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Recent Submissions

Pratchett and patriarchy: A ‘masculinity studies’ reading of Terry Pratchett’s City Watch series
(The University of Waikato, 2025) Morgan, Kahi; Moffat, Kirstine
Despite gender being a key focus of academic discussion on Discworld, there is minimal scholarly engagement with Pratchett’s masculine spheres. The aim of this thesis is to address the gap in scholarship that discusses Terry Pratchett’s Discworld and apply a ‘masculinity studies’ lens to Discworld. However, this is not an aim easily accomplished. Masculinity presents a theoretical space that is complicated and difficult to navigate. Although ‘masculinity studies’ is no longer a new theoretical lens (having been established for more than 30 years at the time of writing), scholarship that seeks to engage with the complexities of masculinity is frequently ineffective. ‘Masculinity studies’ thrives on decrying patriarchy and critiquing toxic masculinity, but the discipline still struggles to explore more positive readings of masculinity without slipping into conservative rhetoric that calls for a return to more ‘traditional’ modes of masculinity. I embrace the problems of masculinity in all their complexity. This thesis does not shy away from applying the harshest critiques of men in its analysis of the men of Discworld. It takes on the nigh impossible task and attempts to move towards a rhetoric that enables a greater understanding of the tools of transgression available to men that are firmly embedded within the dominant positions of patriarchy. The first half of the thesis will establish the foundational theories of masculinity and gender. It will then draw these frameworks into conversation with the theoretical composition of genre. This marriage between theoretical frames will reveal that Discworld is perfectly situated to identify subversive masculinities, creating a strong foundation for the close readings of Pratchett’s work that follow. Despite Discworld’s relationship to genre, making it the ideal space for subversive masculinities to thrive, previous scholarship has been unable to effectively apply a ‘masculinity studies’ perspective to the series. Before I attempt my own reading of subversive masculinities within Discworld it is necessary to unpack why previous Discworld scholarship has been so ineffective at engaging with masculinity. The second half of this thesis will explore how Samuel Vimes of the City Watch sub-series is able to operate as a subversive masculinity. This will be done in two steps. The first will explore how he is able to deliver a subversive performance of masculinity within his personal life, operating within the genres of fantasy and romance. I will demonstrate that these subversions within his personal life are largely enabled by his cynicism. The second step will be testing the limits and sustainability of his subversions. This investigation will find that Vimes’ role as a policeman comes with a set of obligations to patriarchal systems that inhibit his ability to be subversive. However, he is still able to deliver a subversive performance of gender in marginal situations where the law is in flux.
Assessment practices in work-integrated learning
(2024) Zegwaard, Karsten E.
The purpose of this webinar is to discuss the purpose of assessment in work-integrated learning (WIL), what authentic assessments means and explore examples of high quality assessment in different modalities of WIL.
Defining indigenous trade: A working paper incorporating Māori and indigenous perspectives
(Te Kotahi Research Institute, University of Waikato, 2025-12-10) Niu, Xiaoliang; Mika, Jason; McLellan, Georgia; Cribb, Miriama; Jurado, Tanya; Jorgensen, Eva; Hepi, Suzanne; Ross, Betty; Warriner, Virginia
This working paper is part of a New Zealand Government–funded research project titled ‘Tauhokohoko: Enabling mana motuhake through Indigenous trade’ (Tauhokohoko), which was developed by the University of Waikato and Te Rōpū Taumata Charitable Trust (Te Taumata). The paper was prepared by the Tauhokohoko Research Aim 1.3 team and sets out a working definition of ‘Indigenous trade’. The Tauhokohoko Research Aim 1.3 team acknowledges that the term ‘Indigenous’ can be problematic, since it collectivises the experiences of all Indigenous peoples. The project acknowledges the diverse realities of Indigenous peoples and strives to use the term in an inclusive way. Despite the existence of fraught relations between Indigenous peoples and postcolonial trade practices, Indigenous peoples have always had their own trade practices and relations grounded in Indigenous ways of being, knowing and doing. Within contemporary economies, Indigenous peoples are increasingly turning to international trade to meet their economic, social and cultural aspirations. The Tauhokohoko Research Aim 1.3 team believes that Indigenous trade, when practiced in the right way, can be used as a tool for enhancing Indigenous self-determination and collective wellbeing. This paper outlines a tentative definition of ‘Indigenous trade’ for research purposes and provides grounded examples of Indigenous trade that fit within that tentative definition. The Tauhokohoko project is concerned primarily with the involvement of Indigenous peoples in international trade as a financial activity; however, the tentative definition encompasses financial, non financial, tangible and non-tangible forms of exchange. The paper ends by outlining the key literature that informs the working definition of ‘Indigenous trade’, including perspectives on the origins of international trade and Indigenous trade, international business and entrepreneurship, and Indigenous economies.
Qualitative methods to capture the nuance of realities: My journey to explore their stories, our stories and my own stories
(Asian Qualitative Inquiry Association, 2025) Lee, Jinah
This study reflects on my research journey with qualitative methodologies — specifically narrative inquiry, autoethnography, and duoethnography — as ways to capture the nuanced and complex realities embedded in diverse contexts. Through revisiting four distinct studies, I demonstrate how these approaches offer rich possibilities for novice and early-career researchers seeking to engage deeply with lived experience. My doctoral research employed narrative inquiry to foreground their stories — the lived experiences of participants shaped and expressed through personal narratives. Building upon this foundation, I turned to autoethnography to explore my stories in relation to theirs, acknowledging the entangled nature of researcher and participant narratives and the emergence of our stories. Most recently, duoethnography has enabled collaborative meaning-making, where your stories and my stories intersect, challenge, and evolve together. Across these methodological explorations, I highlight the importance of reflection, reflexivity, retrospection, and iteration as central practices within qualitative inquiry. These elements not only support the construction and co-construction of realities but also foster deeper understanding of complexity and context. By critically positioning ourselves in relation to the stories we study, co-create, and share, researchers can cultivate spaces for ethical engagement, transformative insight, and relational accountability.
Decolonising otherness and sense of belonging: Autoethnography of a Korean woman migrant in Aotearoa New Zealand during the pandemic (2020-2022)
(Asian Qualitative Inquiry Association, 2025) Lee, Jinah
This autoethnography examines my lived experiences as a Korean migrant in Aotearoa New Zealand during the 2020-2022 global pandemic, interwoven with narratives from Asian women migrants in my doctoral research. Through personal and collective storytelling, I explore the intricate interplay between belonging and otherness, a duality that resonates deeply across our shared experiences. Employing a qualitative methodological approach, this study critically engages with decolonising perspectives, neo-racism, and social identity theory to unpack the complexities of ethnic and racial exclusion, cultural hybridity, and the pervasive ‘us and them’ dichotomy amplified by colonial worldviews. The narrative reveals layers of otherness ― manifested in feelings of displacement, experiences of victimisation, and unintentional harm ― while highlighting the profound human need for belonging. The findings reveal nuanced lived realities often overlooked in broader societal discourses. This study contributes to understanding the dynamics of social identity, power relations, and belonging, offering critical insights into how Asian women migrants negotiate their place in a world shaped by ethical and racial divides. It calls for a re-examination of narratives that perpetuate exclusion, advocating for more inclusive frameworks that honour diverse experiences.