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Intergenerational Transfer of Indigenous Knowledge by Newar Women in Khokana, Nepal
No full textNewar, an Indigenous community in Nepal, have been practising their unique language, culture and traditions for centuries. However, this rich knowledge is increasingly marginalised by the adoption of Eurocentric universal Western models of development and the influence of neoliberalism in formal education. Further, while women have long played a central role in the intergenerational transfer of Indigenous knowledge, often such engagement goes unnoticed or is undervalued as merely conducting everyday ordinary activities. However, these engagements carry deep significance in sustaining the knowledge and skills that are essential for the overall well-being of the community. Although previous studies have examined Newar cultural and religious practices, research incorporating women’s perspectives remain scarce. To address this, I have used a bricolage of qualitative methodological approaches across six triads of three generations of Newar women to explore how they transfer their knowledge to the younger generation. I also examined the perceptions of three different generations toward Indigenous knowledge and how they were responding to social changes derived from modernity and the influence of neoliberalism in formal education.Conceptually, this study is underpinned by Santos’ decolonial perspective on cognitive justice and his related concepts of ecologies of knowledges and intercultural translation. Based on Kincheloe et al.’s (2017) theoretical bricolage, it further draws on a range of sociocultural, critical, decolonial and postcolonial theoretical perspectives to attend to the engagement of Newar women in the intergenerational transfer of Indigenous knowledge and confront the power relations that seek to silence Indigenous knowledge in/through education. Research strategies included observation, conversations and fieldnotes drawn from ethnography and participatory approaches, which included object interviews and photovoice. Analysis of the data showed that Newar grandmothers and mothers were engaged in transferring their Indigenous knowledge to the future generations especially in religious, cultural, and household domains. Daughters learned and adopted these knowledges from their mothers and grandmothers through observation, guided participation, and contribution in shared family endeavours and from listening to traditional stories and tales. While grandmothers and mothers focused more on spirituality, togetherness, and relationality, the neoliberal view of limiting the role of education to the development of human capital for economic prosperity had been influencing the younger generation more towards a materialistic worldview, often evaluating Indigenous knowledge and skills in terms of economic benefit. The findings also highlighted ruptures in relationships that my participants were experiencing with their language, land and family ties to be the impacts of modernity and neoliberalism in formal education. Finally, discussing various exemplary ideas suggested by the participants, this study suggests building on Santos’ (2014) idea of ecologies of knowledges as a framework for decolonisation of curricular practices in the Nepali context as some initial steps towards cognitive justice for sustaining Newar language, culture and traditions.</p
WAYS OF BEING WELL: THE ROLE OF SAVORING IN TOURIST’S WELLBEING
No full textWhile conceptually addressing similar questions, intellectual relationships between tourism research and positive psychology are still tentative. A recent review of the emerging transdisciplinary field (Vada et al., 2020) identified savoring as central antecedent to understanding touristic experience and tourists’ well-being. Essential to understanding touristic experiences is to examine individual approaches and subjective experiences of lived experiences. Until recently touristic research adopted mostly qualitative approaches to understanding savoring (Filep et al., 2013) and only recently quantitative approaches have been introduced from the field of positive psychology (Vada et al., 2020). In our study we aim to utilize psychological approaches to savoring and wellbeing to provide insight into individuals ways of experiencing touristic experiences and the potential effects of these approaches on wellbeing</p
Home Beyond the Dwelling
No full textHome is often portrayed as an idealised, positive, and exclusive relationship between house and the nuclear family. However, this neglects those who may be unable to achieve home ownership, or those who may perceive or value home differently, such as through cultural differences, contemporary ways of living, or from negative experiences and memories. Contemporary notions of ‘home’ suggest that home is not bounded by the house or dwelling; treating home as a verb rather than a noun can emphasise social relations, flexible boundaries, and an interchangeable nature.By focusing on both individual and collective experiences, this design-led-research thesis follows a theoretical approach by investigating how notions of ‘home’ can inform the design of inclusive and community-centric architecture beyond the domestic scale. It proposes an alternative way of understanding and designing for home and community without aiming to replace, redefine, or undermine existing ideas of home – either with or without the dwelling.The selected Papamoa East context consists of new residential developments with minimal acknowledgement of place, communal spaces, and variation or character. This prompted the application of a ‘homely neighbourhood’ concept, which explored a community central point, connections to place and context, and various forms of retreat and privacy through the development of a masterplan, public plaza, and library. An iterative design process followed a ‘scaling down’ approach through successive design phases to explore themes, spaces, and experiences of home in greater detail within a developing community-driven context. Together, the three design scales achieved integrated and layered notions of ‘home’ which promote a place for new memories and experiences, a sense of belonging, and a neighbourhood identity for the community.</p
Harmony Unveiled: A Melodic Exploration of Emotional Wellbeing Among Young Pacific Women in Aotearoa New Zealand
No full textEmotional wellbeing is a cornerstone of a good life. For young Pacific women, members of a migrant community in Aotearoa New Zealand, wellbeing is important because it impacts how they view themselves, their role as members of their families and communities, and influences how they interpret and approach complicated challenges. However, this area is under-researched and often misunderstood. Aspects of family and culture deserve more attention, as do matters related to migration and generational change. My aim with this research is to shed more light on young Pacific women’s experiences of emotional wellbeing challenges and support in Aotearoa New Zealand, to promote understanding of a Pacific sub-group that is often overlooked. This thesis uses a Pacific qualitative approach, talanoa, as both the chosen method and methodology. Talanoa is particularly suitable in Pacific research on topics that concern and affect Pacific peoples; the underpinning relational values of talanoa are interwoven throughout its foundation and help researchers uphold shared Pacific values such as respect, appreciation, and service. One-on-one talanoa sessions with 20 young Pacific women provide the data for this study. As a result, reasons for the lack of understanding regarding emotional wellbeing of young Pacific women are revealed. These include assumptions about family dynamics, childhood home environments, parents’ and elders’ experiences as children, cultural influences, community approval and disapproval regarding support, and intergenerational trauma. The findings indicate the need for support within Pacific communities to challenge negative perspectives of emotional wellbeing, support within families to acknowledge intergenerational trauma that impacts relationships, and the potential benefit to support services of increased knowledge of Pacific peoples’ trauma and history in Aotearoa New Zealand.</p
Cross-border interpersonal knowledge sharing within the MNE: does intra-MNE competition hinder or facilitate it?
No full textPurpose: The existing literature presents mixed findings on how intra-multinational enterprise (MNE) competition affects cross-border interpersonal knowledge sharing; some studies indicate that it hinders, while others suggest that it facilitates, such exchanges. The purpose of this study is to address this issue by proposing and testing the U-shaped curvilinear effects of intra-MNE competition on cross-border interpersonal knowledge sharing. Design/methodology/approach: The authors conducted a survey bias test, confirmatory factor analysis and regression analysis on data gathered from a two-stage questionnaire survey of 333 R&D employees in India, representing 40 R&D subsidiaries across MNEs headquartered in 11 countries. To mitigate potential common method bias, the authors implemented ex-ante and ex-post measures. Findings: The results of this study show a U-shaped effect of perceived intra-MNE competition on interpersonal knowledge sharing behaviours. The authors found that low to moderate levels of intra-MNE competition hinder cross-border interpersonal knowledge sharing within the MNE, while moderate to high levels facilitate it. Originality/value: The novelty of this study lies in challenging the current linear relationship and highlighting that the impact of the perceived intensity of intra-MNE competition on knowledge-sharing behaviours varies at different competition levels
A Review of the Law and Governance around Haka Ka Mate: A Clash and Contest of Worldviews and Legal Systems
No full textThis paper reviews the New Zealand Haka Ka Mate Attribution Act 2014 and its implementation. It addresses whether the interests of Ngāti Toa Rangatira relating to Ka Mate are sufficiently protected by this Act, in theory and in practice. It starts with an examination of the interests and cultural significance of Ka Mate to Ngāti Toa, before addressing why Ka Mate cannot be protected via standard Western intellectual property regimes. The paper then assesses the Haka Ka Mate Attribution Act 2014 in the context of Te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi) and the Waitangi Tribunal Wai 262 Report. The effectiveness of Act is subsequently analysed vis-à-vis empirical data on how Ngāti Toa assert their interests in relation to external parties’ use of Ka Mate. The paper concludes that Ngāti Toa’s kaitiaki (guardian) relationship with Ka Mate could be better protected than it is under the Haka Ka Mate Act 2014, and that better protection of this kaitiaki relationship would support better organisational systems to practice kaitiakitanga (guardianship)
Extreme Weather and The Economics of Fisheries
No full textThis thesis contains three essays on Extreme Weather and the Economics of Fisheries. The first essay, Marine Heatwaves and Commercial Fishing in New Zealand, investigates the influence of marine heatwaves (MHWs) on fish catch within the ocean in New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic Zone. MHWs, characterized by short-term sea-surface temperature (SST) anomalies, are becoming more frequent due to anthropogenic climate change. Using high-resolution SST and fish catch data, the study applies Geographically and Temporally Weighted Regression to analyse the spatially heterogeneous impacts of MHWs. The results show that moderate MHWs are associated with increased fish catches; however, intense MHWs lead to significant declines, disrupting fish populations and habitats. This chapter highlights the economic and ecological vulnerabilities posed by the intensifying MHWs and emphasizes the need for adaptive fisheries management to ensure sustainability.The second essay, Impact of Tropical Cyclones on Fishing Activity in the Philippines, identifies the main fishing grounds within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and examines the response of fishing vessels to tropical cyclones (TCs) in 2012. Using satellite imagery from NOAA and TC data from the International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship, this study employs kernel density estimation to map fishing grounds and advanced regression techniques to analyse the effect of TC speed on fishing activity. Results indicate an overall negative impact of TCs on vessel activity during and two days after their passage, with significant reductions in the Sibuyan Sea, Visayan Sea, and Panay Gulf. Daily commercial fishing production in Western Visayas was estimated to decline by 7,800 tons, affecting over 188,000 families. These findings highlight the vulnerability of fisheries to TCs and the broader socio-economic consequences for coastal communities.The third essay, The Impact of Tropical Cyclones on Fishing Boats: Global Perspective, quantifies the effects of TCs on fishing activity globally from 2012 to 2023 across 42 countries. Using satellite imagery and tropical cyclone data, the study applies kernel density estimation to identify fishing grounds and Generalized Linear Mixed Models to assess TC impacts. The analysis reveals considerable regional variation, with wind speed effects ranging from -1.17% to +0.50% change in boat numbers per knot increase. Southeast Asian countries, including Indonesia (-1.22%), the Philippines (-0.82%), and Myanmar (-0.58%), experienced the most significant negative impacts, while positive effects were observed in fishing grounds of China (+0.45%) and Canada (+0.45%). Future projections suggest severe impacts for the Marshall Islands (-1.96%) and Vanuatu (-1.93%), highlighting the vulnerability of these regions to TC intensification. The study also reports that Japan, China, and the Philippines recorded the highest number of TC-affected days in their EEZ (205, 188, and 129, respectively), indicating prolonged disruptions to fishing activities in the Northwest Pacific.</p
Exploring the Contribution of CD4+ T Cell Help in Boosting Mucosal Humoral Immunity
No full textVaccination is a critical public health measure that protects individuals from bacterial and viral infections. However, viruses like influenza can evade vaccine-induced immunity, particularly antibody-mediated protection, reducing vaccine effectiveness. Current influenza vaccines also rely largely on intramuscular injection, which fails to trigger adequate mucosal immunity at sites of infection. This thesis aimed to enhance local mucosal humoral immunity by investigating the role of CD4⁺ T cell help to B cells, elicited by mucosal subunit peptide vaccination. Subunit peptide vaccines are advantageous as they incorporate small, targeted antigenic peptides to defined regions of influenza proteins, such as those that are conserved between virus strains, and can be safely delivered via mucosal routes. However, peptide vaccines often exhibit low immunogenicity. To address this, we created a self-adjuvanted vaccine by conjugating peptides to alpha-galactosylceramide (αGC), which activates Natural Killer T (NKT) cells in the mucosa. In turn these cells can provide immunostimulatory signals that stimulate antigen presenting cells (including both dendritic cells and B cells). The vaccine included either the universal non-virally derived pan DR epitope (PADRE) peptide or the influenza nucleoprotein derived NP₃₁₁₋₃₂₅ CD4⁺ T cell peptide, conjugated to a B cell antigen.We used this vaccine platform to discern which CD4⁺ T cell peptide best stimulates CD4⁺ T follicular helper cells (Tfh) known to support B cells, and optimal humoral immunity. We found peptide vaccines containing PADRE induced stronger mucosal CD4⁺ Tfh cell responses compared to NP₃₁₁₋₃₂₅ and could elicit robust antibody responses. We also addressed when CD4⁺ T cell help is most important using various recall and non-recall response models. Interestingly, recalling virus specific memory NP₃₁₁₋₃₂₅ did not offer any significant benefits over responses. Based on these findings, we identified PADRE as an effective CD4⁺ T cell peptide and incorporated it into an influenza peptide vaccine with αGC and a conserved influenza B cell peptide. Intranasal administration of this vaccine generated influenza peptide specific antibodies and provided protection against influenza. Notably, protection was also achieved with vaccines lacking the influenza B cell peptide, suggesting that mucosal NKT cells play a key protective role in these vaccine platforms. While the antibody response did not play a key role in protection against the PR8 H1N1 influenza strain, it is not known whether antibodies specific to this minimal-peptide based vaccine can confer protection against other influenza virus strains, highlighting the difficulty of identifying epitopes that confer broad specificity. In summary, this thesis highlights the potential of PADRE peptide vaccines in enhancing mucosal humoral immunity and supports its incorporation into future influenza vaccines.</p
The Effect of a Novel Heparan Sulfate Mimetic on Inflammatory Migration Across the Blood-Brain Barrier Endothelium
No full textThe brain is one of the most delicate organs in the body, therefore it requires protection from both endogenous and exogenous insults that may cause injury. To protect from damage from inside the body, a range of cells, termed the blood-brain barrier (BBB), work synergistically to prevent large molecules and other cells from crossing from the blood into the brain. One of the most important cell types in this network is the endothelial cells that line the lumen of the vasculature. These endothelial cells have functionally enhanced barrier properties compared to other endothelial surfaces in the body by reducing pro-migratory functions and increasing tight cell contacts. This prevents excessive migration of circulating immune cells into the brain and stops potentially damaging larger molecules crossing into the brain. However, this all changes in the face of neuroinflammation.Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune neuroinflammatory disease that is characterised by demyelination in the central nervous system (CNS). This damaging process is carried out by autoreactive immune cells at the dysregulated blood-brain barrier. Once inside the brain, these cells attack the myelin sheaths that surround neuronal axons, leading to progressive neurological decline. The most successful treatments are ones that broadly prevent the trafficking of leukocytes into the brain. While these treatments significantly improve the quality of life for people living with MS, side effects of wide immunosuppression can have detrimental effects on their lives. These side effects can be life-threatening and identify the need for continued treatment development.Heparanase, and its substrate heparan sulfate, have been implicated in migratory functions of immune cells in MS. Heparanase is a ubiquitously expressed enzyme that is responsible for degrading the extracellular matrix component heparan sulfate that covers individual cells. Leukocytes use heparanase to destabilise the extracellular matrix at the blood-brain barrier to cause the breakdown of the tightly regulated barrier function. Previous studies have shown that inhibiting heparanase in a murine model of MS, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis EAE, reduced disease, and migration of leukocytes into the CNS. This heparanase inhibition can be achieved by using heparan sulfate mimetics, compounds that mimic endogenous heparan sulfate but have inhibitory properties. While these have shown promise in preventing heparanase-mediated cancer metastasis and reducing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, many of the current heparan sulfate mimetics require expensive andcomplex synthesis with a range of off-target effects, reducing their ability to be clinically useful.Tet-29 is a novel heparan sulfate mimetic developed by the Ferrier Institute. The structure consists of a dendritic core with four sulphated oligosaccharide arms. Due to its compact size and cheaper starting materials the synthesis of Tet-29 is faster and more economical. This thesis proposes that Tet-29 is protective in EAE by regulating the migration of immune cells by inhibiting lymphocyte-derived heparanase. This regulation of immune cell trafficking was investigated using histological analysis of brains from treated mice, and by developing an in vitro model of migration across the brain endothelium.Immunohistochemical analysis of brain sections from EAE mice showed the integrity of the blood-brain barrier was rescued with treatment. Using staining methods to determine the integrity of the BBB under EAE conditions showed a rescue to BBB integrity. Integrity was measured by identifying the amount of albumin, a blood plasma protein, leaking out of the blood vessels. This was significantly increased in EAE, but almost non-existent in healthy mice with EAE treated therapeutically with Tet-29. Alongside this, reduced expression of important migratory proteins, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1, were also reduced with treatment.To further investigate the mechanism of how Tet-29 regulates trafficking into the CNS, an in vitro model of the BBB endothelium was established. It was first shown that ConA and CCL21 can drive the trafficking of splenocytes across the endothelial barrier. Further migration assays containing Tet-29 showed a reduction in splenocyte migration in response to ConA and CCL21-driven migration.Overall, this work shows that Tet-29 may be capable of rescuing the BBB integrity by inhibiting migratory responses exhibited by inflammatory immune cells. While the exact mechanism of the migratory regulation requires further research, this work furthers our understanding of Tet-29 in neuroinflammation.</p
Atlas of Dining and Connection: a taste of place
No full textHow might designing environments of dining nurture human connection?Environments of dining hold unique potential to actively shape human connection. The research highlights the dynamic role of environments of dining as interfaces with place, exploring opportunities to nurture meaningful relationships between people and their surroundings through the way these environments are designed.Following an adapted patchworking methodology, this thesis charts a subjective and explorative journey of discovery through the interconnected worlds of commensality, connection, and relational architectures. It develops a generative ‘kit of parts’ design framework through four iterative research cycles that integrate theoretical inquiry, case studies, and personal reflection. This framework addresses the micro-scale of human interaction with space, layering moments of design and guiding narratives to collectively shape dining environments. Tools developed as part of this design framework include: • Using flavour as a thesis-specific language to articulate and explore key concepts.• Interpretive analysis of ritualistic dining typologies to inform design strategies.• A series of transferrable design ‘tools’; forming an overarching strategy for creating connective environments.• Opportunities specific to New Zealand: a local guide for creating nurturing dining environments.• A speculative design outcome to test the applicability of the findings in practice.This research contributes to interior-architecture by proposing a pathway for creating dining environments imbued with a strong sense of umami—environments that nurture human connections to place. It offers a framework for advancing more meaningful design practices and ways of thinking about dining spaces.</p
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