Visiting American fellows to release reports on New Zealand public policy

New Zealand’s approaches to fisheries management, science education, bilateral relations, military operations and social housing will be under the spotlight in a series of policy reports by visiting American policy researchers scheduled for release over the coming fortnight. The five authors of Ian Axford (New Zealand) Fellowships in Public Policy reports have spent seven months based as at New Zealand government agencies relevant to their topic of research, and will launch their reports at a series of free public seminars in Wellington.

Caroline Park from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has been based at the Ministry of Primary Industries (formerly the Ministry of Fisheries), researching US and New Zealand approaches to sustainable fisheries. Her report examines how New Zealand and the United States are meeting fisheries challenges with ever-constrained financial resources. New Zealand’s answer, in part, has been to devolve certain responsibilities to commercial fisheries stakeholders. Caroline’s report looks at service delivery models that have been adopted, and how views on the role of the Crown and risk were factored into decision-making.

David Vannier from the National Institutes of Health’s Office of Science Education has been based at the Ministry of Education, researching policies and practices that lead to effective science instruction in New Zealand primary and secondary schools. Drawing on interviews with stakeholders, a case study of primary schools and current education data, David’s report aims to connect the dots between education policy, successful science programmes, student and teacher engagement with professional scientists, education research and realities in the classroom. The findings point to strategies for improving science education for all children.

Cornelia Weiss from the United States Air Force has been based at the New Zealand Defence Force, researching the impact of military justice, human rights and the rule of law on Defence Force operations. Her report examines how the New Zealand Defence Force’s selection process, training, self-leadership, size, types of operations, force composition and culture as well as New Zealand culture and political leadership contribute to “one of [the New Zealand Defence Force]’s great, unacknowledged strengths” – its respect for human rights and the rule of law in military operations.

Bruce Vaughn from the Congressional Research Service has been based at the Ministry of Defence and Victoria University of Wellington, researching shared New Zealand-United States interests in promoting stability in the South Pacific. His report examines recent developments in the bilateral NZ-US relationship, with a particular focus on security and defence cooperation and recent activity in the South Pacific. The report’s focus on the bilateral relationship is set in the context of the United States rebalancing towards Asia and recent developments in New Zealand relations with the South Pacific and Asia.

Christian Stearns, formerly of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development has been based at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (formerly Department of Building and Housing), researching the use of sustainability as a framework for social housing in New Zealand. Using an action research model and appreciative inquiry, Christian’s report explores current social housing reform in New Zealand, evaluating and highlighting unique New Zealand policy foundations and trying to build upon them to help construct sustainable social housing policy.

The five Ian Axford (New Zealand) Fellowships in Public Policy reports will be available to download from the Fulbright New Zealand website – www.fulbright.org.nz – following their release at the seminar series in Wellington from 20-29 August.
ENDS
Seminar/publication dates are as follows:
2012 Ian Axford (New Zealand) Fellowships in Public Policy Seminars
Monday 20 August
Caroline Park – More with Less: Exploring Service Delivery Models for New Zealand Marine Fisheries
See www.fulbright.org.nz/events/120820-axfordseminar-park for details
Tuesday 21 August
David Vannier – Primary and Secondary School Science Education in New Zealand (Aotearoa) – Policies and Practices for a Better Future
See www.fulbright.org.nz/events/170821-axfordseminar-vannier for details
Wednesday 22 August
Cornelia Weiss – Respecting Human Rights and the Rule of Law: The New Zealand Defence Force
See www.fulbright.org.nz/events/120822-axfordseminar-weiss for details
Friday 24 August
Bruce Vaughn – The United States and New Zealand: Perspectives on a Pacific Partnership
See www.fulbright.org.nz/events/120824-axfordseminar-vaughn for details
Wednesday 29 August
Christian Stearns – Rebuilding Sustainable Communities: Partnerships for Social Housing
See www.fulbright.org.nz/events/120829-axfordseminar-stearns for details
All seminars will be held from 12:30-1:30pm at Nau Mai Room, Te Puni Kōkiri, 143 Lambton Quay, Wellington.
IPANZ members register online at www.ipanz.org.nz, non-members by email
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The Ian Axford (New Zealand) Fellowships in Public Policy programme was established by the New Zealand government in 1995 to reinforce links between policy experts in New Zealand and the United States of America. Named after prominent New Zealand space scientist Sir Ian Axford, who served as the programme’s patron and mentor until his death in March 2010, the programme gives several outstanding mid-career American professionals each year the opportunity to research, travel and gain practical experience of public policy in New Zealand.
Fellows are placed within a New Zealand government agency in Wellington for seven months, during which time they complete a research-based policy report in their field of expertise, under the mentorship of a relevant departmental policy expert. The reports are published by Fulbright New Zealand and launched at a public presentation at the fellowships’ end.
Fulbright New Zealand is contracted to administer the Ian Axford Fellowship programme.

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