Keynote address: Is there a distinctive Māori psychology?

Many of the theoretical paradigms that underpin the study of psychology pay marginal attention to culture as a determinant of psychology. While there are some aspects of human experience that are universal, patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving are by no means divorced from specific cultural influence. A challenge for Māori psychologists is to re-examine psychological theory from a Māori perspective. In attempting to identify the psychological distinctiveness underlying a Māori perspective, this paper has introduced marae encounters as a rich source of information within which distinctive psychological characteristics can be identified

Te Tai Tini Transformations 2025

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Are we retaining our Maori talent? : representative youth netballers : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Education at Massey University

A case study research method was employed to address the question of retention for Māori youth netballers. Despite the fact that young Māori are well populated in the junior age groups of representative netball, a decline at the senior representative levels is apparent. This decline was particularly evident during the period of adolescence contributing to the research focus. Exploring the retention factors relative to this group required consideration of these three interrelated domains: education, gifted and talented education, and sport. Previous studies related to Māori Education, Māori in Sport, and Gifted Females led to this research. The findings highlighted three key themes: intrapersonal, interpersonal and structural factors. These factors are underpinned by cultural elements which when amalgamated become critical contributors to retention. As such, this research revealed that there is no single factor that will predictably lead to the fulfillment of retention issues for Māori female youth however several conclusions have been drawn. Firstly that the challenge of balancing multiple, and often, conflicting roles as students, athletes, females and Māori is reflective of racial and gender stereotypes in society. Secondly, that our policies in education and sport need to reflect that 'being Maori' is understood in a broader context encompassing both Māri and non-Māori. In practice, operations which reflect Kaupapa Māori principles will further enhance the participants self efficacy which will lead to improved experiences. Enhancing participants' quality of experiences in education and sport requires a recognition that access as a predecessor to retention greatly impacts on the institution or organizations ability to maintain Māori youth interest levels

The design and relevance of a computerised therapy program for indigenous Māori adolescents.

Background: Depression is a major health issue among Māori indigenous adolescents, yet there has been little investigation into the relevance or effectiveness of psychological treatments for them. Further, consumer views are critical for engagement and adherence to therapy. However, there is little research regarding indigenous communities’ opinions about psychological interventions for depression. Objective: The objective of this study was to conduct semistructured interviews with Māori (indigenous New Zealand) young people (taitamariki) and their families to find out their opinions of a prototype computerized cognitive behavioral therapy (cCBT) program called Smart, Positive, Active, Realistic, X-factor thoughts (SPARX), a free online computer game intended to help young persons with mild to moderate depression, feeling down, stress or anxiety. The program will teach them how to resolve their issues on their own using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy as psychotherapeutic approach. Methods: There were seven focus groups on the subject of the design and cultural relevance of SPARX that were held, with a total of 26 participants (19 taitamarki, 7 parents/caregivers, all Māori). There were five of the groups that were with whānau (family groups) (n=14), one group was with Māori teenage mothers (n=4), and one group was with taitamariki (n=8). The general inductive approach was used to analyze focus group data. Results: SPARX computerized therapy has good face validity and is seen as potentially effective and appealing for Māori people. Cultural relevance was viewed as being important for the engagement of Māori young people with SPARX. Whānau are important for young peoples’ well-being. Participants generated ideas for improving SPARX for Māori and for the inclusion of whānau in its delivery. Conclusions: SPARX computerized therapy had good face validity for indigenous young people and families. In general, Māori participants were positive about the SPARX prototype and considered it both appealing and applicable to them. The results of this study were used to refine SPARX prior to it being delivered to taitamariki and non-Māori young people

Locating whiteness in Western Sydney : theory, pedagogy and identity

University of Technology, Sydney. Faculty of Education.This thesis is a discursive study of whiteness in Western Sydney, focussing on pedagogy and identity. Situated within a feminist and post-structural theoretical framework, the thesis is a contribution to exposing and redressing racialised discourses and racist practices through an investigation of whiteness as structure of authority; and being white as a location of identity, in the socio-political context of Western Sydney Australia. The thesis demonstrates the invisibility of white privilege to white people and, simultaneously, the mutual constitutedness of being white with other locations of identity such as gender, class and race, within the current context of Western Sydney. As a contribution to working against racist discourses and practises, the thesis argues for the importance of working within and across our differences. A central activity of the research lies with its engagement with my pedagogic practice in teaching about whiteness, difference and identity. Further to this, aspects of the thesis research are located within research as pedagogy, designed to engage the research participants in reflecting on whiteness and opening possibilities for new and different understandings about whiteness and being white. A number of different strategies are engaged in undertaking this research. The first of these is to provide an overview of the thesis in relation to the literature on whiteness, the research methodology engaged and my positioning in relation to the research. The second strategy is a documentation and analysis of my pedagogic practice in relation to whiteness and difference and the insights gained over a number of years of teaching and about whiteness, difference and identity with a multitude of students. The third strategy is a close reading of my textual practices in writing about whiteness over the last several years—treating my writing as a case study— identifying the changes in my understandings about whiteness, linking to the emergence of the field of whiteness studies and the difficulties in finding a voice within the field. The fourth strategy is an analysis of discourses of whiteness engaged by the research participants to talk about whiteness and being white, within the context of Western Sydney. In undertaking this analysis of discourses of whiteness in Western Sydney, the research exposes the ways in which the history of Indigenous Australians and their dispossession through invasion and white settlement is written over by whiteness. The thesis points to the importance of acknowledging and exposing the structure of whiteness as authority. Alongside this the thesis locates the complex space between whiteness as authority and being white as a location of identity as a space for working with and against whiteness. Further to this, the thesis demonstrates the value for research of combining pedagogy and writing and research together

Universal Provision, Indigeneity and the Treaty of Waitangi

This article provides an overview of Māori recognition in statutes and the political sphere, and affirms the Treaty of Waitangi's status as a partnership between the indigenous Māori and the Crown rather than a document that puts Māori on the sidelines. The Treaty of Waitangi has a critical part to play in defining the relationship between the Māori and the Crown. It is therefore argued that the challenge is not whether indigeneity should be recognised at all, but rather how to recognise indigeneity while treating all citizens fairly. The author concludes that the Crown must recognise the Treaty relationship, indigeneity, and citizenship in statutes, policies, state programmes and other measures and indicators.&nbsp

Flow Cytometric Analysis of Uveal Melanoma

Uveal melanoma, although a comparatively rare tumour of man, is the commonest malignant tumour of the eye. The tumours can be composed of varying cell types; pure spindle, pure epithelioid and a mixture of spindle and epithelioid cells, with a worse prognosis being associated with the pure epithelioid cells. Fow cytometry is a modem method of studying cell surface marker expression which makes use of fluorescently labelled antibodies specific for these molecules. It gives quantitative analysis of a large number of cells from a substantial section of the sample in a short period of time and allows small changes in fluorescence to be quantified