‘In the distance a light?’ – Contemporary Spanish Civil War Writing in New Zealand

Research into Contemporary Spanish Civil War Writing in New Zealand

The Weapon Beneath the Woodpile: A Tribute to Dick Scott

This article is a tribute to the late Auckland historian Dick Scott, whose 1954 The Story of Parihaka became one of the most influential historical works published in this country. Scott’s other best-known works are left-wing exposés of historical events, such as Would a Good Man Die? Niue Island, New Zealand and the Late Mr Larsen (1993). Others are local histories, including Seven Lives on Salt River (1987), an account of the watery district of Pāhi on the Kaipara Harbour. The remainder are industry or company histories, and particularly histories of New Zealand’s wine industry

Feculent Hovel: Auckland’s First Gaol, 1841–1865

A Marxian analysis of Auckland’s first prison. This story describes how a capitalist framing of punishment came to incrementally constitute the nation’s formalised responses to offending behaviour, while recognizing the fragmented and contested manner in which that process occurred. &nbsp

‘In the distance a light?’ – Contemporary Spanish Civil War Writing in New Zealand

Research into Contemporary Spanish Civil War Writing in New Zealand

Ossian in Aotearoa - 'Ponga and Puhihuia' and the Re-creation of Myth

A discussion of two versions of the Maori myth 'Pong and Puhihuia'. This discussion is used to explore the relationship between story teller and the story

Czar Cullen: Police Commissioner John Cullen and Coercive State Action in Early 20th Century NZ

Given the central and inherently contested role of policing in the modern state, it is striking to note the generally limited historical interest in the place of policing as a factor in the development of New Zealand's civil society. To some extent this can be attributed to the imbalance, noted by British police historian Samuel Palmer, in favour of studies of those challenging authority compared with those enforcing it.1 In this country it may also reflect an historical view of the police, at least since the early 20th century, as generally trustworthy civil servants whose actions are constrained and overseen by the executive arm of government. It is my contending view that certain well known, and lesser known yet still significant, events in our recent history may owe more to the unilateral decisions and actions of the senior police officers in charge than historians have tended to acknowledge. The following study examines the background and career of one of New Zealand's most notable police officers, the first to rise from the lowest rank to the highest position in the national force. John Cullen's career also happened to coincide with the growth of the modern, post-Armed Constabulary, police and it encompassed many of the most significant events of his time, events in which his role was often central and at times decisive. Most importantly for the purposes of the present study, Cullen's style of policing, noticeable throughout his long career but especially marked once he achieved senior rank, ran counter to the overall development of the force in which he served, a development away from overt coercion towards more consensual policing. A longitudinal study of Cullen's career therefore serves to examine that wider development through its darker mirror-image, as the revealing exception to the more accepted rule. The move towards consensual policing, the most important trend within the force from the late 19th century until the mid-1930s, was measurable both in terms of internal discipline and external tactics. By both measures Cullen represented an anomaly, a return to an earlier form of para-military policing marked by rigid and even intimidatory internal discipline, and forceful coercion of targeted social groups in which extreme, even occasionally fatal, violence was considered an acceptable consequence. One question explored by this study is the extent to which Cullen can be held directly responsible for the reactionary trend towards greater police coercion, given that his term as Police Commissioner coincided with such overwhelmingly disruptive and exceptional historical moments as the outbreak of World War One. The most characteristic features of John Cullen's style of policing- an emphasis on physical force, rigid discipline both on and off duty, constant close surveillance of targeted groups and recourse to the use of arms and military or para-military personnel and tactics- were standard practice in the 19th century Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC), in which he was trained and whose officers and attitudes he favoured throughout his career. This study therefore examines in some detail Cullen's early years as an RIC trainee and young Irish constable, for the understanding this period provides of many of his later, at times otherwise startling, policing decisions. The study then deals briefly with Cullen's early years in this country, and in more detail with the most significant episodes in his later career. Some of those latter episodes are among the most prominent in our early-20th century history and have been the subject of various popular and scholarly studies. In those cases I have endeavoured, to a layman's extent, to treat those events from a policing perspective, in the hope of providing a fresh and historically rewarding slant on relatively familiar events

Ploughshares into Swords - Colonial College Graduates in New Zealand

I have no doubt whatever in saying that all this country wants is a few hard-working men with a little capital, as there is plenty of land to be got of good quality and pretty cheap. Most of the very large sheep runs are being cut up into smaller ones … If a fellow is steady and willing to work, I believe this is about the best country to come to. &nbsp

The Effects of Direct Instruction Flashcards and Rewards with Math Facts at School and in the Home: Acquisition and Maintenance

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of Direct Instruction (DI) flashcard procedure, combined with strategies and rewards on multiplication fact accuracy of two elementary school-age students. A single subject replication design across three and four sets of multiplication facts was used to evaluate outcomes. The results indicated improvement in math performance for each participant. Follow-up data indicated maintenance of treatment effects over time. Finally, pre and posttest outcomes found generalization to correct writing of math facts for each participant. The benefits of employing DI flashcards in a resource room or home were discussed

Cell-extracellular matrix interactions regulate neural differentiation of human embryonic stem cells

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Interactions of cells with the extracellular matrix (ECM) are critical for the establishment and maintenance of stem cell self-renewal and differentiation. However, the ECM is a complex mixture of matrix molecules; little is known about the role of ECM components in human embryonic stem cell (hESC) differentiation into neural progenitors and neurons.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A reproducible protocol was used to generate highly homogenous neural progenitors or a mixed population of neural progenitors and neurons from hESCs. This defined adherent culture system allowed us to examine the effect of ECM molecules on neural differentiation of hESCs. hESC-derived differentiating embryoid bodies were plated on Poly-D-Lysine (PDL), PDL/fibronectin, PDL/laminin, type I collagen and Matrigel, and cultured in neural differentiation medium. We found that the five substrates instructed neural progenitors followed by neuronal differentiation to differing degrees. Glia did not appear until 4 weeks later. Neural progenitor and neuronal generation and neurite outgrowth were significantly greater on laminin and laminin-rich Matrigel substrates than on other 3 substrates. Laminin stimulated hESC-derived neural progenitor expansion and neurite outgrowth in a dose-dependent manner. The laminin-induced neural progenitor expansion was partially blocked by the antibody against integrin α6 or β1 subunit.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We defined laminin as a key ECM molecule to enhance neural progenitor generation, expansion and differentiation into neurons from hESCs. The cell-laminin interactions involve α6β1 integrin receptors implicating a possible role of laminin/α6β1 integrin signaling in directed neural differentiation of hESCs. Since laminin acts in concert with other ECM molecules <it>in vivo</it>, evaluating cellular responses to the composition of the ECM is essential to clarify further the role of cell-matrix interactions in neural derivation of hESCs.</p

Sankofa Urbanism: retrieval, resilience, and cultural heritage in cities through time

One frequently cited principle that underlies the current move toward sustainability in urban planning and policy is, “long-term vision, incorporating awareness of the past and looking way into the future.” We name this “Sankofa Urbanism,” from the Ghanaian symbol and proverb that suggests, “it is not wrong to reach back for that which you have forgotten.” Planners and policy-makers have sought to build in cultural heritage as an important feature of “nature-based solutions” for cities. We argue that retrievals from the past in multiple forms can strengthen the integration of biodiversity preservation, community place-making and urban sustainability initiatives. We present a case for broader examination of how the past, along with diverse forms of ancestral environmental knowledge, is deployed to design and realize sustainability plans. We also call for deeper consideration of how urban planning leverages the evidence of archeology and history. The paper features a case study from our work in the Chicago region where heritage-based activities have been developed as solutions to contemporary urban environmental problems