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Surf therapy programs have been successfully utilised with vulnerable populations worldwide. This study is the first to examine the effects of a surf therapy program on the psychosocial functioning of young men at high risk of adverse life outcomes in Aotearoa New Zealand. A single-group pre-test post-test research design, with repeated measures and replication was used. The Youth Outcome Questionnaire Self-Report's Reliable Change Index and clinical cut-off scores were employed to assess outcomes pertaining to each individual. Effect size measures were used to estimate an overall treatment effect. Modified Brinley plots revealed that 25 out of 27 participants demonstrated reliable improvement in psychosocial functioning, 20 of whom also demonstrated clinically significant improvement. The effect size measures also confirmed a large overall treatment effect. Findings suggest that the Tai Watea surf therapy program may be a highly effective intervention for reaching, retaining and improving the psychosocial functioning of high-risk young men.

In Aotearoa New Zealand, the lack of government funding and support for interventions beyond Reading Recovery means that assessment and support for students demonstrating literacy difficulties are primarily left to schools themselves. To meet the needs of students, including those demonstrating difficulties with literacy learning, schools and teachers must have assessments and interventions that can identify and meet the needs of those students. Currently, there is a lack of research on the nature of assessments and interventions used by schools and their confidence in using these to meet the needs of students, including those with literacy learning difficulties. In the current study, we surveyed schools about the types of assessments used to identify literacy difficulties and the interventions provided to students. Results indicated a wide range of assessments and interventions used in schools, but the identified interventions often failed to meet the criteria for intervention (teacher-led, based on specific needs), and assessments were often unlikely to provide information about specific literacy difficulties. Overall, the variability of interventions and assessments indicated a lack of consistency in the identification of students with literacy learning difficulties and, in the interventions, provided to support these students.

Intermediate and high school students spend a large amount of time using mobile devices (Lauricella, Cingel, Blackwell, Wartella, & Conway, 2014), and such devices are increasingly being integrated into our school system. We conducted a series of student-led focus groups, with this early adolescent cohort, in order to better understand their experiences of the recent technological shift. Four main ideas emerged from a thematic analysis of three focus group discussions: restrictions, student-led technology use, bypassing the restrictions, and connectivity as a need. Direct quotes from students and our analysis of these themes suggest that young people should be included, to a much greater extent, in discussions about the evolution of teaching practices in today's digital age. Clear benefits and risks linked to greater use of mobile technologies were evident in our discussions, the implications of which are discussed along with limitations of the current study and proposed future research.

Sleep problems in children with autism spectrum disorder are prevalent and persistent but also treatable. Little is known about how and why parents of such children seek help for sleep disturbance. Via an online survey (n = 244 respondents), we gathered information about parents' attributions about children's sleep problems and beliefs about causes and on sources of information about, and their decisions regarding, help-seeking. Eighty-two percent of parents reported seeking some kind of help for their child's sleep disturbance, and the average parent had tried six different treatment strategies, most commonly medical. Alignment of parents' treatment choices with empirical evidence about treatment efficacy was poor, but belief in effectiveness was closely related to frequency of use of a treatment. In a Principal Components Analysis, parental attributions loaded on two factors: one which suggests the sleep problems are viewed as intrinsic to autism and stable (factor one) and the other as located within the child, stable, and treatment resistant (factor two). These findings have important implications for parental education and clinical practice in the treatment of sleep problems in children with autism spectrum disorder.

The influence of spirituality and religion on the health and well-being of older adults has gained considerable attention as older adults worldwide continue to live long, active lives. This study explores the influence of spirituality and religion on the health and well-being of older Pacific people living in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Using the principles of a Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach and talanoa with 39 Tongan, 42 Cook Island Māori and 23 Samoan elders revealed spirituality is essential to Pacific elders' health and well-being. Participants faith in an omnipotent Christian God and the subsequent influence on their relationships with family and community significantly impacted their experiences of health and well-being. Strong relationships with God, extended family and community enabled Pacific elders to live a harmonious life. Religion and spirituality should be embraced as an integral component of health and social care plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Intrasession reliabilities of isometric knee extension kinetics via portable strain gauge have been reported across several knee joint angles and constraints. However, intersession variabilities, which are more valuable, have yet to be determined. Therefore, we aimed to quantify the intersession variability of knee extension kinetics over 3 testing sessions using an affordable and portable strain gauge. Design: Participants performed maximum voluntary isometric contractions of the knee extensors over 3 sessions. Methods: Eleven (6 men and 5 women; 31 [6.4] y) volunteers performed maximum voluntary isometric contractions in constrained (isokinetic setup with thigh and chest straps) and unconstrained (treatment plinth) conditions. Peak force (PF), peak rate of force development, rate of force development (RFD), and impulse (IMP) from 20% to 80% of PF were assessed. Means, SDs, percentage changes, minimal detectable changes, coefficients of variation (CV), and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were calculated and reported. Results: PF had the lowest intersession variability regardless of condition (CV = 5.5%–13.8%, ICC =.67–.93). However, variability of peak rate of force development (CV [range] = 12.2%–24.7%, ICC =.50–.78), RFD (CV = 10.0%–26.8%, ICC =.48–.84), and IMP (CV = 15.2%–35.4%, ICC =.44–.88) was moderate at best. The constrained condition (CV [SD] = 14.1% [4.8%], ICC =.74 [.08]) had lower variability compared with the plinth (CV = 19.8% [7.9%], ICC =.68 [.15]). Variability improved from sessions 1 to 2 (CV = 20.4% [7.7%], ICC =.64 [.14]) and to sessions 2 to 3 (CV = 15.3% [6.4%], ICC =.76 [.10]). Conclusions: PF can be assessed regardless of setup. However, RFD and IMP changes across sessions should be approached with caution. Backrests and thigh straps improve RFD and IMP variability, and at least 1 familiarization session should be provided before relying on knee-extensor kinetics while utilizing a portable strain gauge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Quality smoking data is crucial for assessing smoking-related health risk and eligibility for interventions related to that risk. Smoking information collected in primary care practices (PCPs) is a major data source; however, little is known about the PCP smoking data quality. This project compared PCP smoking data to that collected in the Māori and Pacific Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) screening programme. Methods: A two stage review was conducted. In Stage 1, data quality was assessed by comparing the PCP smoking data recorded close to AAA screening episodes with the data collected from participants at the AAA screening session. Inter-rater reliability was analysed using Cohen's kappa scores. In Stage 2, an audit of longitudinal smoking status was conducted, of a subset of participants potentially misclassified in Stage 1. Data were compared in three groups: current smoker (smoke at least monthly), ex-smoker (stopped > 1 month ago) and never smoker (smoked < 100 cigarettes in lifetime). Results: Of the 1841 people who underwent AAA screening, 1716 (93%) had PCP smoking information. Stage 1 PCP smoking data showed 82% concordance with the AAA data (adjusted kappa 0.76). Fewer current or ex-smokers were recorded in PCP data. In the Stage 2 analysis of discordant and missing data (N = 313), 212 were enrolled in the 29 participating PCPs, and of these 13% were deceased and 41% had changed PCP. Of the 93 participants still enrolled in the participating PCPs, smoking status had been updated for 43%. Data on quantity, duration, or quit date of smoking were largely missing in PCP records. The AAA data of ex-smokers who were classified as never smokers in the Stage 2 PCP data (N = 27) showed a median smoking cessation duration of 32 years (range 0–50 years), with 85% (N = 23) having quit more than 15 years ago. Conclusions: PCP smoking data quality compared with the AAA data is consistent with international findings. PCP data captured fewer current and ex-smokers, suggesting ongoing improvement is important. Intervention programmes based on smoking status should consider complementary mechanisms to ensure eligible individuals are not missed from programme invitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we test a long-held assumption regarding Otago, New Zealand, goldfields life and death- that scurvy was a ubiquitous and persistent cause of misery and death among the goldminers. We will also explore a parallel argument that the Chinese market gardeners played a large role in stamping out the disease in the goldfields. Through the interrogation of various archival medical primary sources, we show that scurvy was indeed a terrible scourge in the Otago goldfields, but only during the initial rushes into new regions. We also argue that while Chinese market gardeners undoubtedly contributed to a more nutritious and varied diet for European miners and settlers, scurvy had already markedly reduced in frequency by the time of their arrival in the gold fields. Patient-oriented accounts of scurvy in the gold demonstrate the clinical and functional cost of scurvy in during the initial gold rushes of Otago. Furthermore, individual stories of previously anonymous patients found locked in these archival sources demonstrate the importance of re-humanising the past to understand the biological and social context of these frontier times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large geomagnetic storms are a space weather hazard to power transmission networks due to the effects of Geomagnetically Induced Currents (GICs). GIC can negatively impact power transmission systems through the generation of even‐order current and voltage harmonics due to half‐cycle transformer saturation. This study investigates a decade of even‐order voltage total harmonic distortion (hereon referred to as Even‐Order Total Harmonic Distortion (ETHD)) observations provided by Transpower New Zealand Ltd., the national system operator. We make use of ETHD measurements at 139 locations throughout New Zealand, monitored at 377 separate circuit breakers, focusing on 10 large geomagnetic disturbances during the period 2013–2023. Analysis identified 5 key substations, which appeared to act as sources of ETHD. The majority of these substations include single phase transformer banks, and evidence of significant GIC magnitudes. The ETHD from the source substations was found to propagate into the surrounding network, with the percentage distortion typically decaying away over distances of 150–200 km locally, that is, at a rate of −0.0043 %km−1. During the study period some significant changes occurred in the power network, that is, removal of the Halfway Bush (HWB) single phase bank transformer T4 in November 2017, and decommissioning of the New Plymouth substation in December 2019. Decommissioning of these two assets resulted in less ETHD occurring in the surrounding regions during subsequent geomagnetic storms. However, ETHD still increased at HWB with increasing levels of GIC, indicating that three phase transformer units were still susceptible to saturation, albeit with about 1/3 of the ETHD percentage exhibited by single phase transformers. Plain Language Summary: Space weather, triggered by solar storms, can lead to significant variations in the Earth's magnetic field. The magnetic variations are termed geomagnetic disturbances. Changing magnetic fields induce electric fields at the Earth's surface, causing unwanted currents to flow in electrical power transmission networks. These Geomagnetically Induced Currents (GICs), pose a hazard to network operations as they can cause networks to become destabilized, leading to blackouts and damage to transformers. One negative impact of GIC in a power network is the production of harmonics of the power transmission frequency (typically 50 or 60 Hz); such harmonics contributed to the blackout of the Québec power system in March 1989. In our paper we study harmonic distortion occurrence in the New Zealand power grid using measurements from 139 substations across the country during 10 geomagnetic storms. Analysis identified 5 key substations, which appeared to act as sources of harmonic distortion. The majority of these substations include a particular transformer design which is known to be more susceptible to GIC issues, as well as evidence of significant GIC. Key Points: A decade of even‐order harmonic distortion data are used to investigate the impact of space weather on a power networkIn New Zealand four key substations containing single phase transformers act as sources of enhanced harmonic distortionThe harmonic distortion is found to propagate into the nearby power network over 150–200 km distances, decaying at a rate of −0.0043 %km−1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Along the Hikurangi subduction margin, on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island, the interplate coupling changes from locked in the south to weakly coupled in the north. New magnetotelluric (MT) data from 151 locations linking previous MT surveys into a single contiguous data set that encompasses the weakly coupled part of the margin are analysed. By inverting the combined data we have constructed a 3-D image of the electrical resistivity of the subduction interface shear zone along a 300-km-long segment of the margin. Our results show that the electrical resistivity of the subduction interface shear zone is heterogenous; the degree of heterogeneity decreasing from north to south. The resistivity heterogeneities correlate well with the distribution of near-plate interface seismicity, Vp / Vs values and the pattern of areal strain rate derived from GPS data. These correlations are consistent with variations in the fluid content of the subduction interface shear zone. In the northern part of this segment, conductive areas adjacent to the interface are interpreted to be fluid rich areas where seismicity is sparse, Vp / Vs ratios are high and the areal strain rate is extensional. In contrast, where the areal strain rate is compressional the plate interface is more resistive, and seismicity is more abundant consistent with greater interplate friction. In the south, the resistivity of the plate interface is more homogenous, and the overlying plate is more resistive at shallower levels than in the north. Our results support the hypothesis that the fluid and/or hydrated clay content of the subduction interface shear zone are an important control on interplate coupling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been a recent upsurge in human cases of leptospirosis in New Zealand, with wildlife a suspected emerging source, but up-to-date knowledge on this topic is lacking. We conducted a cross-sectional study in two farm environments to estimate Leptospira seroprevalence in wildlife and sympatric livestock, PCR/culture prevalence in wildlife, and compare seroprevalence and prevalence between species, sex, and age groups. Traps targeting house mice (Mus musculus), black rats (Rattus rattus), hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) and brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) were set for 10 trap-nights in March-April 2017 on a dairy (A) and a beef and sheep (B) farm. Trapped wild animals and an age-stratified random sample of domestic animals, namely cattle, sheep and working dogs were blood sampled. Sera were tested by microagglutination test for five serogroups and titres compared using a Proportional Similarity Index (PSI). Wildlife kidneys were sampled for culture and qPCR targeting the lipL32 gene. True prevalence in mice was assessed using occupancy modelling by collating different laboratory results. Infection profiles varied by species, age group and farm. At the MAT cut-point of ≥ 48, up to 78% of wildlife species, and 16–99% of domestic animals were seropositive. Five of nine hedgehogs, 23/105 mice and 1/14 black rat reacted to L. borgpetersenii sv Ballum. The sera of 4/18 possums and 4/9 hedgehogs reacted to L. borgpetersenii sv Hardjobovis whilst 1/18 possum and 1/9 hedgehog reacted to Tarassovi. In ruminants, seroprevalence for Hardjobovis and Pomona ranged 0–90% and 0–71% depending on the species and age group. Titres against Ballum, Tarassovi and Copenhageni were also observed in 4–20%, 0–25% and 0–21% of domestic species, respectively. The PSI indicated rodents and livestock had the most dissimilar serological responses. Three of nine hedgehogs, 31/105 mice and 2/14 rats were carrying leptospires (PCR and/or culture positive). True prevalence estimated by occupancy modelling in mice was 38% [95% Credible Interval 26, 51%] on Farm A and 22% [11, 40%] on Farm B. In the same environment, exposure to serovars found in wildlife species was commonly detected in livestock. Transmission pathways between and within species should be assessed to help in the development of efficient mitigation strategies against Leptospira. Author summary: Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that can be transmitted through the urine of infected animals. Recently, the number of human cases of leptospirosis in New Zealand has increased, and wildlife is suspected to be an emerging source. To better understand this, a study was conducted on two farms in New Zealand. Wild animals, including mice, rats, hedgehogs, and possums, and domestic animals, including cattle, sheep, and working dogs, were captured, and tested for exposure to Leptospira. We found multiple serovars of leptospirosis throughout both livestock and wildlife, with important variation by species and age class. Reactions to Ballum were found in all domestic and wild species and all ages while domestic animals, possums, and hedgehogs commonly reacted to Hardjobovis. Cattle, sheep, hedgehogs, and possums also showed exposure to Tarassovi. These indicate potential multiple and complex pathways of disease transmission and dynamics among serovars and suggest that Leptospira infection in wildlife in New Zealand can pose a risk to both livestock and human health. Further research is needed to understand how the bacteria are being transmitted to effectively prevent the associated disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the inclusion of Rainbow people in the Te Pae Tata: Interim New Zealand Health Plan and highlights the need for further considerations to ensure its effectiveness. It emphasizes the importance of collecting comprehensive data on the health status and healthcare experiences of Rainbow people to address health disparities.

Objective: Ensuring men who have sex with men (MSM) adopt and maintain condom use for anal sex is a challenging health education goal. In order to inform the development of social marketing practices to encourage safe-sex practices, the views of MSM about a key HIV health education message ("using a condom every time for anal sex") were sought. Design: Individual and paired interviews were conducted face-to-face and online, with a total of 22 MSM who identified as low users of condoms. Transcripts of interviews were analysed thematically. Setting: Online and various locations in Auckland, New Zealand. Results: Two main themes were identified in relation to the men's views of the condom every time message: (a) awareness and appropriateness of the message; and (b) resistance to the message. The men interviewed reported a contradictory view with respect to the condom every time message. While it is viewed as an appropriate message for MSM as a group, for some individual men, particularly those in relationships, the message has little resonance. One solution offered was for the sexual practices of such men to be recognized and for appropriate and more relevant health education messages to be developed. Conclusion: Addressing the gulf between professional and (some) lay understandings of what is appropriate for messages that seek to encourage men to adopt and to maintain condom use, and therefore reduce the chances of HIV infection, remains a significant challenge for health promotion agencies.

This paper reports on a third study in a series aimed at investigating the issues surrounding the learning of mathematics at The University of Auckland by students who have English as an Additional Language (EAL students). As well as summarizing the earlier studies, it presents some new data showing that the problems experienced by EAL students are not experienced by first language English students (L1 students). The consequences of these studies for undergraduate mathematics at The University of Auckland are explored using English language proficiency data for the whole of the 2005 undergraduate mathematics cohort. This data shows that the consequences of having large numbers of EAL students in an undergraduate mathematics cohort are likely to be much more important than expected, and that recent initiatives to raise literacy entrance levels are having some effect. (Contains 3 tables.)

In the high-probability request sequence (high-p) procedure, a requester presents a rapid sequence of requests a child is known to be likely to comply with, followed by a request to perform a response for which there is a low probability of compliance (low-p request). To extend previous research from institutional and research settings to home settings, parents of three developmentally-delayed children who were noncompliant were taught to use the high-p procedure at home using a manual, supplemented by only brief therapist instruction. In addition they were taught to use a fading procedure to enhance the maintenance of any gains in compliance. The manual-based, high-p procedure, implemented in a multiple-baseline across behaviors replicated across children design, increased compliance with at least one targeted low-p response in all children, and two thirds of the targeted responses maintained gains in compliance at follow-up, after fading of the high-p procedure.

Objectives: The analysis presented here describes the care needs of older adults with and without cognitive impairment. To describe the health characteristics of older adults with and without cognitive impairment who receive home care or Aged Residential Care services in New Zealand. Methods: A descriptive analysis of the initial interRAI assessment for adults older than 55 years was undertaken. Data were grouped by level of assessed cognitive impairment. The population proportions for each level of the following scales were calculated: Changes in Health, End‐stage Disease, Signs, and Symptoms Scale (CHESS), pain, pressure injury risk, Activities of Daily Living (ADL), depression screening, and body mass index (BMI). Results: The analysis included 93,680 assessments. The mean age was 83 years (SD = 8.7) a positive association was observed between age and cognitive impairment (p < 0.01). People with cognitive impairment were less likely to have been recently hospitalised or to have attended ED (p < 0.01). Significant associations with effect sizes ≥3 were observed for cognitive impairment and ADL (p < 0.01, γ = 0.63), pain (p < 0.01, γ = −0.32), and risk of pressure injury (p < 0.01, Cramer's V = 0.271). Conclusions: The results reinforce a need to be alert to the differential care needs of older adults with moderate/severe cognitive impairment. The findings may act as a trigger for practitioners to focus assessment on aspects of care that, due to context, may otherwise be underassessed or untreated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the education of young adolescents in New Zealand. Specifically examines: (1) background history of middle schooling in New Zealand; (2) growth of interest in middle schooling; (3) case studies of three different schools; and (4) factors common to successful New Zealand middle schools. (SD)

Aims and Objectives: The study aimed to explore the perspectives of adult children about late‐life living and care arrangements for their ageing immigrant parents living in New Zealand. Background: Older immigrants' well‐being is closely associated with filial relations and is often reliant on families as a main source of social, financial and emotional support. Research among migrant Asian adults has reported mixed findings regarding intergenerational perspectives of filial practices. Design: Qualitative design using focused ethnographic lens. Methods: Semi‐structured individual interviews were undertaken with 45 adult children of older immigrants living in New Zealand to explore their views about filial piety. The CoREQ checklist was used in reporting methods and findings. Results: Two major themes were identified in this study of adult children's view of filial piety and late‐life care for their ageing parents. The first theme, 'holding on—reconfiguring values', referred to a process described by the participants as upholding the core values and cultural familial expectations, looking after their ageing parents, yet modifying the ways in which they provide care. The second major theme 'letting go—reconfigured expectations', described participants' views of aged care for themselves, which meant they no longer held traditional values that needed to be enacted by their children. Conclusions: Adult children from immigrant families were positioned as intermediaries of these shifting values of their own and within younger generations. The adult children's shift of thinking and acceptance of reconfigured expression of filial duties impact care and living arrangements of older people from immigrant and culturally diverse backgrounds, which also influences health and well‐being in later life. Relevance to clinical practice: Healthcare professionals including nurses working in the ageing and aged care sector need to accommodate the changing generational perspectives about filial piety to cater to the unique late‐life care requirements and health needs of older people and their families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To explore Chinese late-life immigrants' perceptions of loneliness and social isolation. Methods: A qualitative descriptive methodology underpinned this study. In-depth individual interviews were conducted in Mandarin with purposively recruited participants. The twenty-three participants in the study had all emigrated from China, were 65–80 years old on arrival and had lived in New Zealand for between 2.5 and 16 years. An inductive thematic analytic process was undertaken. The COREQ checklist was followed to ensure study rigour. Results: Three themes, ‘high value placed on meeting family obligations’, ‘feeling a deep sense of imbalanced intergenerational reciprocity’ and ‘moving away from filial expectations’, were identified. Confucianist values of ‘women's domestic duty of caring for grandchildren’, ‘filial piety’, and ‘saving face’ to be accepted and respected by others negatively attributed to participants' understandings and experiences of loneliness. To plan for increasing frailty and to avoid family conflict while ameliorating potential loneliness, some participants reluctantly discarded prior customary filial piety expectations in favour of formal aged care options. Conclusions: Participants' profound sense of loneliness was seen to be attributed to their deeply rooted cultural values and backgrounds from having lived for a significant period of time in China. Loneliness occurred as a result of the resettlement process in later life. These experiences highlight the importance of using cultural framing that takes into account beliefs and adaptations to host societies anticipated during the process of late-life immigration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A range of research reports that many gender and sexually diverse people drink alcohol at heavy levels. This study used 24 focus groups to explore shared understandings of alcohol use among gender and sexually diverse people living in New Zealand. An inductive, data-driven thematic analysis was employed to identify explanations for heavy drinking among gender and sexually diverse people. Three key explanations were articulated: alcohol is needed for socialising; drinking helps coping with stress; alcohol and drug treatment services are inadequate. These results demonstrate justifications for heavy drinking in certain contexts. This behaviour runs counter to public health approaches and messages that highlight low-risk levels of drinking or not drinking as desirable. Public health interventions should continue to address alcohol use at a whole population level but should be supplemented by policy and interventions that take into account the sociocultural contexts and structural conditions that encourage drinking among gender and sexually diverse people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Participation in the health-care system is a key component of healthy ageing strategies. The number of Pacific people aged ≥65 years in Aotearoa New Zealand will increase significantly over the next decade. Addressing the considerable health inequities and unmet need for care Pacific Island people experience when compared to other ethnicities in Aotearoa New Zealand should be a priority. Aim. To identify barriers to older Pacific people's participation in the health-care system in Aotearoa New Zealand. Methods. A participatory action research design was utilised. In total, 104 Pacific co-researchers contributed to focus groups using Talanoa, a traditional method of conversational dialogue deeply rooted in Pacific Island culture. Data were collected in Pacific Island languages from storytelling and conversations shared within the focus groups. Data were translated into English and analysed using a collaborative approach. Results. Three main themes captured older Pacific peoples' barriers to participation in the health-care system: accessing health care; relationships with health-care providers; and understanding the health-care system. Discussion. Older Pacific people have the capacity to influence locally driven programmes to be more responsive to their needs and aspirations. Improving older Pacific peoples' participation in health care will require a commitment to partnership and inter-sectoral collaboration identified in recent ageing strategies. The findings will inform local communities, and policy and practice aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of Pacific peoples who are ageing in Aotearoa New Zealand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lakes are becoming degraded at an accelerating rate owing to human activity, and understanding their past ecology is necessary for lake management and rehabilitation. Palaeolimnology provides numerous methods that enable the historical state of lakes to be determined. New Zealand provides an ideal setting in which to do this as human modification of the landscape occurred later here than in most regions of the world (approx. 1300 CE).Lake Oporoa is a shallow lake that is highly significant to the local indigenous Māori community. This study used multiple proxy palaeolimnology to explore how lake ecology shifted following Māori and European settlement in the catchment, and how palaeolimnological data can be used to inform lake rehabilitation and conservation measures, alongside the desires of the indigenous community. Sedimentary pollen, diatoms, bacterial communities, and elemental and hyperspectral imaging scanning were used to infer ecological changes in the lake and catchment from pre‐human times to present.Following Māori settlement (approx. 1620 CE) there was gradual vegetation change and a rapid shift in diatom and bacterial assemblages, but not in phytoplankton pigments or sediment geochemistry. An increasing abundance of diatom taxa Discostella stelligera and Staurosirella cf. ovata indicates early nutrient enrichment. European pastoralism from approximately 1840 CE resulted in further deforestation, and all proxies show evidence for enhanced primary productivity driven by a combination of nutrient enrichment and changing lake levels, particularly since the 1960s. This has caused degradation in water quality and is likely to have contributed to the decline in populations of tuna (eel, Anguilla spp.).Conversations with local Māori, together with the palaeolimnological results, indicate that a culturally acceptable and realistic rehabilitation target for Lake Oporoa aligns with ecological conditions in the 1950s. The palaeoecological data provide information to guide catchment and lake revegetation and other methods of nutrient abatement, with the eventual aim of restoring culturally important tuna and native fish populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ), Pacific people have a higher prevalence of mental illness compared with the general population. Tongan people have high rates of mental illness and tend to not use mental health services. The risk for mental illnesses also differs between those born in Tonga and those born in NZ. This study presented the views of New Zealand-dwelling Tongan youth and mental health service users regarding the meaning of mental distress. A Tongan cultural framework "talanoa" was used to inform the approach to the research. The youth talanoa group had seven participants and the service users talanoa group had twelve participants. Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Tongan youth and service users constructed mental distress from biopsychosocial perspectives and challenged traditional Tongan perspectives around being possessed by spirits, cursed and disruptions to social and spiritual relationships. The youth and service users construct mental distress from a biopsychosocial angle and there is a need for further information about Tongan perspectives of mental distress. This suggests that a biopsychosocial perspective is needed to ensure engagement by Tongan youth and service users in promoting mental health and alleviating distress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Maintaining independence is of key importance to older people. Ways to enable health strategies, strengthen and support whanāu (family) at the community level are needed. The Ageing Well through Eating, Sleeping, Socialising and Mobility (AWESSOM) programme in Aotearoa/New Zealand (NZ) delivers five integrated studies across different ethnicities and ages to optimise well-being and to reverse the trajectory of functional decline and dependence associated with ageing.Methods: Well-being, independence and the trajectory of dependence are constructs viewed differently according to ethnicity, age, and socio-cultural circumstance. For each AWESSoM study these constructs are defined and guide study development through collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders, and with reference to current evidence. The Compression of Functional Decline model (CFD) underpins aspects of the programme. Interventions vary to optimise engagement and include a co-developed whānau (family) centred initiative (Ngā Pou o Rongo), the use of a novel LifeCurve™App to support behavioural change, development of health and social initiatives to support Pacific elders, and the use of a comprehensive oral health and cognitive stimulation programme for cohorts in aged residential care. Running parallel to these interventions is analysis of large data sets from primary care providers and national health databases to understand complex multi-morbidities and identify those at risk of adverse outcomes. Themes or target areas of sleep, physical activity, oral health, and social connectedness complement social capital and community integration in a balanced programme involving older people across the ability spectrum.Discussion: AWESSoM delivers a programme of bespoke yet integrated studies. Outcomes and process analysis from this research will inform about novel approaches to implement relevant, socio-cultural interventions to optimise well-being and health, and to reverse the trajectory of decline experienced with age.Trial Registration: The At-risk cohort study was registered by the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials registry on 08/12/2021 (Registration number ACTRN 12621001679875 ). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the barriers to communities in New Zealand developing age‐friendly initiatives. Methods: A qualitative participatory approach underpinned this study. Semi‐structured digitally recorded individual interviews were undertaken with 24 government officials, local government steering group members and community representatives from an urban city, provincial city and a rural district. A general inductive data analytic process was undertaken. The consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ) guidelines were followed to ensure rigour in this study. Results: (a) Being at the beginning, (b) Minimal diversity and (c) Problems getting started were three key issues identified. Conclusions: New Zealand is in the early stages of becoming age‐friendly. Findings from this study provide a place‐based New Zealand perspective and have influenced central government social policy and practice development, culminating in resources supporting local government and communities to successfully implement age‐friendly initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HIV infection is an issue for all gay and bisexual men in New Zealand, including men of Asian ethnicity among whom HIV infection is increasing. This study identifies the ways Filipino gay and bisexual men living in New Zealand talk about and understand issues related to HIV and HIV health-promoting behaviours. A qualitative descriptive methodology was used. Individual face-to-face interviews were analysed using a general inductive analytic approach. Three themes are evident across the men's talk in relation to knowledge and practices around HIV and HIV health-promoting behaviours: (a) safe-sex is about condom use, (b) low levels of engagement with HIV testing, and (c) barriers to engagement with HIV-health promotion. The study results have implications for HIV health promotion and prevention programmes. Specifically, improved health literacy around HIV and prevention technologies is required. Culturally appropriate services and health promotion interventions need to be developed. Improved support and advocacy for gay and bisexual men in the broader Filipino community to counter stigma appear warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tongan people living in New Zealand have a high prevalence of mental illness and low uptake of mental health services. Rates of mental illnesses also differ between those born in Tonga and those born in New Zealand. However, little is known about the personalized and culturally shaped meaning and experience of mental distress in this population. Therefore, this research explored the meaning of mental distress for Tongan men and community leaders living in Auckland, New Zealand. The Tongan cultural framework, talanoa (talking, to tell), enabled a culturally congruent and collective approach to examining mental health‐related ideologies and ensuing distress. Two talanoa groups were held (one with men and one with community leaders), with a total of 18 participants. The primary research questions focused on tufunga faka‐Tonga (Tongan constructions of mental distress). Four themes emerged: fa'unga (reality), hu'unga (directionality), ta'anga (temporality), and tu'unga (positionality). The analytic lens used to define reality was fa'unga, because this concept encompasses the creation/preservation of sino (body), me'a (thing, something), and mo'oni (truth, real). The findings suggested that it is necessary to incorporate tufunga faka‐Tonga into all aspects of service delivery to improve mental health services for the Tongan population. The Tongan community will benefit from increased awareness of tufunga faka‐paiōsaikosōsiolo (biopsychosocial constructions of mental distress) and tufunga fepaki mo e fetaulaki he vaha'a 'o e tufunga faka‐paiōsaikosōsiolo mo e tufunga faka‐Tonga (intersections between biopsychosocial and Tongan constructions of mental distress) to support identification of health risks and health service seeking behaviours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aotearoa-New Zealand is expecting the number of older adults to double in the next 20 years. Despite publicly funded health and welfare support for older citizens, the aging experience differs across ethnic groups. This creates opportunities and challenges for health and social services to deliver culturally safe and equitable care for all older New Zealanders. Longitudinal and large data sets are pivotal for characterizing the aging experience from birth to advanced age. The New Zealand research funding system responded to predicted demographic changes by increasing funding in order to inform and address key health and well-being issues for older people. In addition, government strategies and policies increasingly focus on social aspects of aging and health inequities and require researchers and organizations to be better connected to end-users. New Zealand needs to continue to fund research that identifies unique and courageous service delivery solutions that result in positive social, financial, psychological, and physical aging for older New Zealanders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To identify ways Chinese and South Asian gay and bisexual men living in Auckland talk about issues related to sexuality and experiences of living 'gay social lives.' Results will be available to inform health policy and practice. Design: A qualitative design with individual interviews and thematic analysis was used. Semi-structured digitally recorded interviews were undertaken with 27 Chinese and 17 South Asian gay and bisexual men living in Auckland. Results: Four themes in the data related to talk about sexuality and living gay social lives are reported: (a) 'Happy in my skin': Being gay is Ok! (b) 'To come out or not': Managing sexual identity, (c) 'Places to go, people to see': Connecting with others, and (d) 'What's wrong with being Asian': Tolerating discrimination. Conclusion: There are many similarities in the ways these men talked about their identity and sexuality that can be usefully considered by health policy makers and service planners. The concept of gay (and bisexual) sexuality had some salience for the men interviewed, despite the adoption and acknowledgement of same-sex identity being a relatively new phenomenon in some Asian countries. This supports the use of these terms in local health interventions. However, as these men closely managed their gay identity and typically had not disclosed their sexuality to others, including healthcare professionals, interventions to address the skills and comfort of healthcare providers in addressing sexuality in clinical settings appear warranted to facilitate optimal healthcare. These men are not well connected with others and this has implications for HIV health promotion that is based on creating cultural norms among networks to encourage safe sex. Discrimination results in many Chinese and South Asian gay and bisexual men disengaging from connecting with others and should be addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the public campaign slogan in New Zealand when referring to family violence, is 'It's Not OK', many women in New Zealand report that the Family Court prefers the catchphrase 'It never happened'. When women and children escaping violence and abuse reach out to the New Zealand Family Court for protection believing the justice system will help them, they often enter an alternative reality where they are not believed and are subsequently made less safe. This is particularly so for those women whose well-founded fears for their children's safety get reinterpreted as evidence of a deliberate attempt to alienate the children from their fathers. The Backbone Collective, an independent organisation, surveyed New Zealand women about their experiences in the Family Court, finding that many women reported being accused of parental alienation. This paper investigates the sources of these allegations of parental alienation and how they impact mothers and their children. We argue that the use of parental alienation in the New Zealand Family Court is undermining the international rights of children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) affects 20%–30% of women but current medical treatments are limited in their efficacy. The objective of this study was to compare efficacy of a broad-spectrum micronutrient formula (consisting mainly of minerals and vitamins) to a single vitamin (B6) for treatment of PMS, for which B6 has already been shown to be efficacious. Methods: This double-blind, randomized, treatment-controlled trial allocated 78 (72 completed) regularly menstruating women with PMS to consume micronutrients or vitamin B6 (80 mg/day) daily following a two-cycle baseline period, for three menstrual cycles. The primary outcome measure, Daily Record of Severity of Problems (DRSP), established PMS as well as tracked change in five PMS symptoms: psychological, somatic, total symptoms, impact ratings, and worst day ratings. Results: Linear-mixed model analyses indicated both treatments produced comparable reduction in PMS symptoms with medium effect sizes (ES) across all PMS variables as measured by the DRSP (micronutrient ES = 0.50–0.56; B6 ES = 0.43–0.56), with 72% of the micronutrient and 60% of the vitamin B6 group identified as in full remission in PMS symptoms after three cycles. The micronutrient-treated participants showed greater improvement than the B6 group (between group d = 0.51, p < 0.05) in health-related quality of life. For those women (n = 28) who met criteria for premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), the DRSP ES were larger for those who had been in the micronutrient condition (ES = 1.28–1.67) as compared with those on B6 (ES = 0.50–0.75), although the group differences were not statistically reliable. There were no group differences in side effects, nor any serious adverse effects reported. Conclusions: Both treatments provided similar benefit for reducing PMS symptoms, with greater effect of micronutrients on quality of life as well as potential clinical benefit of micronutrients for PMDD. This study provides further efficacy data on B6 and also identifies the nutritionally broader spectrum intervention as possibly having specific advantages for those whose symptoms are more severe. As this is the first study to investigate these treatments for PMDD, systematic replication is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: One of the many socio-cultural issues impacting older immigrants in host countries is the cultural expectations of filial piety from their adult children. Objective: To understand older Filipino immigrants' beliefs and values towards filial expectations. Design: Focused ethnography. Results: Two major themes were identified. The first theme 'moving away from filial expectations' drew out older Filipino's changing views of cultural expectations from their adult children. The second theme 'maintaining cultural values through good family relationships' highlighted the importance of acknowledging the cultural values considered to be most important by older Filipinos, which was having harmonious relationships and avoiding family conflict. Conclusion: The reconfigured expectation was salient with participants' who identified 'not being a burden' to their adult children and the ardent desire to maintain positive family relationships. Impact Statement: Nurses need to be aware of changes to our current understanding of filial piety when providing care to older Filipinos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a new bio-medical means of reducing the risk of HIV infection. It's use by individuals at high risk of HIV acquisition is recommended. Aims: This study identifies the ways immigrant Asian gay men living in New Zealand talk about and understand issues related to PrEP. METHODS: A qualitative descriptive methodology was used. Individual interviews were conducted with 18 immigrant Asian gay men who were not users of PrEP. Participants were aged 21 – 36 years and one-third had arrived in New Zealand within 3 years of completing the interview. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Three themes evident across the men's talk in relation to pre-exposure prophylaxis were identified: 'I'm not sure what PrEP is'; 'PrEP is not proven'; and 'PrEP is for others, not me'. DISCUSSION: PrEP is necessary for working towards the elimination of HIV. To improve uptake among Asian gay men, improved literacy around HIV and pre-exposure prophylaxis is required. This knowledge needs to be improved at both the individual level in primary care services and collectively through health promotion initiatives. These services and health promotion initiatives need to be provided in ways that encourage engagement by Asian gay men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: There is a paucity of health‐related research on older Asian immigrants in New Zealand. The aim of this review was to critically examine literature on the health and well‐being of this population group. Methods: An integrative literature review was conducted from December 2017 to February 2018. Online databases searched were Scopus, MEDLINE, CINAHL and the Australia/New Zealand Reference Centre. Results: Two themes were identified: Firstly, the "challenges stemming from an unfamiliar environment" faced by older Asian immigrants, and secondly, their "strategies for adjusting to a new home." These themes suggested how participation in community and leisure activities, as well as adapting their outlook on life, contributed to these older migrants' health and well‐being within a New Zealand context. Conclusion: A multitude of challenges in maintaining health and well‐being confronted these older Asian immigrants; nevertheless, they created strategies to respond and positively influence their health following later‐life migration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and objectives: To explore the living and care arrangement plans of older Filipino immigrants in New Zealand. Background: New Zealand is rapidly becoming the host to an increasing number of ageing Filipino immigrants. Despite this sizeable population growth of ageing Filipinos in New Zealand, still very little is known about this ethnic group's care needs and living arrangement preferences in later life within the New Zealand context. Design: Qualitative descriptive approach. Methods: Data were collected from 15 older Filipinos who participated in face‐to‐face interviews. Data were analysed using a thematic analytical framework. Results: Two major themes were identified from the data analysis. The first theme "preferred living and care arrangements" is about older Filipinos' preferred plans for future residence and in receiving care when no longer able to function independently in their own homes. The second theme "negotiating readiness and acceptance" is about hypothetical situations that older Filipinos described and anticipated that will greatly facilitate their readiness and acceptance to living in aged care facilities. Conclusion: The study results have implications for service delivery within the New Zealand residential aged care sector. Due to an increasing number of older Filipino immigrants requiring care, residential aged care facilities must ensure their care models meet the needs of this growing group of older people. Relevance to clinical practice: Nursing staff skill sets in the aged care sector require sensitivity to older immigrants' health needs without compromising cultural beliefs and practices while living in residential aged care facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we explore the discourses that affect young women's experiences of (hetero)sexual pleasure, drawing on data from focus groups with young women and young men who lived within a university residential setting in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Here we focus on the gendered understandings among the participants that prioritise men's sexual pleasure and largely position women as the means of achieving that pleasure. The young women spoke of multiple barriers to gaining equality during (hetero)sexual experiences, with key issues being the coital imperative and women's supposed sexual passivity. In challenging these barriers, the young women described various tactics used to resist their subordinate position. However, the women often placed the onus of responsibility for dismantling these barriers on themselves, thus bearing the burden of responsibility for not only young men's sexual pleasure but also their own. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents findings from a study exploring the nurses' experience of caring for adults with intellectual disability and mental health issues in inpatient settings. Semi structured interviews were undertaken with 13 nurses from various regions of New Zealand. Methods suggested by an Appreciative Inquiry methodology were used to explore the nurses' positive experiences of their role. Interviews were transcribed and analysed using open coding and Leximancer (an online data mining tool) analysis to identify dominant themes in the discourse. Analysis revealed themes around 'Contextualising behaviour', 'Communication', 'Confidence to care' and 'Time'. Participants reflected upon their experiences offering personal interpretations in identifying the aspects of nursing that mattered and that worked. What is shown is that nurses were able to describe a range of creative and adaptive ways of nursing in responding to numerous complex factors they faced in their roles. This suggests a strong foundation on which to advance nursing care in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Satisfaction with life is a complex interplay of older people's perspectives on life achievements. Satisfaction with life, alongside health and functional ability contribute to successful ageing. Aim: To explore the impact of increasing age on older people's perceptions of their health, functional ability and life satisfaction. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of non-institutionalised older people (65+) was conducted (n = 542). The Short Form-12 Health Survey measured perceived physical and mental health, the Groningen Activity Restriction Scale measured functional ability and the Satisfaction With Life Scale measured life satisfaction. Results: Significant group differences were found; while participants' perceptions of health and function decreased with age, perceptions of life satisfaction increased. Unexpectedly, the youngest groups reported low levels of life satisfaction while the oldest reported very high levels. Conclusions: Further study should consider factors that might influence the perception of health, functional ability and particularly life satisfaction across older age groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To conduct an integrative review of empirical studies of loneliness for older people in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Loneliness is a risk factor for older people's poor physical and cognitive health, serious illness and mortality. A national survey showed loneliness rates vary by gender and ethnicity. Methods A systematic search of health and social science databases was conducted. Of 21 scrutinised articles, nine were eligible for inclusion and subjected to independent quality appraisal. One qualitative and eight quantitative research articles were selected. Results Reported levels and rates of loneliness vary across age cohorts. Loneliness was significantly related to social isolation, living alone, depression, suicidal ideation, being female, being Māori and having a visual impairment. Qualitatively, older Korean immigrants experienced loneliness and social isolation, along with language and cultural differences. Conclusion Amongst older New Zealanders loneliness is commonly experienced by particular ethnic groups, highlighting a priority for targetted health and social services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]