Welcome to Research Commons

Research Commons is the University of Waikato's open access research repository, housing research publications and theses produced by the University's staff and students.

Communities in Research Commons

Select a community to browse its collections.

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2

Recent Submissions

Words on Walls: Te reo Māori (loan)words in Aotearoa New Zealand primary school classrooms
(2024) Burnette, Jessie; Calude, Andreea S.; Whaanga, Hēmi
The unique language contact situation within Aotearoa New Zealand has informed a range of studies of the defining and increasingly salient feature of New Zealand English (NZE): the integration of loanwords from the indigenous, donor language, te reo Māori, into the dominant recipient language, English (Hay et al. 2008). As NZE is experiencing a state of great lexical flux, it is important to establish which (loan)words children are regularly exposed to and what social meanings they may be acquiring in relation to these. One relevant domain that can be examined for this purpose is that of the classroom. The classroom is educational in the traditional sense, but also in the developmental sense, in the acquisition of broader social meaning. Previous schoolscape research has highlighted not only the pedagogical importance of these spaces, but their influence in the construction and transmission of language ideologies (Pzymus and Huddleston 2021; Brown 2012). The present study aims to answer two questions: RQ1) Which (loan)words are children regularly exposed to through schoolscapes in Aotearoa (and do these words align with the loanwords identified as frequently appearing in previously collected corpora)? RQ2) What implicit language ideologies does the presentation of loanwords display (e.g. are loanwords presented as ‘flagged’/foreign (Levendis and Calude 2019))? This study brings together quantitative and qualitative analysis methods in an in-depth investigation of nine classrooms within three separate primary schools, and aims to provide a broad and perationalizable framework for conducting LL.
From apathy through anxiety to action: Emotions as motivators for youth climate strike leaders
(Cambridge University Press, 2022) Bright, Maria L.; Eames, Chris W.
The climate strikes of 2019 motivated millions worldwide onto the street and provided a platform for youth voices that demanded global climate action. This article explores the experiences of climate strike leaders in Aotearoa New Zealand questioning the motivational factors behind the youth action. In-depth interviews with 15 climate strike leaders identified emotions that influenced engagement and could motivate action. Climate strike leaders reported experiencing a series of turbulent emotional stages from apathy to action. Their experiences suggest that anxiety and anger are important stages in the emotional journey towards action. Using Boler’s Pedagogy of Discomfort, this paper examines these emotional stages that can disable or enable action. Considering youth perspectives increases our understanding of a suitable climate change educational framework that potentially supports both educators and students on this challenging journey.
Weaving Mātauranga Māori into climate change education with primary school students in New Zealand
(The University of Waikato, 2025) Jackson, Ryan; Eames, Chris W.; Virtue, Katie
This thesis explores the integration of Indigenous knowledge, specifically mātauranga Māori, into climate change education for primary school children in Aotearoa (New Zealand). It engages with pūrākau (verbal narratives that encode knowledge) gifted by the local hapū (Rangitāne sub-tribe) to a kura (school). The study contributes to the growing body of research that addresses a gap in research and teaching practice, which, despite global calls for action, remains inconsistent in teaching at this age level or lacks direct curriculum guidance in Aotearoa. The main question for this study was: In what ways can Rangitāne pūrākau engage and further the understanding of Year five and six ākonga (learners) in learning about climate change within a kura in the lower North Island of Aotearoa? This research used a mix of different research methods to explore this question. A learning intervention wove a pūrākau, climate change concepts and kai (food) together to create a ten-week learning programme. This learning intervention was then implemented by a kaiako (teacher) with a group of 21 Year five and six ākonga. Data were collected using pre- and post-tests to assess what students learned during the learning intervention, a group interview with the ākonga to hear their voices in the study, and an interview with their kaiako to gain insights into how engaged the ākonga were, their opinion on their understandings, and how aspects of the intervention went. Analysis of the findings shows that the use of pūrākau and other forms of mātauranga Māori helped ākonga connect deeply with the material, which contributed positively to their engagement and to them gaining a sound understanding of complex climate change concepts. The research suggests that presenting scientific information through a familiar cultural lens contributed to making the topic less confusing and easier for the ākonga to grasp. This approach not only helped to improve their understanding but also enhanced the mana of ākonga Māori and their connection to the whenua (the land). This research has several main implications. The findings provide evidence that incorporating Indigenous knowledge has wider educational benefits in climate change education, supporting the body of research that states what works well for ākonga Māori works well for all learners. The research also highlighted the importance of the concept of ako, literally meaning ‘to teach and learn,’ as the kaiako showed strength in being able to learn alongside ākonga. The thesis supports the use of Indigenous knowledge systems such as pūrākau alongside Western knowledge systems to develop holistic learning experiences. A recommendation from this thesis is to further explore the development of a climate change education model, relevant to the context of Aotearoa, which would centralise Indigenous knowledge. This could be modelled in the form of a waka hourua (double hulled ocean voyaging canoe) with the tohunga (knowledge holder and expert) on board signifying the use of Indigenous knowledge systems, with narratives such as pūrākau, playing a part in climate change education.
Investigating the data in investor alerting portals
(Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2025-12-09) Nichols, David M; Chew, Chris; Kumar, Vimal
Financial regulators in many jurisdictions publish investor alerts that identify newly identified threats such as imposter websites and unlicensed firms. Many of these lists are aggregated by the International Organization of Securities Commissions. We analyse these alerts to understand if they can be used to create cybersecurity measures to protect consumers. An exploratory study indicates that the dangerous websites identified in the alerts are largely not detected by the safety services in web browsers. The financial security of consumers can be improved through coordination between the financial regulators, browser developers and cybersecurity services. We provide recommendations for improving the effectiveness of investor alerts through better data publication practices.
Exploring the acceptability, appropriateness, and utility of a digital single-session intervention (Project SOLVE-NZ) for adolescent mental health in New Zealand: Interview study among students and teachers
(JMIR Publications Inc., 2026-01-13) Blind, Morgan Taylor; Starkey, Nicola; Bird, Amy; McMillan, Hoana
Background: Globally, we face a significant treatment gap in mental health care, with extensive wait times, exorbitant prices, and concerns about appropriateness for non-Western clients. Digital single-session interventions (SSIs) may offer a promising alternative. SSIs target particular mechanisms that underlie broad-ranging psychopathology, including deficits in problem-solving skills. Objective: Developed in the United States, Project SOLVE is a digital SSI that teaches problem-solving skills to adolescents. This study evaluated the acceptability, appropriateness, and utility of an adapted version, Project SOLVE-NZ, among rangatahi (young people) in Aotearoa New Zealand. Additionally, we evaluated a comparable online activity, Project Success-NZ, as a potential active control condition in a future randomized controlled trial of Project SOLVE-NZ. Methods: A sample of school students and teachers completed Project SOLVE-NZ and Project Success-NZ. Feedback on the interventions was collected through focus groups and semistructured interviews. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: In total, 12 students (aged between 13 and 14 years; female students: n=6, 50%) participated in a focus group, and 8 teachers (teaching experience: mean 8.75, SD 7.96 years; female teachers: n=5, 62.5%) participated in individual interviews. Participants endorsed the sociocultural relevance of Project SOLVE-NZ and Project Success-NZ to rangatahi in Aotearoa New Zealand and viewed all existing adaptations favorably. Participants felt that the interventions would be valuable to a wide range of rangatahi, helping to fill gaps in students’ learning and providing benefits to mental health. Participants also believed that the interventions may be particularly relevant for youths experiencing economic hardship. Interestingly, most participants had no preference for either Project SOLVE-NZ or Project Success-NZ, and they believed that both interventions could provide ongoing support to rangatahi throughout the school year. Teachers provided some suggestions on increasing student engagement with the interventions, namely, through increased cultural and gender representation, visual and literacy aids, whakawhanaungatanga (relationship building), and teacher guidance. Overall, interviews revealed that both interventions were perceived as acceptable, appropriate, and useful for rangatahi in New Zealand and highlighted further adaptations that could be made prior to a randomized controlled trial of Project SOLVE-NZ across schools nationwide. Conclusions: Digital SSIs show promise in addressing the mental health treatment gap for adolescents. Both Project SOLVE-NZ and Project Success-NZ were well-received by students and teachers in Aotearoa New Zealand and may provide benefits to youth mental health. We make the following recommendations for others interested in designing digital SSIs or similar tools for young people: involve rangatahi and relevant stakeholders in the design process, consider how the intervention will be implemented, ensure that the intervention accommodates a range of cognitive abilities, and ensure that the intervention reflects the diversity of rangatahi today.