sovereignty: Protecting Māori biodiversity management data in Aotearoa New Zealand

AbstractIndigenous peoples should be able to govern data about themselves, their territories, resources, and ways of life, collected by themselves or others. However, the progressive use of cloud computing for the geoweb raises data security and privacy concerns. We propose a complete and trustless approach for indigenous geospatial data sovereignty on the cloud by furnishing security functions at the core—the web browser. Geomasking permits sharing an anonymized dataset with less privileged users, while the original is protected and shared with sovereign data owners via public‐key encryption. The encrypted dataset's hash value is notarized on the blockchain for the verification of its authenticity when on the cloud. The application was designed for the protection of Biodiversity Management Areas stewarded by the Māori people in Aotearoa New Zealand. It enables diversified functions of geospatial data protection compared with previous works focusing on the cloud by solving data‐sharing problems without relying on a third party.

CALDERA: a scientific drilling concept to unravel Connections Among Life, geo-Dynamics and Eruptions in a Rifting Arc caldera, Okataina Volcanic Centre, Aotearoa New Zealand

Abstract. Silicic caldera volcanoes present major volcanic and seismic hazards but also host dynamic hydrothermal and groundwater systems and a rich but largely unexplored subsurface biosphere. Many of these volcanoes are hosted in rift settings. The intricate connections and feedbacks among magmatism, rifting, hydrothermal processes, and the biosphere in these complex systems remain poorly understood, necessitating subsurface joint observations that are only enabled by scientific drilling. The CALDERA (Connections Among Life, geo-Dynamics and Eruptions in a Rifting Arc caldera) project workshop funded by the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP) gathered multi-disciplinary international experts in January 2023 to advance planning of a scientific drilling project within one of these dynamic, rift-hosted calderas, the Okataina Volcanic Centre (OVC), Aotearoa New Zealand. The OVC's high eruption rate, frequent unrest events and earthquake swarms, location in a densely faulted rapidly extending rift, abundant groundwater–geothermal fluid circulations, and diverse surface hot spring microbiota make it an ideal location for exploring a connected geo-hydro-biosphere via scientific drilling and developing a test bed for novel volcano monitoring approaches. Drilling configurations with at least two boreholes (∼ 200 and ∼ 1000–1500 m deep) were favoured to achieve the multi-disciplinary objectives of the CALDERA project. Decadal monitoring including biosphere activity and composition has the potential to evaluate the response of the hydro-bio system to volcano-tectonic activity. In addition to the OVC caldera-scale datasets already available, site surveys will be conducted to select the best drilling locations. The CALDERA project at the OVC would provide, for the first time, an understanding of volcanic–tectonic–hydrological–biological connections in a caldera–rift system and a baseline for global comparisons with other volcanoes, rifts, and hydrothermal systems. CALDERA would serve as an unprecedented model system to understand how and how quickly the subsurface biosphere responds to geologic activities. Discoveries will improve assessment of volcanic and seismic hazards, guide the sustainable management and/or conservation of groundwater and geothermal resources and microbial ecosystems, and provide a forum for interweaving mātauranga Māori and Western knowledge systems.

Multi‐omic analysis reveals genes and proteins integral to bioactivity of Echinochrome A isolated from the waste stream of the sea urchin industry in Aotearoa New Zealand

AbstractEvechinus chloroticus (commonly known as kina) is a sea urchin species endemic to New Zealand. Its roe is a culinary delicacy to the indigenous Māori and a globally exported food product. Echinochrome A (Ech A) is a bioactive compound isolated from the waste product of kina shells and spines; however, the molecular mechanisms of Ech A bioactivity are not well understood, partly due to Ech A never being studied using unbiased genome‐wide analysis. To explore the high‐value pharmaceutical potential of kina food waste, we obtained unbiased functional genomic and proteomic profiles of yeast cells treated with Echinochrome A. Abundance was measured for 4100 proteins every 30 min for four hours using fluorescent microscopy, resulting in the identification of 92 proteins with significant alterations in protein abundance caused by Ech A treatment that were over‐represented with specific changes in DNA replication, repair and RNA binding after 30 min, followed by specific changes in the metabolism of metal ions (specifically iron and copper) from 60–240 min. Further analysis indicated that Ech A chelated iron, and that iron supplementation negated the growth inhibition caused by Ech A. Via a growth‐based genome‐wide analysis of 4800 gene deletion strains, 20 gene deletion strains were sensitive to Ech A in an iron‐dependent manner. These genes were over‐represented in the cellular response to oxidative stress, suggesting that Ech A suppressed growth inhibition caused by oxidative stress. Unexpectedly, genes integral to cardiolipin and inositol phosphate biosynthesis were required for Ech A bioactivity. Overall, these results identify genes, proteins, and cellular processes mediating the bioactivity of Ech A. Moreover, we demonstrate unbiased genomic and proteomic methodology that will be useful for characterizing bioactive compounds in food and food waste.