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Aim: Mobulid rays are a group of threatened batoid fishes susceptible to population decline from targeted fisheries and accidental capture. Spatial distributions of mobulid rays remain poorly known. Prior studies found commonalities between favourable environments and prey among various mobulid species, yet most were conducted in tropical waters. To explore the habitat use and distribution of mobulid rays in a temperate environment we model the habitat suitability of two mobulid rays (Mobula mobular and Mobula birostris) in Aotearoa New Zealand using fisheries and citizen science occurrence data spanning almost two decades. Location: Northeastern coast of Aotearoa, New Zealand. Methods: Boosted Regression Tree models were used to predict the annual habitat suitability and favourable environmental conditions of the two species based on available sightings records in conjunction with high resolution (1 km2) environmental data. Results: The sympatric study species had contrasting habitat requirements. We found a separation in their spatial distribution defined by the 200 m isobath – the onshore extent for M. birostris and the offshore extent for M. mobular. While there were only subtle variations in relative habitat suitability for M. mobular over the study period, M. birostris exhibited greater interannual variability. Despite differing interannual patterns, spatial separation, as a function of environmental properties, persisted regardless of the year. Main Conclusions: Our results suggest that associations between mobulid species may differ from tropical regions due to regional adaptations to prey availability or local environmental conditions unique to colder and more productive temperate waters. Our findings highlight the importance of multi‐species surveys and the inclusion of temporal variability in support of separate species‐specific management plans to account for differing stressors impacting each species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT This paper examines the previous theoretical interfaces of Indigenous oral tradition and archaeology in Oceania, specifically in Aotearoa (New Zealand). Historical processes of writing down kōrero, or oral histories, by amateur historians and ethnologists in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, culminated in the romanticised traditions of the early Polynesian society and influenced contemporary archaeological scholarship. In response to criticisms, archaeologists attempted to validate kōrero using Western research methodologies. However, attempts often fell short and processual archaeologists of the mid‐late‐20th century considered oral tradition and archaeology as incapable of cross‐validation. Parallel ethnological scholarship focused on the symbolism in oral histories as indicators of their function in contemporary society or as legitimate forms of recounting actual historical events after critical evaluation. More recent archaeologists use kōrero about the last few centuries like any other historical source. Māori scholars have taken inspiration from previous theoretical arcs to position kōrero in a postmodern space of relative truths or to critically analyse its historical and functional values. The review concludes with how the interface of oral history and archaeology might follow Kaupapa Māori research methodologies and current materialist critiques of dominant settlement pattern theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: New Zealand is one of the last high‐income countries in the world experiencing significant rates of rheumatic fever. Nurses play a crucial role in rheumatic fever prevention; however, little is understood as to how nurses can best achieve this. Aim: To explore nursing practices that optimise rheumatic fever prevention. Design: An integrative review. Methods: Four electronic databases (CINAHL, SCOPUS, Medline via, and Ovid) were searched for peer‐reviewed empirical articles published from 2013 to 2023. Grey literature (guidelines/reports) was also sourced. Critical appraisal was applied using the Mixed‐Methods Appraisal Tools and the Joanna Briggs Critical Appraisal checklist. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101, thematic analysis method was used to generate themes. Results: Seven research articles and three national reports were included. Four themes—in‐depth nursing knowledge and improving prophylaxis adherence, cultural competency, and therapeutic nurse–patient relationships—were found. Conclusion: While nursing knowledge and ways to improve injection adherence are essential, being culturally receptive and developing therapeutic relationships are equally important. Without strong and trusting relationships, it is difficult to deliver care required for prevention success. Implications to care: When working with vulnerable populations it is important to be culturally receptive in all interactions with patients and their families. Impact: New Zealand has high rates of rheumatic fever, especially among vulnerable populations such as Pacific Islanders and Māori. Nurses are often frontline primary care providers who, when skilled with the right tools, can help reduce the prevalence of this disease. Reporting method: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analysis flow chart. Patient or public contribution: No Patient or Public Contribution was required for this research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article contributes the first corpus-based study of possession in Māori, the indigenous language of Aotearoa New Zealand. Like most Polynesian languages, Māori has a dual possessive system involving a choice between the so-called A and O categories. While Māori grammars describe these categories in terms of the inherent semantic relationship between the possessum and possessor, there have been no large-scale corpus analyses demonstrating their use in natural contexts. Social media provide invaluable opportunities for such linguistic studies, capturing contemporary language use while alleviating the burden of gathering data through traditional means. We operationalise semantic distinctions to investigate possession in Māori-language tweets, focusing on the [possessum a/o possessor] construction (e.g., te tīmatanga o te wiki 'the beginning of the week'). In our corpus comprising 2500 tweets produced by more than 200 individuals, we find that users leverage a wide array of noun types encompassing many different semantic relationships. We observe not only the expected predominance of the O category, but also a tendency for examples described by Māori grammars as A-marked to instead be O-marked (59%). Although the A category persists in the corpus, our findings suggest that language change could be underway. Our primary dataset can be explored interactively online. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sharing of familiar foods is but one of the ways a cultural group identifies itself. But what happens if that cultural group begins to lose touch with, or control of, its food traditions? Worldwide, professional chefs are embracing traditional indigenous cookery techniques and ingredients in their search for national culinary identity. In doing so, the line between ownership and appropriation is becoming an increasingly fine one. Within today’s Māori society, the hāngī is one of the few remaining traditional food preparation techniques still in regular use. Yet the use of its traditional earth oven form is growing more infrequent as less labor-intensive variations grow in popularity and as the technique becomes increasingly incorporated into commercial hospitality practice. Drawing on research that explores the knowledge and personal experiences of seven hāngī practitioners, this paper examines the cultural significance of the hāngī as a traditional indigenous food preparation technique. As the hāngī increasingly crosses over into the commercial realm it questions the fine line between cookery technique and indigenous culinary property as it asks just what makes a hāngī a hāngī? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents outcomes for a Housing First (HF) cohort in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Using integrated governmental administrative data, we analysed outcomes for a cohort of 357 people, comparing health, justice, income, and social welfare indicators the year prior to HF and five years after being housed. In the fifth year after being housed, improved outcomes across each of these sectors were noted, with particularly impressive improvements found in income levels (+38%) and mental health. These results demonstrate the efficacy of this HF programme in improving well-being. Despite such notable improvements, there is room for HF to have a greater impact in the context of wider system changes that support overall well-being, as well as the goal of making homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring.

Abstract Background 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is drug of high prevalence in Aotearoa New Zealand and is the primary drug analysed by legal drug checking services. We aimed to address the gap in literature pertaining to MDMA-related harm reduction behaviour and harm experiences within the country. Methods An online survey was used to assess the harm reduction behaviours (e.g., limiting consumption, planning use, seeking information) of people who use MDMA, in addition to their use of reagent testing and the major national drug checking and harm reduction service, KnowYourStuffNZ. Results In total, 915 people completed the survey (60.7% females, aged 18–65, median = 24, IQR = 20–28). Frequency of various MDMA-related harm reduction behaviours differed, although these were carried out relatively frequently by most participants. Those who reported experiencing harm (physical, psychological, spiritual, social) from MDMA, or another drug presumed to be MDMA, reported less frequent harm reduction behaviours than non-harmed consumers. Reagent testing of MDMA had been conducted by 42.3% of the sample. Approximately 27% of the sample had used KnowYourStuffNZ services. Of KnowYourStuffNZ clients, 95.9% reported learning about harm reduction, and 53.3% reported changing their behaviour because of the service. Reasons for not using the KnowYourStuffNZ service were primarily lack of availability in local area (32.8%) or at relevant events (51.8%), and lack of concern with substance quality (29.8%). MDMA harm was reported by 14.4% of the sample, whilst reported harm was more common from consumption of presumably non-MDMA substances, self-reported as being mistaken for MDMA. Harm was primarily physical or psychological. Potential MDMA dependence was apparent in 6.9% of the sample. Conclusions The findings highlight potential targets for harm reduction education and interventions and emphasize the need for greater availability of readily accessible drug checking services in Aotearoa New Zealand.

In the unique landscape of immunology research in New Zealand, this article explores the collaborative networks spanning the two main islands, through a conversation with Associate Professor Joanna Kirman and Dr Robert Weinkove. The discussions delve into their dynamic collaborations with countries such as Asia, Australia and the United States, from their laboratories at the University of Otago and the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, respectively, provides insight into the translational research landscape of New Zealand, and the integration of Māori culture into all aspects of scientific research and clinical practise. Kirman's work in understanding immunological memory in tuberculosis and Weinkove's research in cancer immunotherapies, particularly CAR‐T cells, are highlighted. The natural beauty and accessibility of New Zealand supports its research diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is drug of high prevalence in Aotearoa New Zealand and is the primary drug analysed by legal drug checking services. We aimed to address the gap in literature pertaining to MDMA-related harm reduction behaviour and harm experiences within the country. Methods: An online survey was used to assess the harm reduction behaviours (e.g., limiting consumption, planning use, seeking information) of people who use MDMA, in addition to their use of reagent testing and the major national drug checking and harm reduction service, KnowYourStuffNZ. Results: In total, 915 people completed the survey (60.7% females, aged 18–65, median = 24, IQR = 20–28). Frequency of various MDMA-related harm reduction behaviours differed, although these were carried out relatively frequently by most participants. Those who reported experiencing harm (physical, psychological, spiritual, social) from MDMA, or another drug presumed to be MDMA, reported less frequent harm reduction behaviours than non-harmed consumers. Reagent testing of MDMA had been conducted by 42.3% of the sample. Approximately 27% of the sample had used KnowYourStuffNZ services. Of KnowYourStuffNZ clients, 95.9% reported learning about harm reduction, and 53.3% reported changing their behaviour because of the service. Reasons for not using the KnowYourStuffNZ service were primarily lack of availability in local area (32.8%) or at relevant events (51.8%), and lack of concern with substance quality (29.8%). MDMA harm was reported by 14.4% of the sample, whilst reported harm was more common from consumption of presumably non-MDMA substances, self-reported as being mistaken for MDMA. Harm was primarily physical or psychological. Potential MDMA dependence was apparent in 6.9% of the sample. Conclusions: The findings highlight potential targets for harm reduction education and interventions and emphasize the need for greater availability of readily accessible drug checking services in Aotearoa New Zealand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundFollowing a Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. He Rourou Whai Painga is a dietary intervention trial with behaviour change support that seeks to determine whether a MedDiet pattern can provide equivalent benefits in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ), a country where cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death. To do this, the MedDiet needs to be adapted in an acceptable way for NZ, with consideration of the Māori (indigenous) population.MethodsThe MedDiet was defined using existing MedDiet scoring tools and adapted to the NZ context using local guidelines. The resulting NZ MedDiet pattern was used to develop a kai/food basket, including products from industry partners, for participants in He Rourou Whai Painga. Criteria set for the kai/food basket included providing up to 75% of energy requirements and falling within the Australia/NZ Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range to reduce risk of chronic disease. Māori researchers on the team provided support to ensure Mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge and values) was upheld through this process.ResultsThe NZ MedDiet pattern criteria was similar to the identified MedDiet scoring tools, with differences in recommendations for dairy, red meat, alcohol and olive oil. The resulting kai/food baskets were estimated to provide on average 73.5% of energy requirements for households, with 36% from fat, 8.6% from saturated fat, 17% protein, and 42% carbohydrate. Forty-two industry partners, including 3 Māori businesses, agreed to provide 22 types of food products towards the total.ConclusionSmall, feasible changes to the MedDiet can be made to align with the NZ guidelines and food environment. However, this eating pattern still differs from what the population, particularly Māori, are currently consuming. Continued partnership with Māori and additional behavioural support is important to facilitate adherence to this dietary pattern within He Rourou Whai Painga.Trial registration: https://www.anzctr.org.au/Default.aspx, identifier ACTRN12622000906752 and https://www.isrctn.com/, identifier ISRCTN89011056.

This article summarizes Māori knowledge of a selected range of animals through the literature as a first step in undertaking research into the potential of incorporating Māori concepts into animal ethics topics for senior school and post-school biology education. This article is based on a critical Māori "reading" of existing literature, a writing process that both collects and analyzes data from available records, examined through a Kaupapa Māori (i.e., Māori-centered lens). The scientific category of "animal" does not exist in te ao Māori (the Māori world), so the approach taken below is to give an introductory synopsis of Māori knowledge of a sample of animals of Aotearoa, mindful that Māori "knowledge" includes and embeds a Māori understanding of ethics. This summary of Māori knowledge of animals is presented in six sections: kurī (dog), kiore (rat), manu (birds), ika (fish), ngārara (reptiles), and aitanga pepeke (insects/invertebrates). Key points emerge about Māori knowledge of animals, including a final point reflecting on the nature and status of a synopsis, a genre of particular relevance to Kaupapa Māori scholars studying Māori knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thirty years ago, DNA sequences were obtained from an extinct Aotearoa New Zealand animal for the first time. Since then, ancient DNA research has provided many – often unexpected – insights into the origins of New Zealand's terrestrial and marine vertebrate fauna. Because recent human activities in New Zealand have caused the decline or extinction of many endemic plant, bird, reptile, and marine mammal species, ancient DNA has been instrumental in reconstructing their identities and origins. However, most ancient DNA studies focusing on New Zealand species have been restricted to vertebrates, with small sample sizes, and/or relatively few genetic markers. This has limited their power to infer fine-scale biogeographic patterns, including (pre)historic distributions and range-shifts driven by past climate and environmental change. Recently, 'next-generation' methodological and technological advances have broadened the range of hypotheses that can feasibly be tested with ancient DNA. These advances represent an exciting opportunity for further exploring New Zealand biogeography using ancient DNA, but their promise has not yet been fully realised. In this review, we summarise the last 30 years of ancient DNA research into New Zealand faunal biogeography and highlight key objectives, challenges, and possibilities for the next 30 years and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Globally, plant species are facing numerous threats; an issue particularly acute for island floras, which often exhibit high levels of endemism. Ex situ conservation in seed banks is an important tool for plant conservation. However not all species' seeds can be stored in conventional seed banks. Data on seed storage behaviour are therefore vital for conservation decision making. Aims: To review available seed storage information for the New Zealand (NZ) indigenous seed plant flora, 86% of which are endemic. Methods: We compiled seed storage information for the NZ flora from databases and existing literature, and used boosted regression trees models to investigate predictors of seed storage behaviour for NZ woody plants. We used existing global models to predict the likely storage behaviour for the NZ woody flora where this was unknown, to examine the overall contribution that conventional seed banking could make towards NZ plant conservation. Key results: Data were available for 412 of 1823 seed plants, of which 83% produced orthodox seeds that can be stored in a conventional seed bank. Of the woody flora, the incidence of non-orthodox seeds was positively correlated with seed mass, plant height, biotic dispersal, and habitat diurnal temperature range. Eighty-one percent of the woody flora are predicted to produce orthodox seeds. Conclusions and implications: Conventional seed banking is likely to be suitable for a high proportion of the NZ flora. However, work is required to gain further seed storage behaviour data for NZ species, and to develop protocols for alternative ex situ conservation strategies for non-orthodox species, especially those facing in situ conservation threats. Seed banks are an important tool for plant conservation. However not all species can be stored. We compiled information on seed storage for New Zealand plants, finding that 83% could be stored in a seed bank. Plants unable to be banked are generally bird-dispersed canopy trees, including some threatened species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article takes up an ANTian sensibility to explore the enactment of a policy for educational collaboration in one region in the South Island of Aotearoa New Zealand (New Zealand). The case offers potential for considering the benefits of a sociology of associations (Latour 2005/2007): a Treaty-based bicultural nation, school atomisation consequential to a decades-long 'system' of self-managing schools, and geological actors in the form of damaging earthquakes in 2010 and 2011. The article considers the introduction of voluntary Kāhui Ako | Communities of Learning as a policy initiative intended to address achievement and equity concerns by providing support for collaboration. While the policy as articulated focuses on the aspirations and abilities of human actors in leadership roles, I take up ideas around actants, symmetry, alliance and translation to foreground other actors – both present and long absent – involved in myriad processes of policy enactment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aotearoa New Zealand feminist geographies involve alliances of connected and vibrant researchers who pay close attention to the politics of knowledge production, power, intersectionality and decolonisation. Safe spaces to speak and write together have been nurtured over time 'down under' due to a collective politics of care and mentoring. This special issue demonstrates the strength of collective thinking on resistance, resilience and reworking contemporary geographical practice in Aotearoa. The four empirically based and theoretically informed articles develop new thinking about resistance to colonialism, patriarchy, racism, metricisation and oppression. These critical articles contribute to feminist geographical knowledges both locally and globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Informed by relationality and reciprocity, Indigenous librarians who teach play a key role in creating learning opportunities for students to gain information literacy (IL) skills and become better users and creators of information. Through unstructured interviews with seven Indigenous librarians, we find that Indigenous identity and ways of knowing based on relationality and reciprocity are key components shaping the pedagogy of Indigenous librarians, as it informs the ways they enact accountability, build relationships, set boundaries, and practice care. Through this work, we offer a definition of Indigenous information literacy, which is the ability to use information and create or gain knowledge, while practicing the Indigenous concepts of relationality, reciprocity, and respect. This work lays the groundwork for further explorations of relationality, kinship, and Indigenous ways of knowing in information literacy and Indigenous librarianship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mentoring is a valued form of professional and cultural support among midwives in Aotearoa (see glossary for Māori translations). Mentoring occurs both informally and via formal programmes, including Māori mentoring initiatives with tauira, new graduate and rural midwives. International studies identify indigenous mentorship as a viable approach to supporting the retention and professional development of indigenous health workers. However, little research exists on the mentoring relationship from the perspective of Māori mentor midwives. Objective: To examine the mentoring relationship from the perspective of Māori mentor midwives. Method: This qualitative research used focus groups of Māori mentors, identified from the Find Your Mentor database, to explore their views of mentoring from a Māori perspective. A semi-structured topic guide used seven simple, open questions to stimulate discussion. Discussions were transcribed and analysed using Braun and Clarke's (2006) six steps of inductive thematic analysis. Findings: A vision of decolonisation lies at the heart of the mentoring relationship for Māori mentor midwives. Mentors see their role as supporting mentees to navigate the challenges of a Pākehā health system, and to strengthen their midwifery practice through Te Ao Māori. Mentors describe how they are guided by the principles of tika and pono, and work to create a culturally safe space based on mutuality and trust through sharing kai and incorporating their whānau and that of the mentee into the relationship. Being a Māori mentor also fills the kete of the mentors. Māori mentors are sustained through being part of a midwifery hapū and experience joy and hope in sharing ngā taonga tuku iho with the next generation. Conclusion: The decolonising approach to Māori midwifery mentoring has tangible benefits for Māori mentees and Māori midwifery. Māori mentoring activities evoke different experiences for Māori mentees, as evidenced by mentor behaviours that are unique within Te Ao Māori. Being part of Māori mentoring relationships also nurtures the resilience of the mentors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While much existing research investigates embodiment and body image in individualised terms, new research in youth studies takes a wider view. How are young people's experiences of embodiment entangled with sociocultural and structural influences? How do young people come to develop a sense of embodied identity in contexts that teem with hostile and unattainable body ideals? How are possibilities for affirming and affirmative embodiment navigated by young people—especially those living outside prevailing appearance norms? In this paper, we engage with these questions, drawing insights from an in-depth, collaborative research project designed to understand what supports and constrains hauora and wellbeing for young people in Aotearoa (New Zealand). First, we analyse young people's accounts thematically, identifying three prevailing systems of cultural privilege that regulate embodiment. These include processes of racialisation and gendering, as well as cisnormative, heteronormative, ableist and healthist logics. Second, we work closely with one young person's interview, exploring how her narrative unsettles prevailing norms of appearance and embodiment. By spotlighting what young people themselves tell us about their bodies and embodied experiences, this paper demonstrates the value of an embodiment lens for youth and wellbeing studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This editorial is a brief summary of the articles, interviews and reviews contained in issue Volume 13, Issue 2 of Book 2.0 (BTWO), an interdisciplinary peer-reviewed journal primarily concerned with book creation and publication, including writing, illustration and design and the theoretical and practical study of books, literature, creative writing, storytelling, languages and cultures. Contents for this issue include articles, interviews and reviews mainly focusing on collaboration and cooperation between creative practitioners, scholars and in publishing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While much existing research investigates embodiment and body image in individualised terms, new research in youth studies takes a wider view. How are young people’s experiences of embodiment entangled with sociocultural and structural influences? How do young people come to develop a sense of embodied identity in contexts that teem with hostile and unattainable body ideals? How are possibilities for affirming and affirmative embodiment navigated by young people—especially those living outside prevailing appearance norms? In this paper, we engage with these questions, drawing insights from an in-depth, collaborative research project designed to understand what supports and constrains hauora and wellbeing for young people in Aotearoa (New Zealand). First, we analyse young people’s accounts thematically, identifying three prevailing systems of cultural privilege that regulate embodiment. These include processes of racialisation and gendering, as well as cisnormative, heteronormative, ableist and healthist logics. Second, we work closely with one young person’s interview, exploring how her narrative unsettles prevailing norms of appearance and embodiment. By spotlighting what young people themselves tell us about their bodies and embodied experiences, this paper demonstrates the value of an embodiment lens for youth and wellbeing studies.

Pacific Arts N.S. Vol. 22 No. 2 (2022)

Coastal Cannibals is a photographic series exploring the impacts, contradictions, and possibilities of “development” within Whangārei Te Rerenga Paraoa (Whangārei Harbour). Located on New Zealand’s northeastern coast, Whangārei Harbour is a site of significant cultural, ecological, and historical significance for the different iwi (tribes) and hapū (subtribes) who have resided—and continue to reside—there. For these tribes, maintaining unbroken occupation has not been straightforward; the harbour is a contested and still-consumed space. Iwi and hapū contend with heavy industry, residential developments, and regional policies that both disregard tribal authority and disrupt kaitiakitanga (guardianship relations). Coastal Cannibals focuses on the harbour’s shoreline developments, where industry is both a source of tension for iwi and hapū, as it places huge pressures on the ocean and surrounding environs, and of necessary jobs and income for a historically underserviced region. For those committed to Indigeneity, occupation is never a straightforward affair. In the postcolonial tradition of “speaking back,” the photo series draws its title from a description used against the great Ngātiwai rangatira Paratene Te Manu prior to his and his tribe’s eviction from the nearby Te Hauturu-o-Toi (Little Barrier Island), asking us today: who is eating away at what?

This article contributes the first corpus-based study of possession in Māori, the indigenous language of Aotearoa New Zealand. Like most Polynesian languages, Māori has a dual possessive system involving a choice between the so-called A and O categories. While Māori grammars describe these categories in terms of the inherent semantic relationship between the possessum and possessor, there have been no large-scale corpus analyses demonstrating their use in natural contexts. Social media provide invaluable opportunities for such linguistic studies, capturing contemporary language use while alleviating the burden of gathering data through traditional means. We operationalise semantic distinctions to investigate possession in Māori-language tweets, focusing on the [possessum a/o possessor] construction (e.g., te tīmatanga o te wiki ‘the beginning of the week’). In our corpus comprising 2500 tweets produced by more than 200 individuals, we find that users leverage a wide array of noun types encompassing many different semantic relationships. We observe not only the expected predominance of the O category, but also a tendency for examples described by Māori grammars as A-marked to instead be O-marked (59%). Although the A category persists in the corpus, our findings suggest that language change could be underway. Our primary dataset can be explored interactively online.

Simple Summary: This research aimed to explore cat and dog owners' attitudes towards various pet care practices in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ). An online survey was conducted from January to March 2019, and 2358 people responded to the pet care questions. The study revealed that almost all respondents felt that providing adequate housing, regular worming and flea treatments, microchipping, and vaccinations were important pet care practices. Fewer respondents felt that regular veterinary clinic visits were important, and some did not appear to understand that breeding for certain looks causes health problems for animals. Characteristics of pet owners, such as gender, ethnicity, age range, having children, having a rural upbringing, and place of residence, were associated with particular attitudes towards the various practices. Knowing about these factors will help develop strategies that ensure everyone understands what pet care practices are important for responsible pet ownership. Our findings emphasize some of the complexities that underlie NZ pet owners' attitudes and opinions towards various pet care practices. The findings underscore the need for additional research, culturally appropriate and effective educational resources, and customized strategies to encourage responsible pet care to ensure animals, along with their owners, live good lives. This research aimed to explore cat and dog owners' attitudes and opinions towards various pet care practices in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ), and determine what factors were associated with them. An online survey composed of both closed and open-ended questions was administered from January to March 2019. A total of 2358 respondents answered the questions on pet care practices. Of these, 37.5 percent (n = 885) were both dog and cat owners, 28.0 percent (n = 652) were cat owners, and 26.0 percent (n = 609) were dog owners, while 9% (n = 212) of respondents did not own a cat or dog at the time of taking the survey. The study revealed that most respondents (>90%) acknowledge the importance of providing adequate housing, regular worming and flea treatments, microchipping, and vaccinations for their pets. Notably, demographic factors such as gender, ethnicity, age range, having children, having a rural upbringing, and place of residence influenced owners' attitudes, with those towards cat care practices varying more than those for dogs. The study highlights the need for responsible pet ownership interventions considering these demographic factors. The study identifies a knowledge gap among pet owners concerning the importance of regular veterinary visits and the impact of breeding for certain looks on animal welfare. The use of shock collar devices provoked varying opinions on their usage for training and behavior modification. The study suggests that enhancing pet owners' knowledge is pivotal for responsible pet ownership. Overall, the findings emphasize the need for tailored interventions that account for demographic variations for promoting responsible pet ownership and animal welfare. The findings underscore the importance of improving access to veterinary health care teams, especially in rural areas, and of providing culturally appropriate education resources for both pet owners and veterinary health care teams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The harms arising from psychoactive drug use are complex, and harm reduction strategies should be informed by a detailed understanding of the extent and nature of that harm. Drug harm is also context specific, and so any comprehensive assessment of drug harm should be relevant to the characteristics of the population in question. This study aimed to evaluate and rank drug harms within Aotearoa New Zealand using a multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) framework, and to separately consider harm within the total population, and among youth. Methods: Two facilitated workshops involved the separate ranking of harm for the total population, and then for youth aged 12–17, by two expert panels. In the total population workshop, 23 drugs were scored against 17 harm criteria, and those criteria were then evaluated using a swing weighting process. Scoring and weighting were subsequently updated during the youth-specific workshop. All results were recorded and analysed using specialised MCDA software. Results: When considering overall harm, the MCDA modelling results indicated that alcohol, methamphetamine and synthetic cannabinoids were the most harmful to both the overall population and the youth, followed by tobacco in the total population. Alcohol remained the most harmful drug for the total population when separately considering harm to those who use it, and harm to others. Conclusions: The results provide detailed and context-specific insight into the harm associated with psychoactive drugs use within Aotearoa New Zealand. The findings also demonstrate the value of separately considering harm for different countries, and for different population subgroups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This study sought to explore patterns of memory assessment in neuropsychological practice within New Zealand (NZ), to compare it to that previously described in Europe, North America and Australia, and to consider the implications for neuropsychology training in NZ. 80 NZ-registered psychologists completed an online survey asking them how frequently they utilized 50 commonly used tests of memory. Participants were also asked about their main areas of specialty, work context and demographic information. Whilst participants appeared, broadly, to utilize a similar set of ‘core’ tests to their colleagues in Europe, Australia and North America, there were a number of tests and test domains that were rarely utilized by NZ psychologists, in contrast to overseas samples. Furthermore, several of the tests in common usage have been shown to have significant validity issues for use with an NZ population. Overall, this study suggests that most NZ psychologists employ a similar approach to memory assessment, typically relying upon a small number of well-known tests. This appears to contrast with a greater variability of practice shown in studies of European, North American and Australian psychologists and raises several interesting questions for the future development of neuropsychology in NZ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impacts of global climate change are threatening the health and integrity of New Zealand’s seaweed ecosystems that provide crucial ecological, economic, and cultural benefits. Important species that comprise these ecosystems include canopy forming large brown algae (fucoids and kelp), and understorey species. Here we review current knowledge of the measured impacts of climate change stressors on New Zealand seaweeds. Ocean warming has driven increasing frequencies, durations, and intensities of marine heatwaves globally and in New Zealand. Significant negative impacts resulting from heatwaves have already been observed on New Zealand’s canopy forming brown algae (giant kelp Macrocystis pyrifera and bull kelp Durvillaea spp.). We predict that ongoing ocean warming and associated marine heatwaves will alter the distributional range and basic physiology of many seaweed species, with poleward range shifts for many species. Increased extreme weather events causes accelerated erosion of sediments into the marine environment and re-suspension of these sediments, termed coastal darkening, which has reduced the growth rates and available vertical space on rocky reefs in New Zealand and is predicted to worsen in the future. Furthermore, ocean acidification will reduce the growth and recruitment of coralline algae, this may reduce the settlement success of many marine invertebrate larvae. Mechanistic underpinnings of the effects of multiple drivers occurring in combination is poorly described. Finally, local stressors, such as overfishing, will likely interact with global change in these ecosystems. Thus, we predict very different futures for New Zealand seaweed ecosystems depending on whether they are managed appropriately or not. Given recent increases in sea surface temperatures and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events in some regions of New Zealand, predicting the impacts of climate change on seaweeds and the important communities they support is becoming increasingly important for conserving resilient seaweed ecosystems in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Understanding the diversity and multiplicity of identities experienced by youth in Aotearoa (Te reo Māori name of the country) New Zealand (NZ) is vital to promoting their wellbeing. Ethnic minority youth (EMY) in NZ (defined as those identifying with Asian, Middle Eastern, Latin American and African ethnic origins) have been historically under-studied and under-counted, despite reporting high levels of discrimination, a major determinant of mental health and wellbeing and potentially a proxy for other inequities. In this paper, we describe the protocol for a multi-year study that examines, using an intersectional approach, how multiple marginalised identities impact mental and emotional wellbeing of EMY. Methods: This is a multiphase, multi-method study designed to capture the diversity of lived realities of EMY who self-identify with one or more additional marginalised intersecting identity (the population referred here as EMYi). Phase 1 (Descriptive study) will involve secondary analyses of national surveys to examine the prevalence and relationships between discrimination and wellbeing of EMYi. Phase 2 (Study on public discourse) will analyse data from media narratives, complemented by interviews with stakeholders to explore discourses around EMYi. Phase 3 (Study on lived experience) will examine lived experiences of EMYi to discuss challenges and sources of resilience, and how these are influenced by public discourse. Phase 4 (Co-design phase) will use a creative approach that is youth-centered and participatory, and will involve EMYi, creative mentors and health service, policy and community stakeholders as research partners and advisors. It will employ participatory generative creative methods to explore strengths-based solutions to discriminatory experiences. Discussion: This study will explore the implications of public discourse, racism and multiple forms of marginalisation on the wellbeing of EMYi. It is expected to provide evidence on the impacts of marginalisation on their mental and emotional wellbeing and inform responsive health practice and policy. Using established research tools and innovative creative means, it will enable EMYi to propose their own strength-based solutions. Further, population-based empirical research on intersectionality and health is still nascent, and even more scarce in relation to youth. This study will present the possibility of expanding its applicability in public health research focused on under-served communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article troubles themes of equity, inclusion and belonging for early childhood teachers in Aotearoa New Zealand. The authors argue that relationships between teachers matter and, in pursuit of transformative teaching praxis, can be considered as a site for restorative justice, leading to increased solidarity and collective action. While much debate has focused on the counter-colonial, bicultural and transformative potential of the early childhood curriculum Te Whāriki, research has also focused on the complexities of requiring a largely monocultural (Pākeha / of European descent) and underprepared workforce to meet its complex aspirations in the context of a neo-liberal policy landscape. An under-recognised aspect of this challenge is how the same contexts give rise to inequitable and divisive relationships between teachers, diminishing opportunities for transformative justice for children and families. This article brings these two matters into dialogue: first, it is a critical examination of teachers' narratives about their work and the complex and overlapping discourses that influence them and, second, it considers the transformative potential of inter-teacher groups as sites for restorative justice between teachers, leading to critical engagement with issues of inequity and collective advocacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses data from a survey of New Zealand teachers conducted in 2020 during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic. It considers this data in the light of a series of contexts: Te Tiriti o Waitangi; social inequalities particularly in relation to the impacts of colonisation and neoliberal social and economic policies on Māori; the New Zealand government's commitment to wellbeing; Te Ara Waiora, a Māori model of wellbeing utilised by the New Zealand Treasury; and the status of the teaching profession in Aotearoa New Zealand. Using data from the teachers' responses to the survey, it outlines ways in which wellbeing was prioritised by teachers during these early months of the pandemic, when teachers were suddenly required to pivot to online teaching. It argues that the wellbeing values as espoused in te ao Māori, a Māori worldview, and those articulated by teachers provide inspiration for a pathway beyond the privations of the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The healthcare system in Aotearoa New Zealand is currently undergoing a far-reaching overhaul. When it comes to mental health reforms, it is helpful to look at the road ahead, while paying attention to the road behind. Policies and services concerning the mental health and addiction sectors have undergone various reforms; first, during the transition from a hospital-centered to the current community-based system, and second, in the successive attempts to improve this system. In this article, we provide an overview of the current mental health and addiction health care system. We also discuss the impact of colonization on community mental health, the emergence of community-based mental health and addiction policy and services in Aotearoa New Zealand, and the challenges along the way. Finally, we identify five key areas requiring special attention during the current period of reform. Over all, we believe there is broad support for reducing the emphasis on individualized approaches to mental wellbeing and moving all systems and structures towards models inclusive of social context, including approaches that incorporate service users perspectives, family, communities, and culture. We look forward to policy and services with a much stronger orientation to the diverse needs of our population.

The aim and purpose of this article has been to advocate for autobiographical investigation and identification of positionality when non-indigenous researchers engage in indigenous methodologies. My experience as an international adoptee from a Romanian orphanage who experienced unsafe research practice shaped my emancipatory positioning and interpretive lens. It is from this positioning and experience of marginalisation I was concerned with finding a research paradigm that positions participants not as objective objects; but rather as rivers of knowledge with stories that determine the tide of the research. The lens of tangata tiriti (people of the treaty) from which I base my practice in Aotearoa, New Zealand; invites a positionality of neighbourliness, thus prioritising de-colonising/re-indigenising methodologies. The focus for my research project explored the disconnection between teachers who hold a Biblical world view and their students who experienced feelings of agitation and frustration. The participants contributed insights about teachers' pedagogy drawn from responding to two prompts: "what is happening when you were empowered by your teachers to flourish?" and "what is happening when you feel disempowered by your teachers?" The chosen research method Photoyarn, is a recently emerged form of photo-elicitation created by Jessa Rogers that honours aboriginal yarning circles. This article makes the case for recognizing our ontological and epistemological positioning thus maintaining authenticity in research and holding steadfast the ethical disposition intention of doing no harm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the contemporary phenomenon of decolonial Māori memes, created by young urban Māori to advance the project of decolonizing Aotearoa (New Zealand). We weave Kaupapa Māori (philosophy and practice of Māori people) theory with Foucauldian visual analysis and critical multimodality to analyze 154 memes posted on three Instagram accounts from 2019 to 2021. We demonstrate how the Māori meme creators use discursive strategies to advance decolonization locally, drawing on Māori concepts and practices, including kotahitanga (solidarity), whanaungatanga (relationship-building), whakapapa (ancestry), tino rangatiratanga (self-determination), and use of te reo Māori (the Māori language). We distinguish two functional categories: boundary-marking memes that reference racist Pākehā (New Zealander with European ancestry) behaviors that perpetuate colonization, and solidarity-building memes that reference Māori acts of decolonization. We argue that the humor of the memes provides a potential decolonization roadmap for New Zealanders via its critique of Pākehā actions and cultivation of kotahitanga among Māori. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Currently, there are very few studies examining pet ownership in Aotearoa, New Zealand (NZ) and the factors that influence pet owners' practices. To facilitate better pet management and enhance companion animal welfare, it is vital to understand current pet owners' practices and the factors that influence pet owners' behaviors. This knowledge will inform effective human behavior modification interventions that will benefit animal welfare and ensure pets in NZ are living a good life. This study investigates pet owners' practices in their households, using an online survey conducted between January and March 2019 involving adults residing in NZ. In addition, we explore what veterinary care pet owners access. There was a total of 2744 participants in the survey, with 2385 respondents answering the pet ownership questions. Of these, 885 (37%) owned both cat/s and dog/s, while 652 (28%) and 609 (26%) owned cat/s only or dog/s only, respectively. Data analysis using the demographics of the respondents provides insights into some of the factors associated with differences in the pet owner practices highlighted by the survey. This study used an online survey distributed between January and March 2019 to adults residing in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) to investigate cat and dog owner practices. Of the 2385 respondents, 885 (37%) owned both cat/s and dog/s, while 652 (28%) and 609 (26%) owned cat/s only or dog/s only, respectively. Nine percent of respondents (n = 212) did not own a cat or dog when the survey was administered. Gaps were identified in the practices of NZ pet owners with regard to regular grooming, immunizations, and deworming treatments. It was also found that many pets, especially cats, were allowed to wander freely both inside and outside the house. Collectively, these gaps in practice raise parasitology and infection concerns which may impact negatively on animal welfare and may increase the prevalence of zoonotic diseases. This study also revealed the need to improve desexing practices, particularly in dogs. Respondents in the survey expressed the wish to have pets regardless of the financial strain they may impose, indicating that future research should focus on reducing the financial burden of pet ownership along with promoting positive pet ownership practices. Our findings suggest the need for better education resources about pet ownership which are easily accessible and target diverse populations. The findings of this study will aid in developing appropriate educational resources to promote animal welfare and increase pet-related knowledge among the NZ populace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To protect New Zealand's unique ecosystems and primary industries, imported plant materials must be constantly monitored at the border for high-threat pathogens. Techniques adopted for this purpose must be robust, accurate, rapid, and sufficiently agile to respond to new and emerging threats. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), especially real-time PCR, remains an essential diagnostic tool but it is now being complemented by high-throughput sequencing using both Oxford Nanopore and Illumina technologies, allowing unbiased screening of whole populations. The demand for and value of Point-of-Use (PoU) technologies, which allow for in situ screening, are also increasing. Isothermal PoU molecular diagnostics based on recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) and loop-mediated amplification (LAMP) do not require expensive equipment and can reach PCR-comparable levels of sensitivity. Recent advances in PoU technologies offer opportunities for increased specificity, accuracy, and sensitivities which makes them suitable for wider utilization by frontline or border staff. National and international activities and initiatives are adopted to improve both the plant virus biosecurity infrastructure and the integration, development, and harmonization of new virus diagnostic technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Aotearoa (New Zealand), the nations that make up the Indigenous Māori population enjoy a limited form of recognition by the state, based on the Treaty of Waitangi signed between these nations and the British Crown in 1840. This recognition, however, falls far short of the relationship agreed to in Te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Indigenous language treaty texts), as well as other Indigenous rights instruments such as the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous peoples (UNDRIP) and rights to self-determination. The current controversy in New Zealand regarding proposals for co-governance on certain national matters has, again, highlighted anxieties amongst New Zealand's citizenry regarding Māori nationhood and citizenship and the need for education on these matters should we hope to continue to progress toward greater realization of Te Tiriti's provisions. This article shares the findings of doctoral research, supported by the Center for World Indigenous Studies (CWIS), on issues to be addressed by educators in our efforts to conscientize Aotearoa's citizenry on these matters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim and purpose of this article has been to advocate for autobiographical investigation and identification of positionality when non-indigenous researchers engage in indigenous methodologies. My experience as an international adoptee from a Romanian orphanage who experienced unsafe research practice shaped my emancipatory positioning and interpretive lens. It is from this positioning and experience of marginalisation I was concerned with finding a research paradigm that positions participants not as objective objects; but rather as rivers of knowledge with stories that determine the tide of the research. The lens of tangata tiriti (people of the treaty) from which I base my practice in Aotearoa, New Zealand; invites a positionality of neighbourliness, thus prioritising de-colonising/re-indigenising methodologies. The focus for my research project explored the disconnection between teachers who hold a Biblical world view and their students who experienced feelings of agitation and frustration. The participants contributed insights about teachers' pedagogy drawn from responding to two prompts: "what is happening when you were empowered by your teachers to flourish?" and "what is happening when you feel disempowered by your teachers?" The chosen research method Photoyarn, is a recently emerged form of photo-elicitation created by Jessa Rogers that honours aboriginal yarning circles. This article makes the case for recognizing our ontological and epistemological positioning thus maintaining authenticity in research and holding steadfast the ethical disposition intention of doing no harm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The arts, mätauranga Mäori, and the environmental and social sciences might seem like unusual bedfellows for engaging children in biosecurity. But this article proposes that these diverse knowledges interwoven together in project activities can play an important role in facilitating children's engagement in biosecurity issues. We reflect on our collective learning in a schools-based arts project, Toitü te Ngahere: Sustainability of the Forest and the Arts, which involved a transdisciplinary team from the Creative Arts, Social and Environmental Sciences, Education and mätauranga Mäori, with partners from participating schools and local artists. We examine the contribution that different knowledges offer to children's learning about, and engagement in, forest health management, focussing, in particular, on the plant diseases kauri dieback and myrtle rust. We illustrate our approach to interweaving knowledges by describing and reflecting on three project activities. We then examine the structural and relational barriers that both undermine and promote the interweaving of knowledges for fostering children's participation in ngahere (forest) health. We argue that to effectively engage children in forest health requires a strongly relational, place-based approach to research and engagement that fosters bottom-up collaborative processes based on care and values and interweaves diverse knowledges in creative ways. How effectively this can be achieved depends on wider dynamics, including societal tensions between colonial norms, mätauranga Maori (Maori knowledge frameworks) and Kaupapa Mäori (Mäori customary practices); the level of engagement a school has with te ao Mäori (the Mäori world); aspects of curricula; and notions of time and strategies in teaching children. Our reflections from the first year of this project show that interweaving multiple knowledges into project activities can enrich children's inquiry and lead to locally relevant action that is well suited to complex socio-environmental issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The alpine insect fauna of Aotearoa/New Zealand is unusual in that many species survive freezing solid at any time of the year. The physiological mechanisms that operate are not well-understood, but we do know the challenges imposed on cells when liquid water expands to form a solid (ice). Insects that are freeze tolerant start freezing at relatively warm temperatures with the help of ice nucleating agents that foster the slow formation of ice crystals outside cells. Here we consider the potential role of microbes living in the guts of alpine Aotearoa/New Zealand insects to facilitate this widespread ability to tolerate freezing. Many bacteria and fungi produce ice-nucleating agents that mediate formation of ice crystals at temperatures just below 0 °C. Some encourage ice formation on foliage with subsequent tissue damage, allowing microbial access to plant nutrients and causing crop damage. Other roles for ice-nucleating agents may include more positive outcomes for insects by facilitating controlled freezing at relatively warm temperatures. Insects that are freeze-tolerant start freezing at high sub-zero temperatures and produce small ice crystals. They do this using ice-nucleating agents that facilitate intercellular ice growth and prevent formation of large crystals where they can damage tissues. In Aotearoa/New Zealand the majority of cold adapted invertebrates studied survive freezing at any time of year, with ice formation beginning in the rich microbiome of the gut. Some freeze-tolerant insects are known to host symbiotic bacteria and/or fungi that produce ice-nucleating agents and we speculate that gut microbes of many New Zealand insects may provide ice-nucleating active compounds that moderate freezing. We consider too the possibility that evolutionary disparate freeze-tolerant insect species share gut microbes that are a source of ice-nucleating agents and so we describe potential transmission pathways of shared gut fauna. Despite more than 30 years of research into the freeze-tolerant mechanisms of Southern Hemisphere insects, the role of exogenous ice-nucleating agents has been neglected. Key traits of three New Zealand freeze-tolerant lineages are considered in light of the supercooling point (temperature of ice crystal formation) of microbial ice-nucleating particles, the initiation site of freezing, and the implications for invertebrate parasites. We outline approaches that could be used to investigate potential sources of ice-nucleating agents in freeze-tolerant insects and the tools employed to study insect microbiomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This critical review of the literature examines recovery from borderline personality disorder to inform a deeper understanding, identifying supports and barriers to recovery, through the exploration of historical and socio-political influences. It critically evaluates research literature for the effectiveness of recovery concept implementation. This review presents the strengths of current evidence and suggestions for future considerations to better support the recovery of whaiora (people seeking wellness) by taking concepts of connection, empowerment, hope, identity and meaning-making, and interweaving them with aspects of established therapies, such as Dialectal Behaviour Therapy, focussing on interpersonal effectiveness, distress tolerance, creating a life worth living, the reconstruction of stable self-image and the use of mindfulness practice. The focus is on developing interventions and responses that support self-management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Te Awa Tupua (The Whanganui River Claims Settlement Act 2017), which granted legal personhood to the Whanganui River) is often discussed as a leading example of the Rights of Nature movement, which aims to grant rights to non-humans. Rather than discussing Te Awa Tupua in relation to Rights of Nature, this article offers new data on the relationships between Māori (Indigenous peoples of New Zealand), tauiwi (non-Indigenous person who has recently settled in New Zealand), and Pākehā (New Zealanders of predominantly European ancestry) stakeholders in Te Kōpuka nā te Awa Tupua (advisory body that works to uphold Te Awa Tupua; Te Kōpuka). I argue that these relationships are positive and based on collaboration because tauiwi and Pākehā stakeholders seem to grasp Māori values. However, Te Kōpuka’s mandate is challenging to achieve because of colonial and Western-minded government structures in New Zealand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aimed to explore cat and dog owners’ attitudes and opinions towards various pet care practices in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ), and determine what factors were associated with them. An online survey composed of both closed and open-ended questions was administered from January to March 2019. A total of 2358 respondents answered the questions on pet care practices. Of these, 37.5 percent (n = 885) were both dog and cat owners, 28.0 percent (n = 652) were cat owners, and 26.0 percent (n = 609) were dog owners, while 9% (n = 212) of respondents did not own a cat or dog at the time of taking the survey. The study revealed that most respondents (>90%) acknowledge the importance of providing adequate housing, regular worming and flea treatments, microchipping, and vaccinations for their pets. Notably, demographic factors such as gender, ethnicity, age range, having children, having a rural upbringing, and place of residence influenced owners’ attitudes, with those towards cat care practices varying more than those for dogs. The study highlights the need for responsible pet ownership interventions considering these demographic factors. The study identifies a knowledge gap among pet owners concerning the importance of regular veterinary visits and the impact of breeding for certain looks on animal welfare. The use of shock collar devices provoked varying opinions on their usage for training and behavior modification. The study suggests that enhancing pet owners’ knowledge is pivotal for responsible pet ownership. Overall, the findings emphasize the need for tailored interventions that account for demographic variations for promoting responsible pet ownership and animal welfare. The findings underscore the importance of improving access to veterinary health care teams, especially in rural areas, and of providing culturally appropriate education resources for both pet owners and veterinary health care teams.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected access to health and social services globally, leading to delays in accessing appropriate care. However, while there is a growing base of research into service access for the general population, there remains scarce information on the implications of the pandemic on disabled people. This article describes issues with health and disability support access for people with impaired vision in Aotearoa New Zealand (Aotearoa). Methods: Applying an Interpretive Description methodology, 62 interviews were conducted with disabled people; 10 of these individuals identified as having impaired vision. Findings were analyzed thematically for the entire group of 62, representing varied impairment groups, and then for the 10 who had impaired vision. Results: Five key themes arose from the interviews, including transportation difficulties, mental distress, loss of community, loss of physical contact and signals, and general loss of support. Participants identified that this loss of support occurred at multiple levels, meaning that the disability and healthcare system as a whole was ill-equipped to manage their needs. Participants reported a lag-time in accessing care, meaning that the effects of the pandemic are still felt due to a lack of available support and resources. Discussion: This article remains one of a few studies to look at the implications of the pandemic on access to health and disability services for those with impaired vision. It highlights that despite Aotearoa's good track record in managing the pandemic, groups were forgotten and marginalized by the collective response to managing COVID-19. Implications for Practitioners: Blindness professionals must be aware of the possible disadvantages and impacts of pandemics and other disasters on people with impaired vision and their access to health and disability services. Policymakers must include disabled people at the decision-making table so that the diverse needs of these populations are managed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]