New Zealand Context Research Articles

Regenerative management effects on pasture production: initial data from a dryland farmlet experiment

Regenerative agriculture (RA) is becoming more widely recognised in New Zealand (NZ) agriculture. It is claimed to increase productivity and improve landscape function. However, in an NZ context, there is a lack of quantifiable data in terms of productivity. To determine the feasibility of RA in terms of DM production, the total yield and botanical composition of two 4x4 Latin squares were measured. The four treatments were high and low fertility conventional (HC and LC) and high and low fertility regenerative (HR and LR). The R pastures were sown in a 12-species pasture mix and the C pastures were sown in Medicago sativa (lucerne). This paper focuses on the first 18 months of this experiment on Latin squares one and two. In the first season (June 2022 – June 2023), total yield was lower for regenerative (R) than conventional (C) treatments at an average of 8,660 and 10,380 kg DM/ha, respectively. This trend was reflected by growth rates where C had a higher mean growth rate of 34 compared to 30 kg DM/ha/day in the R treatment. Over the entire 18-month period weeds comprised 7% of yield for L compared with 14% for H. The average legume yield of both systems of the L pasture was 11 t DM/ha compared to the H treatments at only 9 t DM/ha. The results of this experiment will provide quantifiable data for farmers to make informed decisions about the implementation of RA.

A self-assessment maturity matrix to support large-scale change using collaborative networks in the New Zealand health system

BackgroundA maturity matrix can be a useful tool for organisations implementing large-system transformation (LST) initiatives in complex systems. Insights from implementation of a local LST initiative using collaborative networks, known as Alliances, highlighted a tool was needed to help health system leaders prompt discussions on how and where to focus their change efforts. In the New Zealand (NZ) health system, Alliances were introduced to integrate the planning and delivery of health care between primary and hospital care.MethodsThe aim of this research was to use insights from Alliance members to develop a learning tool that collaborative networks could use to assess and improve their readiness for change. We constructed a maturity matrix using the knowledge of senior NZ health system leaders, in a workshop setting. The maturity matrix was empirically tested and refined with three Alliances and with feedback from the NZ Ministry of Health Māori Health Strategy and Policy team.ResultsThe maturity matrix described the 10 key elements that had been found to support successful implementation of LST initiatives in the NZ health system, along with success indicators and different stages of maturity from beginning to excellence. Testing of the maturity matrix with three Alliances suggested that it functioned as a learning tool and stimulated collective thinking and reflection. The Māori Health Strategy and Policy team commented on the importance of such a tool to increase health system leaders’ responsiveness to improving Māori health outcomes. Comparisons with similar international matrices revealed common elements with ours. A strength of our maturity matrix is that it is specific to the NZ context and is the first practical tool to implement large-scale change in the health system that incorporates principles of the Government’s treaty with Māori, the indigenous people of NZ.ConclusionsThrough a regular self-assessment process, use of the maturity matrix may create feedback loops to support deliberate learning and knowledge sharing for senior health system leaders and collaborative networks. The maturity matrix fills an important gap in the NZ health system and contributes to implementation science literature internationally.OtherThis study was approved by the Victoria University of Wellington Human Ethics Committee (Ethics Approval Number 27,356). The research was supported by the Victoria University of Wellington research grant (222,809) and from the University of Auckland Department of Medicine research fund (H10779).

Adapting an equity-focused implementation process framework with a focus on ethnic health inequities in the Aotearoa New Zealand context

BackgroundHealth intervention implementation in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ), as in many countries globally, usually varies by ethnicity. Māori (the Indigenous peoples of Aotearoa) and Pacific peoples are less likely to receive interventions than other ethnic groups, despite experiencing persistent health inequities. This study aimed to develop an equity-focused implementation framework, appropriate for the Aotearoa NZ context, to support the planning and delivery of equitable implementation pathways for health interventions, with the intention of achieving equitable outcomes for Māori, as well as people originating from the Pacific Islands.MethodsA scoping review of the literature to identify existing equity-focused implementation theories, models and frameworks was undertaken. One of these, the Equity-based framework for Implementation Research (EquIR), was selected for adaptation. The adaptation process was undertaken in collaboration with the project’s Māori and consumer advisory groups and informed by the expertise of local health equity researchers and stakeholders, as well as the international implementation science literature.ResultsThe adapted framework’s foundation is the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi (the written agreement between Māori rangatira (chiefs) and the British Crown), and its focus is whānau (extended family)-centred implementation that meets the health and wellbeing aspirations, priorities and needs of whānau. The implementation pathway comprises four main steps: implementation planning, pathway design, monitoring, and outcomes and evaluation, all with an equity focus. The pathway is underpinned by the core constructs of equitable implementation in Aotearoa NZ: collaborative design, anti-racism, Māori and priority population expertise, cultural safety and values-based. Additionally, the contextual factors impacting implementation, i.e. the social, economic, commercial and political determinants of health, are included.ConclusionsThe framework presented in this study is the first equity-focused process-type implementation framework to be adapted for the Aotearoa NZ context. This framework is intended to support and facilitate equity-focused implementation research and health intervention implementation by mainstream health services.

He Aroka Urutā. Rural health provider perspectives of the COVID-19 vaccination rollout in rural Aotearoa New Zealand with a focus on Māori and Pasifika communities: a qualitative study.

Introduction From a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic perspective, Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) rural residents formed an at-risk population, and disparities between rural and urban COVID-19 vaccination coverage have been found. Aim To gain insight into factors contributing to the urban-rural COVID-19 vaccination disparity by exploring NZ rural health providers' experiences of the vaccine rollout and pandemic response in rural Māori and Pasifika communities. Methods Rural health providers at four sites participated in individual or focus group semi-structured interviews exploring their views of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. Thematic analysis was undertaken using a framework-guided rapid analysis method. Results Twenty interviews with 42 participants were conducted. Five themes were identified: Pre COVID-19 rural situation, fragile yet resilient; Centrally imposed structures, policies and solutions - urban-centric and Pakehā focused; Multiple logistical challenges - poor/no consideration of rural context in planning stages resulting in wasted resource and time; Taking ownership - rural providers found geographically tailored, culturally anchored and locally driven solutions; Future directions - sustained investment in rural health services, including funding long-term integrated (rather than 'by activity') health services, would ensure success in future vaccine rollouts and other health initiatives for rural communities. Discussion In providing rural health provider perspectives from rural areas serving Māori and Pasifika communities during the NZ COVID-19 vaccine rollout, the importance of the rural context is highlighted. Findings provide a platform on which to build further research regarding models of rural health care to ensure services are designed for rural NZ contexts and capable of meeting the needs of diverse rural communities.

Development of an Aotearoa New Zealand adapted Mediterranean dietary pattern and Kai/food basket for the He Rourou Whai Painga randomised controlled trial.

Following a Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. He Rourou Whai Painga is a dietary intervention trial with behaviour change support that seeks to determine whether a MedDiet pattern can provide equivalent benefits in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ), a country where cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death. To do this, the MedDiet needs to be adapted in an acceptable way for NZ, with consideration of the Māori (indigenous) population. The MedDiet was defined using existing MedDiet scoring tools and adapted to the NZ context using local guidelines. The resulting NZ MedDiet pattern was used to develop a kai/food basket, including products from industry partners, for participants in He Rourou Whai Painga. Criteria set for the kai/food basket included providing up to 75% of energy requirements and falling within the Australia/NZ Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range to reduce risk of chronic disease. Māori researchers on the team provided support to ensure Mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge and values) was upheld through this process. The NZ MedDiet pattern criteria was similar to the identified MedDiet scoring tools, with differences in recommendations for dairy, red meat, alcohol and olive oil. The resulting kai/food baskets were estimated to provide on average 73.5% of energy requirements for households, with 36% from fat, 8.6% from saturated fat, 17% protein, and 42% carbohydrate. Forty-two industry partners, including 3 Māori businesses, agreed to provide 22 types of food products towards the total. Small, feasible changes to the MedDiet can be made to align with the NZ guidelines and food environment. However, this eating pattern still differs from what the population, particularly Māori, are currently consuming. Continued partnership with Māori and additional behavioural support is important to facilitate adherence to this dietary pattern within He Rourou Whai Painga.Trial registration: https://www.anzctr.org.au/Default.aspx, identifier ACTRN12622000906752 and https://www.isrctn.com/, identifier ISRCTN89011056.

Evaluation of Empirical Ground-Motion Models for the 2022 New Zealand National Seismic Hazard Model Revision

ABSTRACT This article presents an evaluation of empirical ground-motion models (GMMs) for active shallow crustal, subduction interface, and subduction slab earthquakes using a recently developed New Zealand (NZ) ground-motion database for the 2022 New Zealand National Seismic Hazard Model revision. This study considers both NZ-specific and global models, which require evaluation to inform of their applicability in an NZ context. A quantitative comparison between the models is conducted based on intensity measure residuals and a mixed-effects regression framework. The results are subsequently investigated to assess how the models are performing in terms of overall accuracy and precision, as well as to identify the presence of any biases in the model predictions when applied to NZ data. Many models showed reasonable performance and could be considered appropriate for inclusion within suites of models to properly represent ground-motion predictions and epistemic uncertainty. In general, the recent models that are NZ-specific or developed on large international databases performed the best. This evaluation of models helped inform suitable GMMs for the ground-motion characterization model logic tree. In addition, spatial trends in systematic site-to-site residuals to the west of the Taupō Volcanic Zone demonstrated the need for backarc attenuation modifications for slab earthquakes.

Health outcomes of children in state care in Aotearoa New Zealand.

This study aims to provide an overview of the association between being in the custody of the chief executive of Oranga Tamariki (the child welfare agency of the New Zealand (NZ) government) and all-cause hospitalisation and mortality. This was a national retrospective cohort study using linked administrative data from the Integrated Data Infrastructure. Data were obtained for all 0-17 year-olds living in NZ on 31 December 2013. In-care status was ascertained at this point. Outcomes of all-cause hospitalisation and all-cause mortality were assessed between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2018. Adjusted models incorporated age, sex, ethnicity, level of socioeconomic deprivation and rural/urban status. There were 4650 in-care children and 1 009 377 not-in-care children in NZ on 31 December 2013. Of those in care, 54% were male, 42% lived in the most deprived areas and 63% identified as Māori. Adjusted models showed that in-care children were 1.32 (95% CI 1.27-1.38) times more likely to be hospitalised than not-in-care children and 3.64 (95% CI 2.47-5.40) times more likely to die. This cohort study highlights that the care and protection system prior to 2018 was not preventing children in its care from experiencing severe adverse outcomes. Overseas research has previously been relied on when making practice and policy decisions around child care and protection in NZ, so this research will provide valuable insight into best practice in an NZ context.

New Zealand experience with implementation of the ESO-ESMO consensus guidelines for advanced breast cancer-report of achievements and lessons learned

BackgroundPeople with advanced breast cancer (ABC) in New Zealand (NZ) have a poorer five-year survival than their peers in other developed countries. Comparisons of ABC care in NZ with other countries suggest that NZ is sometimes out of line with international standards and that inequities exist within the NZ healthcare system. Our aim was to develop nationwide consensus guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of ABC that are uniquely suited for the NZ context and can be applied across the nation. We describe the process of creating, voting on, and disseminating the guidelines, and provide insight into how we can better optimize these processes for the NZ context in the future. MethodsThe ABC5 ESO-ESMO consensus guidelines were used and adapted to the NZ clinical context. A panel of breast cancer clinicians voted on these guidelines using the same model of membership representation as ABC5. OutcomeOverall consensus was equally high between ABC5 and ABC-NZ. Four NZ specific guidelines were introduced. The European-style panel discussion needs some adaptations for the NZ situation and a wider and more thorough consultation process, before voting begins, is preferred. The NZ Breast Special Interest Group has endorsed and agreed to take ownership of these and future guidelines and to facilitate the next iteration of the ABC-NZ guidelines meeting. ConclusionsThe process was successful in creating the guidelines but can be improved in future meetings to streamline the process of creating and updating guidelines in the manner most suited to the NZ context and audience.

Climate change and New Zealand’s groundwater resources: A methodology to support adaptation

Study regionHawke’s Bay and Otago regions, North and South Islands, New Zealand (NZ). Study focusEvidence that climate change affects groundwater is emerging, but a complete understanding of the processes and impacts on the resources remains limited in most countries, including NZ. This paper presents a methodology to explore the potential effects of climate change on groundwater for an envelope of future climate scenarios (i.e., low and high greenhouse gas emissions; mid- and end-century). The methodology uses national and sub-national datasets and models and is applied to two case studies (Hawke’s Bay and Otago). Its structure allows for future implementation in other NZ regions. New hydrological insights for the regionResults are provided as projected changes in precipitation minus evapotranspiration, rainfall recharge to groundwater (RR) and water table elevation. General water quantity reductions are projected for Hawke's Bay (e.g., RR reduced by up to −1.5 mm/d), and more limited and variable changes for Otago (e.g., RR varying between +/- 0.4 mm/d).We then present a discussion about furthering the science of climate change effects on groundwater, characterisation of climate change uncertainty and unique effects, and adaptation in the NZ context. We anticipate that our results, despite limitations and uncertainty, can enable adaptation actions without delay. We recommend integrated and adaptive approaches, including action effectiveness monitoring and community engagement, to develop resilience to climate change threats.

Men’s Health Research in New Zealand: A Scoping Review

Background: Globally, there has been a growing awareness of the health challenges faced by men. The current public health agenda in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) does not specifically address the needs of men. The aim of this scoping review was to capture the major health issues facing men in NZ and particularly to identify the knowledge gaps in the understanding of men’s health within the NZ context. This was achieved by presenting key data on their health status and systematically mapping research in NZ related to men’s health; international data are also referenced for context as relevant. Method: A search and screening of the literature were conducted using Ovid, Web of Science and Scopus databases from January 1996 to July 2021, with advice from a medical librarian. Search terms included “men’s/male’s health” and “men’s/male’s health NZ.” An environmental scan of international literature was also carried out and information from the Ministry of Health and Statistics NZ was obtained to provide context of the status of research on men’s health in NZ. Main Findings: In keeping with international literature, the major health issues for men in NZ are life-limiting diseases including cancer and cardiovascular disease, the spread of overweight and obesity, issues with masculinity and help-seeking behaviours, unhealthy lifestyles, mental health issues and poor health literacy. The main areas of research related to men’s health from the NZ literature were highlighted. Discussion: Men’s health remains an under-recognised issue in NZ. If we are to address current inequities in health for men, clinicians, researchers and relevant agencies need to pay more attention to men’s health issues and take up the challenge to highlight and promote men’s health status in NZ.

Proactively providing contraception to New Zealand adolescents.

High adolescent pregnancy rates in New Zealand (NZ) are influenced by limited access to contraception. In this paper, we discuss using a proactive contraception provision (PCP) model to overcome barriers that prevent effective contraceptive uptake. After outlining steps taken to assess acceptability of PCP in NZ, we cover three issues to consider with PCP: the range of contraceptives that should be offered, the age range that should be approached, and finally whether to include adolescents without uteruses. We conclude that PCP is an approach worth considering in the NZ context and should be piloted to assess feasibility and effectiveness.

Describing patterns of early literacy skill development in the first year of school and reading instruction in a New Zealand sample.

This study describes trajectories of early literacy skill development of 99 children (n = 55 boys) in their first year of primary school in New Zealand (NZ). Children were assessed twice weekly for 8 weeks on Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS; Good & Kaminski, 2011) First Sound Fluency (FSF) and AIMSweb Letter Sound Fluency (LSF; Shinn & Shinn, 2002), with other early literacy and beginning reading skills assessed before and after progress monitoring. FSF and LSF growth trajectories were modeled separately. Multilevel modeling indicated improved performance; however, growth mixture modeling indicated 3 growth trajectories (i.e., latent classes; FSF and LSF, respectively): typical (77.6% of children, 65.7%), developing (10.8%, 14.6%), and limited progress (11.6%, 19.7%). Beginning of year screening was sometimes associated with latent class membership, whereas latent class membership differentiated mid- and year-end literacy skills. Results support progress monitoring of early literacy skills within the NZ context to aid earlier identification of children at-risk for difficulties with reading acquisition. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

In the shadow of exclusion: the state of New Zealand Asian health

New Zealand (NZ) Asians have a long history in Aotearoa dating back to the 19th century, with especially pronounced increases in migration over the past few decades. This ethnic category is an exceptionally broad term, which incorporates individuals with ancestry covering an immense geographical and cultural range, with completely different languages, migration narratives, and experiences of discrimination. There can be a naive assumption that a diverse workforce composition is all that is necessary for ensuring the needs of ethnic and cultural groups are accounted for. Without making a concerted effort to examine the statistics and the communities they aim to represent, we cannot assume our healthcare policies are actually effective for those populations. Asians are often excluded from further analysis, and there is a complete lack of Asian health teaching within the medical curriculums. Too often, policies barely reference Asians apart from tokenistic references to their demographic presence and above-average headline statistics. Owing to the broadness of this topic, the focus will be on Aotearoa-specific research. For the purposes of this article, all references to ethnicity are within the NZ context. With all the benefits conferred by a multicultural country, equally the responsibilities inherent in diversity must be addressed openly.

Exploring the factors of achieving supply chain excellence: a New Zealand perspective

The objective of the paper is to analyse supply chain (SC) excellence from the practitioners’ perspective in the New Zealand (NZ) context. The extant literature does not focus on achieving this excellence with the contemporary factors of this dynamic field. The study is an exploratory one using the structured Delphi technique to understand the ground level experience of the practitioners on the constructs of supply chain excellence. In this paper, we have administered three poll rounds to gather insights from the SC practitioners on the various enablers and barriers that impact supply chain excellence in the NZ environment. Seven supply chain management constructs are explored for their relationships with barriers and enablers in achieving the excellence in supply chains. The outcomes reveal that the people relevant issues (i.e. SCM knowledge education and supply chain culture) are more significant than other technical and operational factors. However, the influences from specific NZ business environment issues become far less important than a few years ago. This paper seeks the integration of practice-based views with the academic supply chain literature and original contributions from the NZ context.

SCM competencies in construction: issues and challenges in New Zealand

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to understand the nature and extent of current practice of construction supply chain management (CSCM) in the New Zealand (NZ) construction industry; consequently, to examine the challenges and issues that the industry is confronted in implementing an efficient CSCM. The construction industry, which contributes around 5 per cent to gross domestic product, is a vitally important industry in NZ. With over 50,000 businesses, the construction industry is the third largest industry by business count in NZ’s economy (Statistics New Zealand, 2009). Although it is widely accepted that productivity can be improved by adoption of effective supply chain management (SCM), no studies have investigated this at the tactical level in the NZ context. Design/methodology/approach – A case study approach is used for probing SCM practice on a NZ$75-million commercial project located in Auckland Central Business District. The supply chain network of the principal ground works and superstructure construction stages was studied. Findings – The key findings of the case study suggest that the flow of materials remains the main focus of CSCM practice. It was found that essential skills training for CSCM was extremely limited and largely ill-defined in terms of its nature and content. Finally, it was identified that as the NZ construction industry moves towards a significantly more collaborative framework, the efficacy of CSCM operations is expected to substantially improve. However, this last point did not negate the requirement to expand and improve skills training in CSCM. Originality/value – The results of the case study present that our best industry proponents are inadequate in their knowledge of CSCM as a result of education and training. This is a key issue that needs to be addressed through education at all levels. Similarly, they have virtually nil capability with logistics and the efficiency of transportation as a result of standard contractual costing procedures. Until the SCM/logistics knowledge gap is recognised and addressed, the improvements in logistics and, therefore, SCM will not occur in the NZ construction industry. That said, the findings related to partnering and collaborative thinking in NZ are encouraging. NZ has these elements largely in place already and a willingness to engage, particularly in alliances, in the future. It remains to be seen whether there will be sufficient energy expended in NZ by the leading players to create effective partnering and alliancing through improving SCM and logistics competencies.

Developing the design of a continuous national health survey for New Zealand

BackgroundA continuously operating survey can yield advantages in survey management, field operations, and the provision of timely information for policymakers and researchers. We describe the key features of the sample design of the New Zealand (NZ) Health Survey, which has been conducted on a continuous basis since mid-2011, and compare to a number of other national population health surveys.MethodsA number of strategies to improve the NZ Health Survey are described: implementation of a targeted dual-frame sample design for better Māori, Pacific, and Asian statistics; movement from periodic to continuous operation; use of core questions with rotating topic modules to improve flexibility in survey content; and opportunities for ongoing improvements and efficiencies, including linkage to administrative datasets.Results and discussionThe use of disproportionate area sampling and a dual frame design resulted in reductions of approximately 19%, 26%, and 4% to variances of Māori, Pacific and Asian statistics respectively, but at the cost of a 17% increase to all-ethnicity variances. These were broadly in line with the survey’s priorities. Respondents provided a high degree of cooperation in the first year, with an adult response rate of 79% and consent rates for data linkage above 90%.ConclusionsA combination of strategies tailored to local conditions gives the best results for national health surveys. In the NZ context, data from the NZ Census of Population and Dwellings and the Electoral Roll can be used to improve the sample design. A continuously operating survey provides both administrative and statistical advantages.

Beliefs of New Zealand Doctors About Integrative Medicine for Cancer Treatment

AIMS. This study aimed to give an up-to-date description of the views and knowledge that health professionals in New Zealand (NZ) have about complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and its use in the context of integrative medicine. A self-administered questionnaire. Doctors in the Otago region of New Zealand (n = 235 out of 395, 59% response rate) answered questions addressing attitudes toward the principle of integrative medicine, attitudes indigenous Ma-ori holistic views of health, and attitudes about CAM. Information on physician demographics was also gathered. Almost all doctors (95%) agreed that they should address all aspects of a patient's health, whereas around 60% agreed that CAM can be integrated into a treatment regime to provide the best care for a patient. Most (93%) agreed that in a NZ context, it is important to be aware of Ma-ori holistic views of health. Doctors had many concerns about CAM, and only 26% personally used any CAM therapies themselves. However, many doctors wanted to learn more about CAM (58%) and Ma-ori holistic views of health (62%). Doctors who believed that they "knew enough" about CAM were more likely to ask about it and to recommend it to patients. Integrative medicine is increasingly being accepted in medical practice, although many doctors still do not agree with the use of CAM. There is a need for increased patient-doctor discussions of CAM use. Doctors' lack of knowledge about CAM may be a barrier to communication and should be addressed with specific medical training.

Assessing patient safety culture in New Zealand primary care: a pilot study using a modified Manchester Patient Safety Framework in Dunedin general practices

Patient safety is a major concern, both in hospitals and in primary care settings. The current focus internationally is on the prospect of improving patient safety through cultural transformation. There are no tools designed to assess and strengthen safety culture in New Zealand (NZ) general practices, but a United Kingdom (UK) group have developed a tool--the Manchester Patient Safety Framework (MaPSaF)--to assess safety culture in UK Primary Care Trusts. We aimed to modify the MaPSaF and test its acceptability and utility in the NZ primary care setting. We modified the MaPSaF to suit the NZ context and then used it in 12 Dunedin general practices at baseline and at three months. Participants were all practice personnel present in the practice on the day. Participants rated their practice individually on each of the nine MaPSaF dimensions of safety culture, then discussed the dimensions and their scores and chose a practice-wide consensus score for each dimension in turn. These discussions were recorded, transcribed and analysed to determine acceptability and utility of the modified framework in NZ practices. The framework process took about one hour. Most participants found the process acceptable and useful. The framework directed team discussion about patient safety issues and facilitated communication and prompted some practices to make changes. Some participants from smaller practices deemed the systems advocated in the framework superfluous. The framework can be adapted and used in NZ practices to stimulate learning about safety culture and to facilitate team communication.

Enterprise Systems Maturity: A Practitioners ' Perspective

Organizations continue to adopt enterprise systems (ES) technology to reduce costs and improve processes with the aim of achieving business benefits. The purpose of this study is to examine the utilization of ES technology and its information by New Zealand (NZ) organizations and their ability to derive benefits. The study does so by exploring (a) how ES data are transformed into knowledge, (b) how this knowledge is utilized to achieve benefits within NZ organizations, and (c) critical success factors for this process. This study gains insights through a practitioners’ perspective of ES vendors, ES consultants, and IT research firms in a NZ context. Key findings indicate that although many ES implementations in New Zealand are several years old, companies have only recently started tracking benefits through analytical processes to optimize and realize business value from their enterprise systems investment.

Decision-support tools and the indigenous paradigm

Sustainability legislation in New Zealand (NZ) provides an interesting challenge for decision-makers such as planners, architects and engineers. NZ's Action Plan for Sustainable Development requires ‘taking account of the social, economic, environmental and cultural effects of our decisions’. The assessment of sustainability in NZ thus occurs in four dimensions. Internationally, cultural effects are generally considered within the analysis of societal effects. The separate consideration of cultural effects is necessary in NZ to acknowledge the status of the indigenous people, the Tangata Whenua. The requirement for separate consideration of cultural effects was created in NZ's founding document, the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi. Although the addition of a cultural criterion to decisionsupport tools (DSTs) could be considered a viable solution to accommodate the partnership obligations created by the Treaty, the extension of international sustainability DSTs in this way has not worked in practice. The acknowledgement of a specific cultural dimension in the definition of sustainable development seems to accept that NZ's prevalent societal values and beliefs are not representative of its indigenous people. Therefore, in order to incorporate effectively indigenous values and beliefs into sustainability decision-making in NZ, an approach based on indigenous concepts is essential. The indigenous concept of mauri (binding force) has been identified for inclusion in a new DST that provides a culturally consistent measure of sustainability. The NZ context is used to identify and illustrate the requirements of a culturally consistent model for including sustainability in decision-making. A preliminary ranking of the four dimensions of sustainability assessment is presented using an established hierarchy definition process. The result is a methodology for sustainability assessment, developed specifically for the NZ context, but which may also have wider international applications where decision-makers have limited knowledge and understanding of the indigenous people's culture, values and beliefs.