Zealand Context Research Articles

Diagnosis and management of hypersensitivity pneumonitis in adults: A position statement from the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand.

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is an immune-mediated interstitial lung disease (ILD) relating to specific occupational, environmental or medication exposures. Disease behaviour is influenced by the nature of exposure and the host response, with varying degrees of lung inflammation and fibrosis seen within individuals. The differentiation of HP from other ILDs is important due to distinct causes, pathophysiology, prognosis and management implications. This Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (TSANZ) position statement aims to provide an up-to-date summary of the evidence for clinicians relating to the diagnosis and management of HP in adults, in the Australian and New Zealand context. This document highlights recent relevant findings and gaps in the literature for which further research is required.

‘Harmonise with the rest of the Empire’: Empire’s influence on religious instruction in Australian and New Zealand primary schools, 1880–1962

ABSTRACT This article argues that imperial identities embracing Britishness within Anglo-settler colonies significantly influenced provisions for religious education in Australia and New Zealand primary schools from the late nineteenth to the mid-twentieth centuries, corresponding with James Belich’s chronology of recolonisation. The article begins with an overview of the foundational Education Acts of Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, and New Zealand, each of which included stronger legal provisions for secularity than in other Australian and settler colonial contexts. The article then tracks the enduring campaigns to promote additional religious instruction in classrooms, revealing a common imperial imaginary shared by Protestant settlers within Australian and New Zealand contexts. Proponents drew upon one another’s tactics, including campaigns for referenda, the creation of Bible-in-Schools Leagues, and parliamentary lobbying campaigns. They also drew upon the idea that Britishness necessitated Christianity, though their calls sometimes did not reflect the legislative reality in Great Britain itself. In the mid-twentieth century, the context of the Second World War precipitated a renewed focus on Britishness as a bulwark and protector of the British Empire. When combined with the diffusion of Agreed Syllabuses, this enabled religious instruction advocates to overcome fierce opposition to strengthen systems of religious instruction from 1940 to 1962.

A qualitative study exploring ethnic youth experiences of navigating multiple cultural identities: a case example with African heritage youth living in Aotearoa/New Zealand

ABSTRACT This article discusses the challenges that African heritage youth 1 face as they navigate their African-ness and Kiwi-ness in the Aotearoa/New Zealand context. Data were drawn from a qualitative study guided by participatory action research (PAR) methodology principles exploring the opportunities and challenges these youth face while navigating their multiple cultural identities. The study used research workshops and anonymous qualitative questionnaire surveys to engage with 35 youth from African communities. PAR’s transformative lens, narrative inquiry, and inductive thematic analysis were used to identify the challenges reported in this paper. Findings show that cultural identity confers a sense of personhood and belonging. African heritage youth born or migrated to Aotearoa/New Zealand at a young age have a strong desire to express and authentically live their African-ness, Kiwi-ness, and other cultural identities. However, this is challenged by the personal, community, and societal factors explained in this paper. The findings of this research contribute towards a greater understanding of the threats to well-being linked to cultural identity construction among African youth in Aotearoa. It also makes a methodological contribution, demonstrating a transformative approach to engaging marginalized or minority groups in a research process that validates their experiences and empowers them.

Antecedents of bullying victimisation in adolescents: a fresh look at Aotearoa New Zealand

ABSTRACT Research has consistently demonstrated that the prevalence of school bullying in Aotearoa New Zealand exceeds those observed in other developed countries. Despite the need to understand the risk and protective factors for bullying victimisation, there remains a paucity of research in the New Zealand context. The present study aimed to investigate the risk factors for bullying victimisation by conducting a secondary data analysis on a large and representative sample of 15-year-olds from New Zealand using data collected during the 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment (N = 4137). A multiple regression analysis identified eight risk factors which were significantly associated with at least one form of school bullying. The strongest effects indicated that increased parental support and school belonging were associated with lower victimisation, while classroom disorder and school competitiveness were associated with greater victimisation risk. The implications of these findings for future research are discussed.

Management of Skin Toxicities in Cancer Treatment: An Australian/New Zealand Perspective.

Cancer systemic therapeutics and radiotherapy are often associated with dermatological toxicities that may reduce patients' quality of life and impact their course of cancer treatment. These toxicities cover a wide range of conditions that can be complex to manage with increasing severity. This review provides details on twelve common dermatological toxicities encountered during cancer treatment and offers measures for their prevention and management, particularly in the Australian/New Zealand context where skincare requirements may differ to other regions due to higher cumulative sun damage caused by high ambient ultraviolet (UV) light exposure. Given the frequency of these dermatological toxicities, a proactive phase is envisaged where patients can actively try to prevent skin toxicities.

Defending Primary Victims Who Face Criminal Charges for the Use of Defensive Force against Their Abusive Partners: Attempting to Change ‘Laws’ Practices’

Australian lawyers, scholars and policy makers have grappled for decades with the barriers faced by victim-survivors in successfully raising self-defence in response to criminal charges for the use of force against their abusive partners. In this article we discuss a recent legal innovation developed to address similar barriers in the New Zealand context. The defence in R v Ruddelle was ground-breaking in Australasia in that expert evidence on ‘intimate partner violence entrapment’ was admitted at trial from an expert who was not a psychologist or psychiatrist. The aim was to assist the jury in more accurately understanding the facts for the purposes of determining whether the Indigenous defendant’s defensive force was ‘reasonable’ in self-defence. Similar evidence was provided at sentencing. In this article we assess the gains that were made in taking such an approach at sentencing, as well as the limitations of this strategy at trial in this particular case.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Māori Patients Attending Diabetes Annual Review.

Māori, the indigenous population of New Zealand, represent 17.1% of the country's population (Statistics New Zealand 2021) and are over-represented in all negative indices. In particular, Māori are underprivileged in terms of socioeconomics and health due to the residualeffects of colonization. The global COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, has been one of the most significant public health crises in modern history. Vulnerable populations, such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions, wereand remainat higher risk of severe outcomes. In the New Zealand context and given the health statistics, Māori were identified as a group that was at high risk from COVID-19.Using a mixed method approach, we attempt to identify the reasons why a cohort of New Zealand Māori with type II diabetes mellitus (DM II) and a history of regular attendancefailed their Diabetes Annual Review (DAR) post-COVID-19. Twelve Māori participants were recruited (> 18 years) from a Māori Diabetes database of an urban General Practitioners (GP) Clinic in Northland. A 9-point questionnaire and an unstructured telephone conversation utilizing a Kaupapa Māori (Māori philosophy) approach were utilized, and data were collated. Findings suggest the New Zealand government's COVID-19 vaccine mandates served to exacerbate Māori distrust of health professionals. Trust is the foundation of every successful relationship whether it be business, professional, health, or personal. Health delivery and uptake are based on this foundation. Whatever the reason for the loss of trust in the medical profession, historical colonial trauma, swayed by conspiracy theory, or otherwise, considering this factor should influence the structure and approach of public health initiatives directed toward Indigenous people internationally.

Māori perspectives on sleep and aging

IntroductionSleep is vital for health in older adulthood. Ethnic disparities have been noted with regards to sleep health. However, culturally appropriate approaches to sleep as a broader social experience are lacking.MethodsHere, sleep-related group interviews were conducted in the form of hui (group meetings and discussions) with eleven participants of a health service intervention for older Māori (the Indigenous people of New Zealand) and their whānau (extended family). Notes were collated and analyzed thematically.ResultsFour key themes were constructed that represent the key conversations and ideas. These concerned the conceptualizing of sleep—including appreciation for its somatic role but also the spiritual properties of sleep states; the changing obligations around sleep and wake—including individual and communal time use and changing cultural and familial obligations with advancing age; and the barriers and facilitators for supporting sleep—including the social and spiritual nature of communal sleeping, the schedules and sleep of others, as well as holistic and environmental methods for relaxation. Findings demonstrate the multifaceted nature of sleep and aging among Māori. Culturally relevant interpretations of sleep practices and disturbances were offered and are beyond typical Western models which are predominantly medicalized.DiscussionThis work aids the understanding and representation of sleep as a social and cultural perspective within the New Zealand context. This provides foundations for future participatory research to design culturally appropriate approaches to assessing and supporting sleep health in forms that are meaningful for aging well across cultures.

Uses of science communication and lived experience in intersex advocacy in Australia and New Zealand

AbstractThis study analyses science communication in intersex advocacy, with a focus on the Australian and New Zealand context. The collective lived experience of intersex advocates creates a body of knowledge, which informs their evidence‐based activism. This research uses publicly available documents published by intersex advocacy groups and semi‐structured interviews with intersex advocates to determine their approaches to communication and the engagement strategies they use. The analysis shows that lived experience can be a compelling and convincing tool for science communication and advocacy; however, it can take an emotional and mental toll on advocates.

Clashing epistemologies and contrasting injustice: an Aotearoa/ New Zealand case

How, as researchers, do we recognise and address the implicit biases when engaging across multiple knowledge ecologies. In this paper, we consider the way historical and epistemic justice and injustice plays into our knowledge making when dealing with a specific issue: forest biosecurity. Specifically, we focus on the Aotearoa New Zealand context where knowledge making has been, and still is, dominated by a western paradigm, but where there is increasing discussion on mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) as a valid and valuable form of knowing. Drawing on the experiences of a transdisciplinary research programme that sought to examine the human dimensions of biosecurity aspects of the plant pathogens kauri dieback and myrtle rust, we approach our original question using the theoretical concept of epistemic injustice and draw on our experiences as a way to highlight instances and forms of epistemic injustice in the science-society relationship. We argue that the division of epistemic labour (into fields, disciplines, etc), and the ranking and assigning of relative epistemic credibility based on this division is a fundamental part of the western knowledge ecology which creates the necessary conditions for specific and potent forms of epistemic injustice. We contrast this by discussing how other knowledge ecologies, specifically mātauranga Māori, comfortably engages with a variety of knowledge and knowers and discuss the possibilities other knowledge ecologies offer.

Project-based learning in Australian & New Zealand universities: sustainability and scalability

ABSTRACT Project-based learning promotes the development of graduates who will be prepared for future professional engineering practice. Whilst there is much literature on project-based learning, the long-term viability of project-based learning within the Australian & New Zealand context needs further exploration. There is a need to better understand the sustainability and scalability of project-based learning within a context where class sizes can extend to over 800 students. This paper draws on interview data with current project-based learning unit coordinators and industry collaborators to identify (un)sustainable and (un)scalable practice, as well as consider how current practice can move towards sustainable and scalable practice. Key support mechanisms include: resourcing; workload allocations; the freedom to design project units as required; co-coordination models; and a shared understanding of how to interpret student feedback. These findings highlight the support mechanisms required for successful delivery of project-based learning, and provide guidance for academics and their Learning and Teaching leadership on how best to sustain and grow project-based learning in Australia & New Zealand.

Exploring the relationship between trout fishing and wellbeing: insights from Aotearoa New Zealand trout anglers

ABSTRACT Internationally, there is growing interest in understanding the potential for recreational fishing to enhance the wellbeing of participants. To date, no studies have investigated the potential for recreational trout fishing to influence wellbeing in the Aotearoa New Zealand context. To address this gap, nine semi-structured interviews were conducted with anglers in the local community and explored their understanding of wellbeing and how they percieve trout fishing contributes to their wellbeing. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, analysed thematically, and examined using the Te Whare Tapa Whā model of holistic wellbeing. For trout anglers, wellbeing incorporated mental, physical, spiritual, and relational health. Trout fishing was perceived as enhancing these elements of wellbeing by fostering positive states of being; cultivating connection with self, others, place and nature; allowing for disconnection from stressors; and providing physical exercise. These exploratory findings highlight the potential for trout fishing to enhance all dimensions of holistic wellbeing within the Te Whare Tapa Whā model and a need for further research in this area.

A transdisciplinary approach for assessing connections between soil, food, and people in Aotearoa New Zealand

AbstractWith increasing urbanisation, there is a growing disconnect between soil, food, and people, centred around those relying on Western food production models. This ‘wicked’ problem is challenging sustainable soil use and food insecurity. Knowledge of soils through scientific studies alone are unable to address this problem, and we need to extend the boundaries of soil science for real progress to be made. We present a conceptual framework for understanding the reciprocal connections between soil, food, and people in local food production systems in Aotearoa New Zealand, applying principles and practices from a transdisciplinary research methodology. The resultant Food‐Landscape Networks framework consists of seven factors that support understanding the inherent connections between soil, food, and people. The factors are: soil health, land suitability, climate, productivity, food quality, well‐being, and engagement. These factors have been identified from weaving together mātauraka (the Kāi Tahu mita [dialect] is used in this text, where the ‘ng’ diagraph is replaced with ‘k’, e.g., mātauranga = mātauraka) Māori (Māori knowledge, culture, worldview, and values) and soil science using the He Awa Whiria, Braided Rivers, epistemological framework. Mātauraka Māori guides the traditionally reductionist discipline of soil science into a more holistic space, in an Aotearoa New Zealand context.

Forensic document examination: where to from here?

ABSTRACT In late 2022, the Australia New Zealand Policing Advisory Agency National Institute of Forensic Science (ANZPAA NIFS) Document Specialist Advisory Group (DocSAG) began a capability mapping project with the broad aim to consider, in the Australian and New Zealand context, forensic document examination: where are we now, and where to from here? Our capability mapping project is based largely on the approach used for the 2022 Forensic Capability Mapping – Firearm Examination Project, led by ANZPAA NIFS. A survey was developed and disseminated to capture information addressing key topics: current and emerging risks, improvement areas, current and future capability, and business continuity. This paper outlines the project process and summarizes key findings of the first round of data collection.

Eating Macro-Algae (Seaweed): Understanding Factors Driving New Zealand Consumers' Willingness to Eat and Their Perceived Trust towards Country of Origin.

Macro-algae is an umbrella term for seaweed, which is an important ingredient in many novel food products in New Zealand and other Australasian countries. While attitudes, consumption motivation, knowledge, and socio-demographic consumer profiles have been investigated in specific countries in the region, consumer behavior such as willingness to eat and factors driving this behavior have not yet been explored. Therefore, the present study fills this research gap in a New Zealand context and explores predictors of New Zealand consumers' willingness to eat macro-algae and their perceived trust towards the countries of origin of these products. The symbolic value of food, health importance, food safety concerns, and food fussiness were the factors under investigation. The work builds on an online questionnaire and a sample of 437 consumers mirroring the New Zealand population in terms of gender, age, and annual household income. Data were collected through an opt-in panel provider in November 2023. The data analysis consisted of descriptive statistics and partial least square structural equation modeling. Results show that health importance and food fussiness tendencies are the strongest predictors of willingness to eat and trustworthiness of the two countries of origin. Best practice recommendations for marketing managers in New Zealand food retail are provided.

The Influence of Peers on the Gender Divide Within Secondary Technology Education in Aotearoa, New Zealand

According to New Zealand government statistics, there is a consistent male–female divide within technology education in secondary schools, resulting in an ongoing underrepresentation of male students in fashion and textiles and female students in computer science and resistant materials learning areas. This underrepresentation is concerning as it contradicts the inclusion promoted in the New Zealand Curriculum and may contribute to reduced opportunities for a talented and diverse workforce. A large body of literature is dedicated to the underrepresentation of female students in STEM fields and has predominantly focused on female students in mathematics and science. However, minimal research focuses on the technology curriculum within the Aotearoa New Zealand context. This qualitative exploratory study investigated students’ perceptions of gender-typing and gender stereotypes within technology education and the experiences of students engaged in technology subjects in which they are gender minorities. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews. The findings from the thematic analysis revealed that peers and the need for social connection impacted the experiences of gender minority students in their class and influenced their subject selection.

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.

Recidivism outcomes for young people who have committed a sexual offence and received treatment: A systematic narrative review of studies conducted in Australia and New Zealand

ABSTRACT Young people who have committed a sexual offence present unique and serious challenges to the criminal justice systems of Australia and New Zealand. To understand the current state of existing literature, we systematically collated and critically appraised studies using narrative synthesis, examining the recidivism outcomes of young people who have committed a sexual offence and received treatment. Eight studies were identified utilising a sample of 1528 young people. Recidivism was higher among participants who did not complete treatment, compared to those who completed treatment, but highest in those who commenced but subsequently “dropped out”. Our findings highlight a need for more Australian and New Zealand research addressing the recidivism rates post-treatment. More specifically, three future research directives are identified: the need for methodologically strong research, identification of recidivism outcomes for Indigenous young people, and the need for qualitative research to explore the profiles of young people who terminate treatment. PRACTICE IMPACT STATEMENT Our findings identified gaps in three key areas in current research within the Australian and New Zealand context: (1) a need for more methodologically strong evaluative research, (2) identification of recidivism outcomes for Indigenous young people, and (3) qualitative research to explore the profiles of young people who terminate treatment to compliment current research findings.

Adapting Intake24 for Aotearoa - New Zealand

National nutrition surveys play a pivotal role in shaping public health policies and programmes by providing valuable insights into dietary intake and the nutritional wellbeing of a population. A team from the University of Auckland and Massey University worked alongside the Ministry of Health and the Ministry for Primary Industries to develop the methods and tools for a future New Zealand Nutrition Survey. Throughout these developmental stages, we partnered and engaged with Māori as tangata whenua, and other key ethnic groups in Aotearoa - New Zealand, ensuring that their unique dietary practices and preferences were accurately captured. This presentation centres on the adaptation of Intake24, an innovative web-based 24-hour dietary recall tool, to optimize dietary data collection within the New Zealand context. The adaptation process involved several key steps including rationalisation of a New Zealand-specific food list, incorporating cultural dishes, adding new portion size estimation aids, and further customisation of the user interface(1). We provide new insights into the user experience and the tool’s functionality, sharing findings from field testing and valuable user feedback. This approach ensures collection of dietary data that is truly representative of the New Zealand population and acknowledges the rich diversity and dietary nuances within the country. As such, this adapted New Zealand version of Intake24 could serve as an essential tool for use in a future National Nutrition Survey or other research initiatives to collect accurate, culturally sensitive, and actionable nutrition data providing evidence to inform future public health programmes and policies.

Comparison of injury severity scores derived from ICD-10-AM codes with trauma registry derived scores: A study from New Zealand

IntroductionVarious attempts at automation have been made to reduce the administrative burden of manually assigning Abbreviated Injury Severity (AIS) codes to derive Injury Severity Scores (ISS) in trauma registry data. The accuracy of the resulting measures remains unclear, especially in the New Zealand (NZ) context. The aim of this study was to compare ISS derived from hospital discharge International Classification of Diseases Australian Modification (ICD-10-AM) codes with ISS recorded in the NZ Trauma Registry (NZTR). MethodsIndividuals admitted to hospital and enrolled in the NZTR between 1 December 2016 and 30 November 2018 were included. ISS were calculated using a modified ICD to AIS mapping tool. The agreement between both methods for raw scores was assessed by the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC), and for categorical scores the Kappa and weighted Kappa index were used. Analysis was conducted by gender, age, ethnicity, and mechanism of injury. Results3,156 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The ICC for agreement between the methods was poor (0.40, 95 % CI: 0.37–0.43). The Kappa index indicated slight agreement between both methods when using a cut-off value of 12 (0.06; 95 % CI: 0.01–0.12) and 15 (0.13 6; 95 % CI: 0.09–0.17). ConclusionAlthough the overall agreement between NZTR-ISS and ICD-ISS was slight, ICD-derived scores may be useful to describe injury patterns and for body region-specific estimations when manually coded ISS are not available.