Evaluation of Te Rūnanganui o Taranaki Whānui ki te Upoko o te Ika a Māui (2005)
An initiative funded by Te Puni Kōkiri, this research explored the conceptualisation of whānau embraced by Te Rūnanganui o Taranaki Whānui and other key stakeholders, and how this informed their understandings of (i) Māori success and Māori development, and (ii) the Whānau Development and Learning Communities initiatives planned by Te Rūnanganui. The research was commissioned to inform and improve policy and operational understandings of the nature of whānau, whānau development and Māori success, and to assist whānau and service providers to improve the efficacy and robustness of their whānau development interventions.
Publications:
Ahuriri-Driscoll, A., Baker, V., & Midgley, G. (2005). Whānau development action and research programme: whānau and whānau development in Te Awakairangi. Client Report FW0589, Report for Te Puni Kōkiri. Christchurch, New Zealand: ESR.
For more information, please contact Annabel Ahuriri-Driscoll
New Plymouth, Paritutu Community Dioxin Exposure Study (2001–2005)
ESR was contracted by the Ministry of Health to investigate non-occupational exposure to dioxin among residents of Paritutu. A critical component of the first phase of this study was for ESR to consult as widely as possible, and involve the affected community in the design of the scientific research. This included negotiating the content of the scientific study within a multi-disciplinary team, and with community and stakeholder groups that often had divergent views. These included multiple community activist groups, Ngāti Te Whiti hapū, local and central government agencies, and the international science community.
Publications and Outputs:
Baker, V, Fowles, J, Phillips, D, Garrett, N (2003) New Plymouth, Paritutu Community Dioxin Exposure Assessment Study, Report for the Ministry of Health, Wellington, New Zealand
Fowles, J., Baker, V., Phillips, D., Marriott, F., Stevenson, C., Noonan, M. (2004) A Study of 2,3,7,8- Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) Exposures in Paritutu, New Zealand: Phase II Serum Testing. An interim report to the Ministry of Health. Wellington, ESR.
Fowles, J., Gallagher, L., Baker, V., Phillips, D., Marriott, F., Stevenson, C., Noonan, M. (Jan 2005) A Study of 2,3,7,8- Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) Exposures in Paritutu, New Zealand: Phase II Serum Testing. A report to the New Zealand Ministry of Health. Wellington, ESR.
Baker V, Science & Communities: ESR’s consultation work with the Paritutu community, Massey University’s Symposium on Dioxin: Exposures, health effects and public health policy, Wellington, 7th Sept 2005.
Fowles, J., Stevenson, C., Noonan, M., Gallagher, L., Baker, V., Read, D., Phillips, D. (2006) Evidence of TCDD exposure 17 years after cessation of production of the herbicide 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T) in a New Zealand community. Eighteenth Conference of the International Society for Environmental Epidemiology (ISEE) Paris, France - September 2-6, 2006
See also: http://www.moh.govt.nz/dioxins
Painted Apple Moth Spray Focus Group Study (2004)
ESR worked with the Wellington School of Medicine and the University of Auckland, carrying out focus groups with Māori (mana-whenua), Pasifika, and Asian groups to identify and document participants’ experiences of the painted apple moth spray eradication programme in the Waitakere area.
Publications and Outputs:
Baker, V. (2004) Painted Apple Moth Focus Group Study. Wellington: ESR report component of University of Otago’s Wellington School of Medicine and Health Sciences study.
Hales, S., Baker, V., Dew, K., Moata’ane, L., Martin, J., Rochford, T., Slaney, D., Woodward, A. (Feb 2004) Assessment of the potential health impacts of the ‘Painted Apple Moth’ aerial spraying programme, Auckland (for the Ministry of Health) Wellington School of Medicine: Wellington.
Fluoridation of Public Drinking Water Supplies (2002)
ESR contributed to the Ministry of Health’s fluoridation policy by identifying and assessing the importance of factors impacting upon council decision-making in relation to fluoridation of public drinking water supplies. This involved talking with organised interest groups, public health professionals and both local and central government.
Publications:
Winstanley, A. (2002) Identification and Assessment of Factors Impacting Upon Council Decision-Making in Relation to Fluoridation of Public Drinking Water Supplies, Institute of Environmental Science and Research: Prepared as part of a Ministry of Health Contract for Scientific Services