Phd Final Lesley Pitt 2021
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‘Forgotten world highway, forgotten people’: A qualitative research project exploring the experience of poverty in a rural community A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work by Lesley Pitt University of Canterbury 2021 II ABSTRACT Poverty has been an intractable issue in Aotearoa New Zealand throughout this century, particularly for families/whānau with children. The tentacles of poverty spread into all aspects of daily life making it a significant issue for social work. While recent poverty research in Aotearoa New Zealand has a predominantly urban lens, this study focuses on living rurally while being poor. This thesis provides insights into the intersection of poverty and rurality in Taranaki’s Stratford District through a qualitative thematic analysis. It uses these insights to develop a framework for social work practice with the rural poor in Aotearoa New Zealand. The research design of this qualitative study is informed by critical theory and feminist perspectives. Both perspectives also enable an analysis of power within society and consider oppression experienced by marginalised populations. I interviewed twenty-eight people living in a rural community in Taranaki using a semi-structured approach. At the same time, I kept a detailed field-work journal. The subsequent thematic analysis of interview transcripts and field-work notes yielded the four main themes that structure the findings section of this thesis. Participants in this study used a wide range of creative strategies to manage daily life. However, the participants often went without and put their children’s needs and the needs of others ahead of their own. Geography influenced participant experience of poverty as the rural poor contended with transport issues and had difficulties accessing services, health care, employment, and education. Additionally, stigma was experienced and internalised by some participants and accounts of intimate partner violence and structural violence were prevalent. A framework for poverty-informed social work practice is proposed as an outcome of this III research and suggestions are made for social work education and social work practice with the rural poor. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Twenty-eight people generously and courageously talked about their lived experience of poverty for this research. I hope I have honoured what you talked about with this thesis. Within the Stratford and Taranaki social service community a range of volunteers and professionals took the time to share with me their knowledge, views and practice-based experience that helped inform this research. I want to recognise that each of you made a contribution to this research. I was privileged to have the guidance and wisdom of my supervisors Professor Jane Maidment and Dr Yvonne Crichton-Hill to draw on throughout my PhD journey. You were both kind, patient and gracious with your feedback and I will miss our monthly conversations which were supportive, interesting and fun. I would like to recognise the financial support I received from my employers, the Open Polytechnic of New Zealand and the Western Institute of Technology, and the interest shown by colleagues at both institutions. Finally, I want to thank my family for their support and love. Alastair for his graphic design advice and listening ear, and Sarah and Brad for having a mother during your teenage years who was sometimes distracted and randomly talked about theoretical concepts at the dinner table. Glossary Aotearoa – land of the long white cloud, New Zealand Awa - river Hapū – sub-tribe Iwi - tribe Kaupapa Māori – an approach which includes the knowledge, skills and values of Māori society (Moorfield, 2020) Land wars – From the 1840s to the 1870s a series of conflicts which became known as the land wars took place as British and colonial forces fought to take land for settlement (Ministry for Culture and Heritage, 2020). Marae – traditional meeting area, including meeting house Mana whenua – those with authority over land or an area Maunga - mountain Mokopuna - grandchild Pasifika – descendent from Pacific Islands Pākehā – New Zealander of European descent Patea – burden or pack Pōwhiri - a process of welcome and engagement Rohe – region Tangata whenua – people of the land, Māori who identify with a particular place Tapu – sacred and restricted Tino Rangitiratanga - sovereignty Tipuna – ancestors Te Ao Māori – a Māori world view Te Tiriti o Waitangi – the Treaty of Waitangi Turangawaewae – a place, where through lineage, a person identifies as belonging Waka - canoe Whakapapa – genealogical links Whānau – extended family TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................................................ 2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................................................ 4 GLOSSARY............................................................................................................................................ 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................................................... 7 LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................................ 12 LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................................................................. 14 LIST OF APPENDICES .......................................................................................................................... 15 CHAPTER ONE: DEFINITIONS AND SCOPE OF INQUIRY ........................................................................ 16 1.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................. 16 1.1.1 Use of Terms ............................................................................................................................................................. 18 1.2 Study Aims and Research Questions ........................................................................................................................ 19 1.2.1 Research Questions .................................................................................................................................................. 21 1.3 Defining Rural .......................................................................................................................................................... 21 1.4 Defining and Measuring Poverty .............................................................................................................................. 24 1.4.1 Income Measurement .............................................................................................................................................. 25 1.4.2 Living Wage .............................................................................................................................................................. 26 1.4.3 Material Deprivation Approach ................................................................................................................................ 26 1.5 Context of the Study ................................................................................................................................................ 28 1.5.1 Topography .............................................................................................................................................................. 28 1.5.2 History ...................................................................................................................................................................... 31 1.6 Demographics .......................................................................................................................................................... 40 1.6.1 Infrastructure ........................................................................................................................................................... 42 1.6.2 Economics ................................................................................................................................................................. 45 1.6.3 Social World .............................................................................................................................................................. 46 1.7 The Notion of Place .................................................................................................................................................. 48 1.8 Stratford .................................................................................................................................................................. 51 1.9 Toko ......................................................................................................................................................................... 54 1.10 Whangamomona ................................................................................................................................................... 55 7 1.11 Midhirst ................................................................................................................................................................. 57 1.12 Thesis Structure and Chapter Description