Ethnograph Assignment Description: The first Field Seminar Course assignment was designed to challenge the students to explore pertinent, current New Zealand issues that were of interest to them. The students divided themselves into small groups of three and embarked on interviewing friends on the North Island in order to find answers to their questions about NZ fashion, the NZ dairy industry, NZ healthcare, NZ’s art revival, the farm to table food movement in NZ, and ecoschools, focusing on St. John’s School, a gold certified environmental school in Wanganui . They talked with folks at the Quaker Settlement, Maori friends from the River trip and local townspeople at the farmer’s market, the school, as well as others who joined us for our celebration dinner at the Settlement the last night we were there. The groups then did brief oral presentations (some with great visual components!) in various locations as we began to head back south. Below are the students’ summaries of their ethnograph explorations.
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Dairy Industry in New Zealand by Sydney, Dave Goldenberg and Meg.
“My Cows” was an interdisciplinary ethnography that focused on the political, economic and environmental effects of dairy farming in New Zealand. Our political discussing began with the 1984 reforms, in which the government cut all agricultural subsidies. The next piece of legislation that we discussed was the Resource Management Act, passed in 1991. This act set up both regional and district councils, which respectively set-up ordinances regarding any activity that might impact the environment. In order to affect something mentioned in the ordinances a person (or company) must apply for consent. Depending on the scope of the activity and the size of the environmental impact the council will notify all people possibly affected by the action. Citizens may then send in letters of support or opposition. Eventually, a hearing is held in order to make a decision as to whether the resource consent will be granted.
Tied into these issues are the economic ramifications of dairy farming. The laissez-faire attitude of the agricultural system, established in 1984, has benefited New Zealand agriculture in general, although some farmers did go bankrupt. Since these reforms were passed, agriculture has shifted from sheep farming to dairy farming. This has changed the market to what consumers want rather than what the government (or farmers) want. Cows, especially dairy cows, are favored because they are low cost producers. They are also one of New Zealand’s top exports, creating a solid trade relationship with both China and India. The switch to dairy farming has brought about a host of new environmental issues for New Zealand. The dairy industry has affected water ways by deposit waste water from processing plants, and causing water ways to run dry from the excess of water required by the dairies. Dairy farming requires much more land than sheep farming and leaches more pollutants into the soil. In addition the land that they are replacing were often farms of pine, a carbon sink, to replace them with highly carbon generating dairies.
New Zealand Fashion: A History. by Celine, Emma C., and Melina.
The origins of New Zealand’s clothing started with the Polynesian migration. When the Maori arrived they weren’t used to four seasons and needed warmer clothing with which they would be able to survive the new climate. They made clothing from natural fibers – commonly using flax, cabbage tree, bird feathers, and dog skin. Using natural dyes such as mud and flowers, the Maori could stain the flax and create colorful clothing. In the 1880’s when European settlers arrived, Maori traded timber and other goods for blankets. These became their main textile since the new material was easier to obtain and make clothing from than flax. Post World War II, New Zealand began a craft movement which encouraged re-purposing and recycling. This movement has remained prevalent and a source of pride and individuality for New Zealand to today.
Farm to Table Food Movement by Nora, Katie-Rose and Sarah
While staying in Wanganui on New Zealand’s North Island we became interested in food culture and talked with different members of the community about their food choices and food options in their area. We discovered a theme of food locality and place relation to food. We talked to members of the Quaker Settlement and people at the farmers market in town. We found that farmers markets and conscious thought about where food is coming from has become increasingly popular in NZ in the past few years. We also found through our conversations at the farmers market that the regulations for different organizations, like cheese makers (which is popular in NZ) and becoming certified organic are quite strict.
We also talked to the members of the Quaker Settlement about how food locality plays a role in their lives, specifically in regards to their community gardens. We found that a small garden right outside the house is the best option for regular use because it is a space that you spend a lot of time in. It also seems that the community garden in the settlement works best when there is one point person in the community who is dedicated to answering questions and keeping people up to date as far the available produce. We are hoping to continue the conversation about food locality and food choices throughout our time in New Zealand.
Eco Schools: St. John’s Hill by Dora, Becky and Madeline.
Our ethnography was on an eco-school in Whanganui, St. John’s Hill. We got a chance to tour the primary school with the assistant principal who showed us all of its eco-friendly features like raised chickens, worm bath for compost, orchards and each class’s own vegetable garden. Students manage all of these projects and the one they have become most excited about is Womble Awards, given to students who bring rubbish-free lunches to school (There are NO rubbish bins in the whole school–what you bring in you must take out). We talked to Mandy who told us the story of how the school’s new vision began with a simple recycling program, and we spoke with her daughter, Sophie, who currently attends St. John’s Hill about how these visions are being put into practice.
Art Revival by Cody, Cooper and Emma D.
We looked at art and music in Maori culture, and how it is present in modern Maori culture and society. One of the people we interviewed, Wi Taepa, is a well known Maori ceramicist. Although the Maori did not traditionally use clay as a medium for art, his work integrates the styles and themes of the traditional arts. One way he does this is by carving and etching designs in his pottery that would be typical of Ta Moko, or the wood carvings seen on the buildings on a Marae. As many Maori artists do not limit themselves to a single medium, Wi also continues this theme of adapting traditional Maori art into a variety of mediums, such as bronze sculptures, and bone or wood carving. We also interviewed Jerome Cashell Mako and Ash (last name?), two contemporary Maori musicians. Both Jerome and Ash see their music as a way to prolong and popularize Maori music, not only to general society, but especially within Maori society. Their music is a means to educate new generations while preserving the traditions of the old. Jerome, by making the instruments himself, sees what he is doing as a learning process in itself – and by doing so reviving part of Maori culture that would otherwise be lost.
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